Bob Harris used to be an action movie star, he had fame all over the world and thought life couldn’t get any better. Until he started to get older and was largely dismissed in the business of show, now he is being paid ridiculously large amounts of money to advertise alcohol in Tokyo. His life is in ruins, his marriage has no passion, his children are forgetting about him and he is suffering from insomnia, he just lives this life of constant pain, quietly suffering trying desperately to put on a brave face. Charlotte, is a fresh face beauty who just recently moved to Tokyo with her new husband John, an important photographer. She has just finished a degree in philosophy, and is stuck. She doesn’t know whether she wants to stay married to someone who is hardly ever around, she doesn’t know whether her decision to move to this frantic but beautiful city was the right one and she just doesn’t know what she wants to do or be anymore, Charlotte also suffers from insomnia.
These two first meet in their hotel bar, late at night when neither of them can sleep. They both decide to run away from their dull lives and discover the energy of Tokyo at night. They both have one of the best times of their life and make a connection, unlike any other they both supply each other with something that they need, they have a connection that no one can really explain.
What will happen to these tortured souls? You really should get this and find out.
Sophia Coppola won her Academy Award for best screenplay, and it was very well deserved. She manages to mould two people that are so
easy to connect to that it really is breath taking, her two main characters aren’t flawless, they both have deep problems and are both losing their sense of morality/humanity. Sophia writes with astounding honesty and frankness, she dares to ask questions like ‘what is my purpose’ and ‘will my marriage/life get any easier’ and she gives you answers in the film, but you have to search for them, her script is a journey, a quirky, beautiful, wonderful and stunning journey that has surprising emotional resonance. The script has a heart, more humanity than 400 Hollywood action flicks and intelligence it demands something of the viewer, it demands that you open your mind and think. I loved that this movie didn’t assume that everyone is stupid.
Sophia Coppola also does some stunning directorial work, she crafts this film with a wonderful sense of life, it is hard to explain but there is something supremely appealing about a film that doesn’t try to be anything that it is not, Sophia doesn’t force anything, all the elements just forge together and become affective, moving and relevant. In some ways watching this film is like holding a mirror up to your face, and noticing that you look completely different in real life than you thought you did, that’s what Sophia’s directing does, it makes you think about your own life as well as these wonderful characters in front of you. Coppola successfully makes one of the saddest, most deeply moving and relevant films I have seen in all my years of watching movies.
Bill Murray isn’t the first person I would of chose to play the quietly suffering Bob, but I was genuinely shocked at how well and faithfully he portrayed his tragic character. He manages to tame his wacky side down and really acts his socks off, but also adds a lot of comical zest that really does finish of his character. It is both a heart wrenching and realized performance that adds a great new aspect to this fantastic film.
The first film I saw Scarlet Johansson was In Good Company a quiet, but wonderful romantic drama, in that I thought she was amazing, but that performance wasn’t a patch on this one. Scarlet radiates maturity, intelligence, wit and strength. Charlotte is a character who I think is naturally passive and not incredibly good at expressing her emotions, and it is so interesting to see her main defense mechanism, which is picking on other people’s idiosyncrasies, to stop them nit picking at her. Scarlet relishes the complex role and really shines through, she has a fantastic and surprisingly intense chemistry with Murray.
I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see Anna Faris in Lost In Translation, she plays Kelly a completely shallow and attention seeking movie star who has just starred in an action adventure with Keanu Reeves and is just in Tokyo to advertise the film. Her role doesn’t require much acting, but she does add yet more comic zest to the film.
Lance Acord expertly captures the energy and essence of Tokyo, through his cinematography that is almost like a painting, the film is wonderfully shot , which allows it to be all that more moving and inspiring. This film isn’t one on a grand scale, there aren’t hundreds of CGI effects, Lost In Translation has to rely on fantastic symbolism and use of emotional triggers to keep it eye catching and very engaging, it is full of lasting images. The colour palette used in this is very symbolic as it reflects the emotions, ideals and thoughts of the central characters.
Another thing I loved about Lost In Translation was that it was a love story, but not in the traditional sense, these two extraordinary characters don’t seem to be sexually attracted to each other and they both seem to get pretty annoyed with the other, but they can’t escape the fact that together they re affirm each others thoughts on the world, and they think the same way. She offers him a fresh perspective on life and he offers her knowledge. I think in some greater way they do love each other, but not like you would think.
At some point everyone has to ask themselves ‘What now’ and I loved that this question is asked with utmost honesty and frankness, this film unlike so many others, isn’t scared of the audiences reaction, to be honest I don’t think it much cares. I have the feeling that everyone involved just wanted to make a statement, a statement that maybe, just maybe everything doesn’t have to be so awful, maybe you can find love and friendship in someone or something that you would never of dreamed you could of. It is a brave, film that will most defiantly stick in your mind and dares to make you look at yourself and your own life.
Overall I thought that Lost In Translation was one of the most moving, sad, relevant, well scripted, brilliantly acted films I have ever seen. Never before have I seen two such well realized interesting and remarkably human characters jump out of the screen. It is like reading a great book or looking at a classic painting, it is beautiful, but not in the normal sense of the word, it takes you on a journey and says something about the world you live in. A must see.
You Can Buy Lost In Translation from Amazon ASIN: B0001GNDRA for 7.97
Thank You all so much for reading and rating my review of Lost In Translation
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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I watched this alst night and i really enjoyed it. it was different. I found it funny and moving.
bad_bob00 27.04.2005 23:43
Brought this DVD the other day, haven't got round to watching it yet. Sounds really good though. Matt
Soho_Black 13.04.2005 22:06
I really wanted to see this, having been to Japan myself, and I couldn't believe it when I saw it on Amazon for £7.97. Has there ever been a better value film than that? I love it!
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: Compelling character perfomances, Tokyo is captivating and the story is very poignant. Disadvantages: The very impatient and cynical may view as slow and possibly pretentious.
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 29th, 2005
exceptional by (9%):
very helpful by (91%):
