Lost in Translation written and directed by Sofia Coppola (2003)
2 April 2008It’s strange, I thought I had done a review of this gem of a film, but I guess not. And I guess it is perfect then to review the HD DVD of the film which looks amazing (it is such a shame that HD DVD lost because it was a great format). This quirky film was not only the film that put Scarlett Johansson on the map, but also garnered an Academy Award nomination for Bill Murray (and I personally think he should have won, as Sean Penn will have another chance to win, and it is doubtful that Murray will). This also really put Sofia Coppola on the map, and it probably worked so well because the story is semi-autobiographical about her marriage to Spike Jonze. This is an amazing film about finding friendship and someone who understands you in a place ( a world really, but so expertly shown in Tokyo where thinks are literally translated strangely or wrong) where no one dies, at a time when you don’t know what you are doing. This is a hysterical film, showing translation issues, and I saw this with a Japanese friend of mine who laughed hard, though was insulted by the level of translation in the movie, since she insisted that any Japanese high school student could do better translations. Still it is hysterical to watch. And Murray and Johansson really make this film and have amazing chemistry here. This is a must see, and a film that should be watched again and again.
Bill Murray plays over the hill movie actor Bob Harris who is in Japan to shoot a liquor commercial, and really feels out of place. He goes and shoots these commercials and the director will rattle off for 30 seconds and the translator gives him 2 word translations. He is totally miserable. Bob then meets a young American girl in the hotel, this is Charlotte (Scarlet Johansson). She is a philosophy major who just married a famous photographer (Giovanni Ribisi) who neglects her, running off all the time to do his thing, and leaving her in the hotel all alone. The unlikely pair talk in the hotel bar, and become friends, and in their mutual insomnia start to hang out. And Bob even ends up extending his stay to do some Japanese TV shows, so he can stay and hang with Charlotte.
REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS….
The two become close friends, talking through the nights, and Charlotte takes Bob out with her into the city, to hang with her friends, and they grow closer.
Bob questions his life with his family, and his dried up career, while Charlotte questions her marriage, and the two have a sort of platonic love affair. Finally Bob must leave, but on the way out, he sees Charlotte and jumps out of the car, and goes and tells her something that we don’t hear, something lost in translation.
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A wonderful lyrical film, with amazing characters. You really are drawn into these characters world. And they make the movie. A couple of wondrous performances really bring this film together. An amazing film.
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