I liked this movie for its aspirations to tell a love story with the exotic backdrop of Tokyo which at the time this movie was made was kind of rare for an American movie. Ironically, Kill Bill (which features Tokyo scenes) also was shot in the same year. And that is also around the time the director Sofia Coppola and Kill Bill Director Quentin Tarantino began dating. Maybe just a coincidence.

I like Sofia Coppola. She has the genetics for movies, is smart, understands characters, has enough of a of a Lubitsch.erotic sensuality to this movie while not pushing the limits of the characters.

Coppola is respective to the young Scarlett Johansson. She gets the best out of Bill Murray, who underplays his character while doling out his great physical comedy skills and tricks. I don't think this movie could have been made today.

At the same time, a lot of this story is unrealistic. There are some holes in the script. My understanding is a lot of the movie was written on the fly with improvisation and not a lot of dialogue.

The relationship between Johansson and Ribisi could have been fleshed out a little more perhaps.

The ending is totally unrealistic again which makes this a 6 for me instead of perhaps a 7.

It's a great effort but not a great movie, But worth seeing.