I saw this movie in the cinema in 2003 and was blown away by it. At the time I was a bit older than Charlotte. I saw it back recently and by now I am about the age as Bob. It blew me away again. Both characters are completely relatable, both being at a point in their lives where they are not quite sure where they are going and how happy they are. Add to that the alienation of staying in the self-contained bubble of an expensive hotel in a completely foreign culture and you have the perfect setting for a brief encounter. Two people who discover to their own surprise that, while they seem to have little in common, they are somehow completely compatible. Their growing friendship and (non-sexual) intimacy is beautifully portrayed. They both occasionally seem to consider whether they should take things further but that would no doubt ruin their connection and upset their lives. It is beautiful and so recognisable to see their hesitation. Haven't we all had such encounters that we knew would just be brief and intense, with a hint of melancholy about what could have been under different circumstances?
The film is shot beautifully, with Tokyo as the perfect backdrop. The dialogues are sharp and witty, and Bill Murray has never been better with his deadpan comedy (the scene in the gym had me in stitches) and tender, melancholic glances at Charlotte. Scarlett Johanson did a great job too, and she was only 17 years old. I liked it that there is not really a plot but rather a meandering storyline in which we see the friendship between the characters develop. The ending is perfect. They both know that they will probably never meet again and that their connection was only meant to happen at that place and time. This was it and it was great while it lasted. But they will both fondly remember this episode for the rest of their lives.
I definitely plan to see this movie again. I am sure that it will still speak to me twenty years from now, when I hope to be old and wise.
The film is shot beautifully, with Tokyo as the perfect backdrop. The dialogues are sharp and witty, and Bill Murray has never been better with his deadpan comedy (the scene in the gym had me in stitches) and tender, melancholic glances at Charlotte. Scarlett Johanson did a great job too, and she was only 17 years old. I liked it that there is not really a plot but rather a meandering storyline in which we see the friendship between the characters develop. The ending is perfect. They both know that they will probably never meet again and that their connection was only meant to happen at that place and time. This was it and it was great while it lasted. But they will both fondly remember this episode for the rest of their lives.
I definitely plan to see this movie again. I am sure that it will still speak to me twenty years from now, when I hope to be old and wise.