Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Just noticed the review formatting has returned, thank god for that
Member since:29.08.2002
Reviews:627
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Going to the cinema to see newly released films isn't something I generally do. The expense and effort never seem worth it. Something has to really capture my interest to make me want to see it. Lost in Translation did exactly that. I had read so many favourable reviews and had my friends urging me to see it. After my initial trepidation I finally gave in and paid my money.
When an actor’s career is over he’ll start to do desperate things for money. That’s where actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) finds himself. He’s travelled to Japan for a couple of adverts but leaving his wife and Kids at home. He’s depressed, lonely and jetlagged, not exactly a winning combination for a happy stay. Meanwhile in another room Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is in a similar state. Despite being in Japan with her husband (Giovanni Ribisi) she still feels alone.
After spotting her in the elevator, Bob introduces himself to Charlotte a few nights later. They begin a friendship which starts to develop into more as the film continues. Charlotte is having problems with her husband, John, as she feels he is neglecting her. The more she feels distanced from him the closer she gets to Bob, who she seems to have a lot in common with despite
a generation gap. But do they end up together or not? Well you’ll have to watch it and see.
It's not the most difficult plot to follow by any means. I began thinking it's a typical Boy meets Girl kind of film. However after a short time it quickly dawned on me that it wasn't going to be quite as typical as I first thought.
Sofia Coppola, the daughter of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, directs the film. She certainly seems to have picked up some of her fathers talent when it comes to direction. This is obviously very good news for her as her acting career started with a Worst Actress Razzie for her first role. The film is shot well, without jumping around too much. It’s quite clear to see why she won the Oscar for Best Director. Although the lighting in a lot of the scenes is very dark it does seem to fit that segment of the film perfectly and conjure an empathetic mood.
I felt that her choices of location gave a good feel for the whole travelling experience. The only major gripe I had with her direction was the constant use of the view from the hotel window. It looked quite good the first couple of times, but became too much of a recurring theme for my liking.
I do have one major problem with the film though and that would be the script. I can see why she was nominated for the Oscar for Best Director. However how she won best screenplay I really don’t understand. Although the idea for the film was a good one, the actual writing of it I felt was a little poor. Labelled as a romantic comedy I didn’t really see that much of the comedy element. In fact, I didn’t find it funny at all. The script seems to lack purpose and at times seems to be going nowhere. From a personal point of view I felt that I wanted to carry on watching but wasn’t bothered by what actually happened in the end.
It did intrigue me, but in no way did it actually captivate me, which ultimately left me feeling very unfulfilled. However I do feel that maybe it’s a film you have to see twice in order to truly understand what it’s about. It's certainly a film that wouldn’t appeal to everyone. I'd say if you like your romance films to be gritty and believable then this is a film you'd enjoy.
The casting actually really impressed me. As although it was a weak script I think she used both of the main actors very well. Bill Murray really redeemed part of the film for me. He is superb as Bob. Its obvious to see from his performance that Bill Murray earned his nomination for Best Actor with an outstanding performance. I'm a big fan of Bill Murrys and think the character he plays is quite similar to his character in Groundhog Day. Although he didn’t really make the same impact on me in this film I still found his performance both believable and plausible.
I felt that Scarlett Johansson, really shone as Charlotte, although doesn’t quite steal the show. Both seem to have an amazing on screen chemistry, although I wouldn’t call it romantic chemistry. Instead they are very believable as good friends. They both seem to fit into their roles well and stay in character throughout. As for the supporting cast, nobody particularly stands out or makes much of an impact on the film. Saying that, I'm quite pleased to see Giovanni Ribisi in the short scenes that he is in. I think he’s an incredibly talented actor and feel he has an amazing screen presence that will stand him well for many years to come.
So what was my overall opinion. Well as a director I was really impressed by Sofia Coppola, however as a writer she has nowhere near as much talent. The film left me intrigued but not really caring about the end result for either character, which isn’t the best way to keep the audience interested. I feel bad not recommending it as the direction and acting is fantastic, it just really lacks that final spark.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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This is the ultimate Marmite movie.
You either love it or you hate it.
I would have to disagree with you entirely on the script. The script's subtlety and slightly exagerrated impression of Japanese life (according to my Japanese girlfriend and having been there myself) - is what makes it work so well. A lot of this film is also told in the pictures - the moments onscreen when no-one is speaking at all. This is also thanks to Lance Acord's unbelievable cinemotgraphy - he makes Tokyo look even more fantastic than it is in real life!
Still your review is well written and of course your own opinion is perfectly valid. This film actually ranks for me alongside American Beauty as my favourite movie of all time (don't confuse with Best) - so naturally I'm going to be biased!!
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: Interesting character development, good cast/performances, some nice camerawork, witty/funny in parts Disadvantages: The story could be seen as rather slow, it poses more questions than answers potentially
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 31st, 2004
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