Rating: Summary: Not a good "art film"....simply, a bad, BAD, BAAAAD one Review: Some people have complained this is a dull, boring film. Others say this is simply a slow-paced artful film that only sensitive intelligent folks will get. Is LIT one of the latter? In LIT, Scarlett Johansson portrays Sofia Coppola in this apparently autobiographical film. In the film, Johannson sits around in her hotel most of the time (in TOKYO!!!), despondent over her failing marriage to her emotionally distant photographer husband (ie.Coppola's ex - Spike Jonze). He seems to enjoy the lighthearted phony company of Cameron Diaz....I mean, the character who plays a Diaz-like actress. Anyway Charlotte (that's the Johannson/Coppola character) rolls her eyes whenever she speaks, so we the viewers, will know to prefer the less-vulgar and sensitive Charlotte. Why cannot her husband see that his own wife, while displaying no intelligent ideas or thoughts or emotions, is the preferrable one to hang around with?! I mean, Charlotte IS beautiful, but like many beautiful women she is actually VERY sad. She admits to Bob (more about him later) that she has no idea what she wants to do and her various artistic endevours are "mediocre". She has tried photography (apparently not out of love for the medium, but rather to "find herself"), and still her photographer-husband cannot seem to connect with her. What is HIS problem?! Anyway, because of all this, she sits day after day in her hotel room. (BTW, did I mention she's in Tokyo?). Eventually, she picks up with dull-man #2, Bob (played with even more hound-dog-face than usual by Bill Murray - STILL one of my heroes, despite this venture). You see, Bob is a movie star who is going through a "mid life crisis" as Charlotte puts it. Whatever THAT is, exactly, is never really displayed. Anyway, Bob is being paid 2 million dollars for 2 days work on a whiskey commercial, but he remains sad, as he truly wishes he were "Doin' a play somewhere". Aside from this deep display of love of theater (and strong argument for the revival of Communism), Bob is confused by all these funny people around him. For one thing, they talk funny. And what they are saying, nobody knows! Well, these funny-faced people constantly get up in Bob's face and jibber-jabber all the time!! Why won't they stop?! They talk on and on, but the funny-faced translator says next to nothing....just like the bugs bunny cartoon on the Pacific island. Regardless, these people are truly frustrating!! Will someone please make them act normal! What is it you call them again? Anyway, Charlotte hooks up with Bob at the hotel bar after their glazed eyes meet, and they soon become the dullard-duo. She teases him with insightful cliche's about his probably wanting to buy a Porshe. He concurs he is lame. Later, they sing bad karoke together, while the viewer's mind begins to wander about how nice it would be to drive a Porshe. Meanwhile, their encounters continue with the energy of terminally-ill cancer patient. You see, Bob has a shallow life...I mean Wife. We know she is shallow, because she is only concerned over picking the right carpet color. This is illustrated in a long scene where Bob cannot seem to choose from carpet square samples over himself and the floor, as he further succumbs to a barely-breathing motif of wealth does not equal happiness. Still not convinced of our hero's circumstance? Well get an earful of his deathbed rendition of Roxy Music's "More Than This", which he sings as if he has never heard (how cool to be uncool, eh?). Anyway, Bob and his newfound glob seem to connect, despite their decades-separated mix of world-weary apathy and beautiful-but-misunderstood depression. Unfortunately, all this must soon come to end. You see...aside from some kids he's squeezed out, Bob must go back to pick out that carpet square in person. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention...Bob has 2 kids back home. Anyway, our heroes eventually part without saying the appropriate soulful goodbyes, so Bob chases down our mallrat-with-undeserved-money-and-opportunity until he finds her...and soulfully....kisses her. Then, he wanders off with the activity of a digestive tract, presumably only to be seen on various subway ads. She smiles and cries. The audience smiles and cries. I cry. Then we all try to get the DVD back to Hollywood video ASAP so we can get a buck back. Want to see a GOOD "pointless" movie about 2 people connecting in Japan? Try the absolutely beautiful "Hiroshima Mon Amour". All the arty-farty you'll ever need, but time well spent. Plus, it ain't racist. Want another good film? Try "Being John Malkovich" by Spike Jonze. IT'S excellent! AND it has a great performance by Cameron Diaz!
Rating: Summary: What a farce! Review: I cannot believe that professional film critics actually feel this boring movie deserved to be nominated for the best picture of the year. Only a "follow-the-leader nincompoop" would agree with these idiots.
Rating: Summary: what? Review: This is the worst movie I have ever seen. Completely lacking any structural plot, this film did not even make sense. The characters were bland, the kareoke singing was nearly intolerable... Someone explain to me how this movie became so popular! However, if you like watching two boring people go out to lunch in Tokyo a lot, laying on their bed staring at the wall and aimlessly wondering around, maybe you'll like this film.
Rating: Summary: Offbeat, Arthouse movie - but still Fun Review: This movie is very different from what you see in mainstream theatres. Everything from the acting, to the direction, to the Cinematography has a different edge to it. Sophia Coppolla did do a great job with this movie. I especially appreciate that she kept the relationship between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as platonic. It shows a realistic slice of life, that is usually missing from films these days. This is Bill Murrays best role to date. A Scarlett Johansson is a talented discovery.
Rating: Summary: ????????????? Review: I would say that this movie was just ok and it's not bill murrays best movie. The reason why i gave this movie 3 stars because i like how the environments look.
Rating: Summary: Regarding LAURIE C. from Shelby Twp, MI USA Review: All you have to do is read the review from LAURIE C. from Shelby Twp, MI USA in which she seems to equate proper movie viewing with intellectual ability. She feels that those who did not like this film are of a lower intelligence then she is. This review pretty much sums up those that have given this movie 5 stars. They are individuals so insecure about their own intelligence that they need to attack others intelligence because of a difference in opinion on a film. How sad someone needs to use a script written by a twenty something, nepotism enhanced, never worked a day in her life, rich young woman to justify how smart she herself is. I reccomend Laurie just take an IQ test if she really wants to know how smart she is. Movies are for entertainment, not spiritual enlightenment..unless of course if you seriously lack anything else to look forward to in your life other than sitting infront of a screen watching millionaires act depressed for 2 hours.
Rating: Summary: (partly) why americans are hated Review: I hated the movie, of course. My point, however, is that as an Australian in Germany I must point out that I am very quick to let people know that despite my English speaking accent, I am not American. Not because I hate Americans - I only hate American foreign policy and economic exploitation. The reason I make it clear I am not American is because most people in Europe really dislike America and Americans (Germany is not especially notable for this - it is more universal). This movie presents the stereotypical (exorbitant, culturally disrespectful and insular, lazy, self important) stereotype in all of it's hideous glory. To those Americans that swallow the crap fed to them on the media, try to watch this movie from the Japanese perspective. Sofia Coppola should be ashamed.
Rating: Summary: existential blah Review: I have no idea what about this movie has garnered it so much hype. As many have said before-- boring characters. I didn't ever see this relationship develop. It's just boring to watch characters who are so pathetically lost in one of the most interesting cities in the world. Oh, poor, rich, white me. Please. That leads me to the racism of the the backdrop of Japanese characters. Never developed as characters and always the butt of the joke. This is a problem. A great antidote to culture shock is to connect with people in the country you are in. You know, connect with one another as human beings. Maybe this would have kept Scarlett Johansson from looking for daddy in the most readily available American.
Rating: Summary: Offbeat....witty.....brilliant...... Review: If you're an intelligent, insightful individual, you'll LOVE this film. If you're an idiot, don't waste your time.....watch pro-wrestling instead. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are both brilliant and adorable. Sophia and her crew have done a terrific job - the cinematography and lighting are beautiful - you can feel the texture of this movie. The bonus features are great (wish there were more) - the interview with Bill and Sophia alone is worth the price of the DVD. I recommend this highly - but only to those of you perched a little higher on the food chain. If you don't understand "nuance" and "subtlety" - stick with easier stuff, ok? 'nuff said.
Rating: Summary: 5 star max out Review: I'll give it 5 stars. This is very much like French New Wave movie from the early 1960's. The only things that were missing were that it was in modern day Japan, and no jump cuts. Check out Cleo from 5 to 7, or My Life to Live, if you like Lost.
|