Lost in Translation Movie Review:


As a follow-up to her outstanding film debut with The Virgin Suicides (2000), writer/director Sofia Coppola looks into complex relationships, boredom, and her love for Tokyo with Lost in Translation. Though Coppola talent and vision is not to be ignored, the film tends to be a little repetitive despite a great performance by Bill Murray and terrific atmospheric electricity.

The film follows two American strangers in Tokyo, Japan as they meet at their hotel bar and then embark on an unlikely friendship. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a washed up Hollywood actor in his fifties that has arrive in Tokyo to shoot a whiskey commercial for two million dollars. Charlotte (Ghost Worlds Scarlett Johansson) is in her early twenties and a recent graduate of Yale University that does not know what she wants to do with her life. She is in Tokyo accompanying her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi), who is practically too busy with his profession to spend time with her. Bob and Charlotte also both can not sleep and neither really care for their place in the world. After a few brief encounters with one another, the two explore the nightlife and adventures of Tokyo, which is unlike any culture either have faced. The two grow on one another and their friendship gives each a new perspective and direction to live by.

Sofia Coppola, daughter of the great Francis Coppola and wife of Spike Jonze, definitely captures the culture and atmosphere of Tokyo with this film. The bright lights and beautiful settings are dazzling. The clash of cultures between the two Americans and the Japanese values flourish as the bright spots of the film. In the first half of the film there are moments that have Bob misunderstanding the choices of what a Japanese director wants from his whiskey posture during a commercial shoot that are fantastic scenes. However, Coppolas script never totally maintains its sentiment or drive. It seems that the differences that Charlotte and Bob have with trying to sleep, their spouses, among other things just become repetitive throughout the film. There are predictable scenes as result of this. The relationships and the characters are unique and genuine though. Staying away from alleging spoiler information, the relationship between Bob and Charlotte seems like a father-daughter and romantic relationship, but you will have to see the film to find out. Coppola is a talented filmmaker that has delivered better with The Virgin Suicides, but she is still very much on the rise. It is clear what she wanted to capture with the relationships and culture conflicts of the story.

Bill Murray is just brilliant in this film. As Bob Harris, his whiskey commercial scenes are an example of just how great an actor he is; it is worth seeing this film just to watch Bill Murray work. Young Scarlett Johansson is another upcoming talent, and she continues to show her balanced range as an actress with her in tune performance as the recent college graduate Charlotte. The two leads also share strong chemistry in making their unlikely relationship real. Giovanni Ribisi plays Charlottes photographer husband and Scary Movies Anna Faris pops up as an American movie star on the rise.

Lost in Translation has exceptional acting and shows conformed relationships, cultural clashes, and a lot of Tokyo. Overall, the film comes across as ideally modest, with scenes repeating themselves.

Grade: C+

Jospeh C Tucker

Having spent time in Japan myself, I found “Lost in Translation” to be a mockery of what the wonder of the orient is and could be to the casual observer.

Critically-acclaimed director Sofia Coppola emerges from her heart-breaking film, “The Virgin Suicides” to uncover a mature and developing relationship in “Lost in Translation”.

Coppola’s latest project showcases the bewilderment of veteran actor Bob Harris (Bill Murray) as he comes to Japan to shoot whiskey commercials for $2 million dollars. Bob is bored stiff as he constantly clashes with the culture and is unable to relate. He finds an instant solace in the enchanting company of a young married woman named Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson).

The two lost souls find their company to be unique and a kinship develops as they try to drown out the seemingly plastic Japanese society. All they seem to be in search of is some part of home.

Coppola’s attempt to delve the audience into the minds of these hapless but spoiled souls is hardly a success. It is hard to relate to people who are bored in a land of wonder. Sure they are tortured inside and moping around but each one is being paid an obscene amount of money to be there. How can you feel sorry for that?

The best scenes in the film are when Coppola introduces flashy action star Kelly, play to the hilt by Anne Faris. Kelly is the complete opposite of these dreary characters and probably more what these characters should be than are. Since the film is played down an awful lot, Kelly comes off as a cheerleader on crack instead of a realistic portrayal of a Hollywood heavyweight abroad. That is a real shame since what the film needed was a real human being to show where these characters are coming from.

I found it really hard to watch Murray in such a restrained and sallow approach. He is doing his same old shtick except with a noose around his neck. I am a huge Murray fan but this performance did eerily remind me some of his awful performance in “Razor’s Edge”. Johansson, however, overpowers Murray in many scenes and she is a delight to watch. I found this movie to more of a challenge and fun for her than for Murray.

A few things I did like about the film were some of the photography, quiet character-solo scenes, spunky Faris and of course Johansson.

For me “Lost in Translation” is a disappointment because it is hard to relate to and how can one be entirely bored with such a fruitful country. Maybe it’s just me.

(2.5 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer

Dean Kish

Meandering and engaging, this artful examination of loneliness and regret catches us off guard with its insight and emotion. It's about two people abroad who discover a surprising solace in each other. Bob (Murray) is a big time movie star in Tokyo earning millions to advertise a Japanese malt whiskey, although he'd rather be acting for free in a small theatre anywhere else. Charlotte (Johansson) has travelled to Japan with her photographer husband (Ribisi) and is wondering why she came along ... and why she married him in the first place. Lurking in the hotel with nothing to do and unable to sleep because of both jet lag and their racing thoughts, these two lost and bored people find small adventures together, visiting bars and cafes, singing karaoke and generally misbehaving like a couple of kids. But something surprising is going on under the surface.

There's an almost ethereal rawness to this film that gets way under the skin; these are real people struggling in a foreign place with intensely internal issues. The dialog is breathtakingly natural--edgy, hesitant, sharp and often hilarious. And these two excellent actors give astonishingly transparent performances! Murray brings all his experience into this role as a tired but mischievous has-been, playing on his history hilariously then twisting it into something deeply poignant. For example, the karaoke sequence instantly reminds us of his hysterical SNL lounge singer ("Star Wars, Those near and far wars!"), then suddenly shifts into something bracingly powerful. Meanwhile, Johansson gives another warm, introspective turn as a young woman on the brink of her whole life, but without a clue where to go next. Writer-director Sofia Coppola shows that The Virgin Suicides was no fluke. Sure she's well connected (Francis' daughter and Spike Jonze's wife), but she's also seriously gifted at capturing the emotional essence of a story, pacing the action gorgeously and meaningfully putting characters and themes ahead of plot and structure. The unspoken longings in this film are remarkably moving. And if it drags a bit in the middle, at least it's doing so for a very good reason.

Rich Cline

Travelling to Japan and getting paid $2 million to endorse a whiskey might sound good but for aging movie star Bob Harris (Murray), he couldn’t be more bored. He doesn’t understand the language, he is away from his family and friends and he is really suffering from jet lag. Charlotte (Johansson) thought that coming to Tokyo with her photographer husband (Ribisi) would be the trip of a life time but she didn’t count on him working all the time and being too tied to do anything when he got back to the hotel. Not able to sleep, the two weary travellers meet in the hotel and quickly form friendship that will see them having fun for the first time since they got to the land of the rising sun.

After been bombarded with “event movies” for a very long time, it is refreshing to just sit down and watch a character driven comedy/drama that has more to say about life than most of the films released at the moment.

Lost in Translation is a movie that captures the feeling of many in western society at the moment, “What am I doing with my life?” As more and more people become disillusioned with the way their lives are turning out, up and coming filmmaker Sofia Coppola emphasises this feeling even more by transplanting our weary characters into a completely alien culture. So consumed by their own disillusionment and personal crisis’s, Bob and Charlotte fail to see the new world of wonders around them until they come together and discover what life and Japan have to offer.

At the heart of this movie are two extraordinary performances. Scarlett Johansson cements her name in the category of “destined for superstardom”. This purely natural performance brings a sense of reality to the character as she deals with the questions of young adulthood and her fears for a future she cannot even envisage. Bill Murray is at last getting his career back on track with his best leading role since Groundhog Day in 1993. Coppola gives Murray the chance to shine as Bob Harris, a once big time actor who is struck in a rut in both his career and personal life. Maybe seeing a lot of himself in the part, he grabs the role with all of his comedic conviction and provides some of the biggest belly laughs to grace the silver screen in a very long time but then complements these with some tender moments that show his true acting diversity.

Its when the two characters come together however, is when the movie really shines. These are two people going through a similar life crisis, who would have never have even met if it wasn’t for their location. As they both feel like outcasts in a completely different world, it was fated that they should meet and get along so famously. Like any holiday friendship or romance, it is the need to have someone to share the experience with that drives them together and kindles a connection that would have never have even crossed their minds back home. By the end of the movie you have the feeling that they have both become so dependant on each other to make their current situation feel secure.

The support is limited but good. Anna Faris gives a hilarious take on the dumb American film starlet abroad. Filled with her own self-importance and her quest for attention, this is a great performance from Faris that might get her noticed by more influential filmmakers. Giovanni Ribisi is as good as ever in a very small part. The other main support is Japan itself. As well as providing an amazing backdrop for the movie, with Coppola capturing the essence of both modern and historical Japan, the people are also the stars of the film. From an overly enthusiastic masseuse to the world’s worst translator, the fish out of water scenes with Murray and his Japanese colleges are hysterical but if you think that these scenes are patronising to people involved, Coppola then throws in a respectful look at a country drenched in culture and tradition.

Lost in Translation is a triumph for Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson and an astonishing achievement for Sofie Coppola. As both a writer and director she excels, mixing complex issues about life with brilliant observations of cultural differences and diversity. This movie re-ignites Murray’s career and propels both Scarlett Johansson and Sofie Coppola into the big leagues.

Star Rating = * * * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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