Sofia Coppola Directs Keanu Reeves in Tokyo Tribute to Suntory Whiskey—See
Keanu Reeves and Sofia Coppola are returning to their respective professional roots.
Twenty years after Coppola directed her 2003 hit film “Lost in Translation” in Tokyo, the director returns to Japan with a short film for the Suntory Whiskey Anniversary Tribute. Suntory Whiskey became cinematically synonymous with “Lost in Translation” for Bill Murray’s line, “For relaxing moments, make it Suntory Time,” as the character of him is a fade-in actor sent to Tokyo to sell the brand.
Actor Reeves, who previously starred in a 1990s Suntory commercial, leads the spot, a montage celebrating 100 years of iconic liquor brand The House of Suntory.
The ad shows Reeves walking through nightlife in Japan before diving into a nondescript bar and ordering a glass of Suntory over ice while playing a vinyl record. The ad is set to the cover of “Crimson and Clover” by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
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“It was nice (to have) the chance to work with Sofia Coppola and work with (her brother) Roman Coppola on a kind of short commercial and then a docu-series,” Reeves said. People project magazine. “It was a really special opportunity.”
Reeves and Sofia Coppola dated briefly after meeting while filming ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula,’ which her father Francis Ford Coppola directed in 1992.
The “John Wick: Chapter 4” actor added, “It was wonderful, really wonderful. It was amazing to have the opportunity to spend time with the people at Suntory, in terms of going to the founding Yamazaki distillery, then going and meeting the master blenders and all the artisans. I got to meet some of the artisans, Kabuki actors, calligraphers, be an outsider and hang out with people and talk about their passion and craft.
Coppola’s next film is the Priscilla and Elvis Presley biopic “Priscilla” starring Cailee Spaeney and Jacob Elordi. Meanwhile, Reeves is tied to Jonah Hill’s Apple Original film “Outcome,” which follows a damaged Hollywood actor who must delve into the dark depths of his past to face his demons and make amends after he’s extorted with a mysterious video which reappears. Reeves will also star in Aziz Ansari’s “Good Fortune” opposite Seth Rogen; however, production was halted due to the ongoing WGA strike.