Lost in Translation stars: Bill Murray best known for his great comedy work (Groundhog Day, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Kingpin, Charlie’s Angels) as Bill Harris Scarlet Johansson (Ghost World, Girl with a pearl earring) as Charlotte and is both written and directed by Sofia Coppola (yes of THAT family pedigree).
The film is set completely in modern Tokyo, Japan and features an ageing American actor (Murray) going there to make a whisky ad for TV. His background is shown as a successful but flagging career of which he is visibly exhausted and a young wife left at home with their child who is obsessed with carpeting his study whilst he is away, but nowhere near obsessed with him. Johansson is the young bride of a rock photographer there snapping a Japanese band. He spends most of the time working whilst she sits bored in the hotel room waiting for him to return late at night only for him to fall straight to sleep.
Both main characters suffer from insomnia due to their strange surroundings and unhappy lives. For a time their stories run parallel as they explore the city, but don't quite inter-twine. Murray travels around making his whisky ad and personal appearances, including one on a very strange childrens programme, whilst Scarlet wanders aimlessly, looking at the beauty of ancient Japan such as a Geisha wedding, juxtaposed with her seeing businessmen reading pornographic comics from a street stand that depict women in an extremely degrading manner; this provides great contrast about the culture.
The scenes around Japan really emphasis the huge difference in its culture and its over crowdedness in comparison to America. The sense of alienation a stranger can feel in even the most crowded of streets is portrayed with great subtlety . Very good use is made of the natural surroundings to emphasis the cultural differences, for example the technological level of Japanese advertising is perfectly shown by a brilliant computer generated Dinosaur walking across the front of a sky-scraper. Physical differences are highlighted usually to gentle comic effect, such as a shot of Murray walking in rush hour and being a good foot taller than anyone else, or when a Japanese director issues lengthy and seemingly terse instructions to Murray through a translator who simply says "Turn left" to which Murray looks puzzled and asks "Is that all?" The film uses the idea of cultural alienation to make you think about the possibility of the two main characters feeling alienated purely by life itself.
Gradually their stories overlap until they begin a friendship and start to explore the city together, both instantly happier in each other’s company. Through some great scenes at a bar, restaurant and karoake party to name a few their relationship continues to grow into something quite beautiful, leaving the audience to speculate if at some point it will develop into anything more and transcend the significant age gap.
I wont spoil the ending for anyone who hasn't seen it, but certainly do see it.
It is a wonderfully executed film with superb lead performances and wonderful direction. The musical score is a carefully chosen mix of melodious and almost abstract dance music (such as the supberb My Bloody Valentine) and classic pop tunes (where appropriate).
The story is very gentle but should not be mistaken for slow. Yes nothing is blown up, there are no special effects, no swearing, no sex (apart from a visit to a topless bar), no car chases or anything approaching what Hollywood normally throws at us, but how brilliantly refreshing. This is stripped down cinema at its best, like listening to your favourite singer doing an acoustic set. This will leave you with an absolutely charming warm glow, as opposed to the sickly sweet feeling you normally get from most romantic comedies.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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Like a good dream, Sofia Coppola'sLost in Translationenvelopes you with an aura of ... more
fantastic light, moody sound, head-turning love, and a feeling ofdéjà vu, even though you've probably never been to this neon-fused version of Tokyo. Certainly Bob Harri...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Like a good dream, Sofia Coppola'sLost in Translationenvelopes you with an aura of ... more
fantastic light, moody sound, head-turning love, and a feeling ofdéjà vu, even though you've probably never been to this neon-fused version of Tokyo. Certainly Bob Harri...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Sofia Coppola's second feature-length film focuses on two guests at a Tokyo hotel--Bob ... more
(Bill Murray) a middle-aged actor in town to film whiskey commercials and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) the young wife of a trendy photographer (Giovanni Ribisi)...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
From the director of The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola, and shot entirely on location in ... more
Japan, Lost In Translation is a laugh-out-loud portrayal of loneliness and human connection. Featuring superior performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanss...
Advantages: Arguably Bill Murray's best performance to date. The sensualness of Scarlett Johannson's performance. The WONDERFUL cinematography. Disadvantages: The pace of the film won't suit everyone. Some people just won't 'get it. '
TheFirstEscapist 30.11.2004 (14.07.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Lost In Translation (DVD)
Advantages: excellent performances from scarlett johansson and bill murray and also great direction from soffia coppola Disadvantages: erm maybe a little slow for some people and not an extensive plot....
Advantages: Beautifully shot, brilliant performances from both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, great direction and script from Sofia Coppola. Disadvantages: None for me personally, but people who don’t like these types of films might find it slow and boring, some people have also complained there’s no story but I personally don’t think that’s a big deal.
Advantages: It fills in a couple of hours Disadvantages: It will be a couple of hours of complete boredom.
fallen_flame 20.04.2007 (05.08.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Lost In Translation (DVD)
Advantages: Amazing fight scenes and stunts, no wires so everything you see is for real. Disadvantages: The plots aren't amazing but still watchable, not for people who don't like foreign films.
![Lost In Translation [DVD] [2004]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78520070.jpg "Lost In Translation [DVD] [2004]")
Mar 30th, 2004
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