Theatrical Release Year: 2003
DVD Release Year: 2004
Director: Sofia Coppola
Writer: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Akiko Takeshita, Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe, Kazuko Shibata,Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
Length: 102 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
MPAA Rating:

If there isn’t “more than this” then what’s the point?

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a washed up American actor in Tokyo, Japan filming an ad campaign for Santori whiskey. His lack of understanding of Japanese coupled with his marriage slump leave him feeling alone, depressed, and lost until he meets fellow American Charlotte (Scarlett Johnansson) who is also in a life and marriage slump. Charlotte is in town tagging along with her photographer husband John (Giovanni Ribisi) who is constantly working, leaving Charlotte to fend for herself. Bob and Charlotte it it off in the lounge of the hotel they’re both staying at and begin spending all their free time together. Their friendship quickly develops into something deeper.

Both Murray and Johansson deliver seemingly effortless understated performances as quasi-love interests while Anna Farris, who cameos as an actress vying for the attention of her “favorite photographer” who happens to be Charlotte’s husband John, is fantastically over the top. Coppola keeps us guessing about the friendship-turned-more between Bob and Charlotte: Will they allow their relationship to become physical? Will they remain faithful to their spouses? Is their deep emotional connection alone an act of infidelity?

A beautiful soundtrack matches beautiful cinematography of both the colorful Tokyo nightlife and the muted and serene Zen gardens of the day life. The sequencing of the movie feels a bit off and problematic at times, as if not enough footage was filmed to make the movie feature length, so the story seems slightly incongruous if you pay close enough attention (or watch it 50 times like I have), but the incongruity does nothing to change the flow of the story.

Special features include in-depth and hilarious Behind the Scenes footage in Tokyo with the cast and crew, the entire Bob Harris segment on “Matthew’s BestHitTV”, the City Girl music video featuring nighttime footage of Tokyo, several deleted scenes (the scene with Bob and Charlotte in their respective beds could have stayed in the movie), a conversation with Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola in which Sofia confesses that the movie wouldn’t have happened without Bill, and the theatrical movie trailer.

Slight spoiler: If you wear earbuds and turn up the sound really loud for the end scene you can hear part of what Bob says to Charlotte.

Buttery’s Rating:

Recommendation

Best served with Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups — two great tastes that taste great together, just like Bill and Scarlett!

Popularity: 21% [?]