pretentious, empty tin can tries to be a movie, fails.

This film didn't fool me. Lil' Sofia doesn't fool me. having failed at practically every occupation her father could manipulate/buy/sneak her into (I'm sure I'm forgetting a few but they include fashion design, photography, writing, acting- her only memorable role being the one where she's Al Pacino's idiot daughter in the final, National lampoon's installment of the Godfather Series. A hilariously awful performance in a hilariously awful movie.), she has decided to become a director- one of many artistic and interesting careers wherein everything is taken care of for you by others with the training and talent that you don't possess.

But at least I'm not bitter, eh? Here's the deal- I heard a nice review of the film in question on NPR. Sounded interesting. I walked in wanting to like it, even though I could not abide 'The Virgin Suicides,' Sofia's debut as a 'director' and another film about 'lost' (translation: spoiled) Americans and their penchant for treacly, overwraught ennui. (Sorry, but I have no sympathy for a bunch of blonde ditzes living it up in late-70's American cultural wasteland... Maybe if they'd been lucky they could have come of age in Cambodia or Indonesia in the same era... that would have cured their oh-so-exquisite malaise right quick... Oh the tragedy of innnocence lost... No, the tragedy is what happened in all the countries that Kissinger and Co. were over-throwing... but I digress...)

Upon this film's release Sofia was honored all over various trendier-than-thou mags for her writing... Uh, Script? What Script? Scarlett's dialogue, well- her whole role seemed to consist almost entirely of staring out windows and gazing at various phenomena with an expression of morose bewilderment and/or understated wonder. Ain't so much she could've done with that sliver of bone, but I like her and think she's done well in the past with small roles that have little wordplay ('Ghost World' and 'The Man Who wasn't there,' for example). Maybe, we're supposed to think that Scarlett is, like, playing a character based on, you know, Sofia Coppola... Maybe in Sofia's World she's introspective and intense... and yet she can only compose a parody of such a woman when she tries to write from that perspective... Hmmm...

There's no real explanation of the relationship between Scarlett and her husband, aside from they met in college and he's become a fame-obsessed idiot. He's a photographer. And they're, like, estranged. you know, like the Guns N Roses song.

Oh, and Ms. Johansson's character is supposedly a philosophy major... *Ahem* Speaking from experience (as I was one, graduated a few years back) philosophy types TALK. We talk more than most people can stand. (and We don't purchase pseudo-intellectual, self-help CDs- we laugh at them. I almost chucked my popcorn at the screen at that point). Words words words, they're all we have to go on, to quote Guildenstern... We talk incessantly, and often without reason. Take this review as a case in point.

Only someone who is completely ignorant of post-collegiate philosophy types could have so utterly failed at writing a believable character. Insouciant and self-indulgent- yes. Overly-concerned with an appearance of unassailable high-mindedness, yes. Insufferably verbose, yes. Opinionated and sarcastic- oh you betcha. Bewildered by the way that life is like, so odd and transient, you know. And foreign lands are like, so, you know, foreign... not at all really. But then maybe Sofia picked up one of those 'Philosophy through Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' or '... through the Simpsons,' books.

Giovani Rabisci plays the hubby. I thought he was a not-so-concealed dig at Coppola's real husband, Spike Jonze, who is the only one in that whole clan with talent, it seems. Well, maybe now that Sofia has proven herself to all the easily-swindled, art-house fools who delineate taste and culture in this country- she can dump him.

The chick from Scary Movie is hilarious and all-too-believable as an idiotic actress with whom poor Sofia's- I mean Scarlett's husband has become smitten. Between her character and Bill Murray's hang-dog over-the-top actor, this movie is almost ok.

I'd go so far to say the movie's sole strength lies in Bill Murray, who has an uncanny ability to make poor films good and good films even better (i.e. Rushmore). As always, he gives an understated performance that you don't expect to be so damn compelling. But it is. Murray manages to breathe life and pathos into a movie that shambles across the screen like Bud the Zombie from Romero's Day of the Dead. In fact, that would make a nice and like, wow, poignant subtitle to this tripe.

And the ending was absolutely crass. Though I won't spoil it for you, should you be dying to rent this with a date.

2 stars for the thorough satirizing of the Japanese and for Bill Murray's deft and wry performance. Oh, did I mention that indie-icon Kevin Shields did the soundtrack? Hipsters start your engines!

Artistic BUT

To answer the question 'Will YOU like THIS movie?' It all boils down to the fact that this is a Bill Murray movie. If you like Murray you WILL like this movie because Murray is Murray regardless of the production he is in. But be forewarned--Cadyshack this is not. Keep in mind you are watching two very bored people try to cope with their situation. If you're looking for something funny Lost in La Mancha might be a better bet.

haha... 5 stars? you're kidding right?

WOW! i'm sorry, but did i miss something here? This movie was horrible. A normal movie lover, i was bored out of my mind tossing and turning staring at my wall, pausing to go to the bathroom, running downstairs for some food... even fell asleep once. what a waste of the $15.00 i paid for it. maybe im missing something but this cheepo shot in tokyo looks like it cost $200 to make, and was a pointless movie. all in favor that johnny should have won the Acadamy award instead say Aye...