A beautiful story about loneliness and hope
Andrea Faiman | 09/22/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"For those people who have reviewed this as boring - you are completely missing the point - but I'm not going to argue with you. This film tells the honest story of a lonely man in a troubled marriage - lost in a big noisy metropolis at the top of a big empty hotel. It's perfect - for the way it accurately tells that story. Sofia Coppola succeeds in pulling you inside the hotel and feeling that unique feeling of being away from home - lost. She has a way of pulling the viewer into the emotion of a scene and not letting go - where others may cut away - she makes sure you see those looks, those glances - those moments that we all understand. That is where the strength of this film lies - in its ability to yearn for its characters. I even liked Ana Faris's performance - although she was characterised as a pinheaded actress - the dialogue was so good when there - but not there if it didn't need to be.
Scarlett johansson & Bill Murray's performances are flawless- it's more like improv really - an uncertain but poignant attraction between them that need not go further - and need not display love-making to make its point. I would imagine that they didn't know each other at all at the start of filming - and so it makes the shyness and the banter between them even more attractive.
The only thing that I don't like is that it doesn't continue - but it has to end.
I'm so glad a friend asked me to see this back in 2004, it's one of my favourite films - totally original, unique and personal to the viewer.
6 stars!!! :)"