From the far reaches of the Milky Way Galaxy, It's Retro Nerd Girl with a quick spoiler free film review for you.
Today I'll be reviewing the movie Lost in Translation released in 2003.
Starring:
Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi
Directed by:
Sofia Coppola
Genre:
Drama
Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) Rating:
R
Budget:
$4,000,000 (estimated)
Current IMDb Rating When Reviewed:
7.8
The Synopsis is:
Two Americans meet while in Tokyo Japan and take up an unlikely friendship.
At first you think that the movie is about the two tourist being lost in a foreign country as the title would lead you to believe. That is part of the meaning of it, but it’s mainly about two people being lost in the way they want to live their lives.
The film starts out with Bob Harris, an aging American actor arriving in Japan for a commercial and photo shoot for an alcohol brand.
For Bob, this is another job and most of the amenities of his trip seem so very miserable to him. Bob is a big movie star, but he is always being told what to do, by his agent, the director of the commercial, the photographer, and his wife. He doesn’t really have a say anymore in his life and he has lost his passion for living.
He meets another American, Charlotte who is a guest at his hotel because her husband is working as a photographer. She is lost, in her marriage and career. Charlotte is depressed and dissatisfied, searching for her purpose in life. And you see that in the way that the camera often travels with her as she explores Tokyo alone. She’s searching for something deeper and more fulfilling.
What connects the two as a pair on the surface is a lack of an ability to sleep through the night, but ultimately it is loneliness, though surrounded by people in their lives. Their loneliness cries out to the audience and we can literally see that in the poster and various scenes, where the two characters just stare off into their surroundings without emotional interest.
Bob is able to make Charlotte laugh. Charlotte is able to make Bob care about someone other than himself. They have such sweet chemistry together on a pure level of friendship.
It’s a cut and dry story, two people meet, hang out, and begin to like each other on a deeper level than friendship. And it is through their friendship and the growth of their friendship in such a short time that the movie really thrives.
Sophia Coppola talks about the film as if it is romantic film and it's very interesting because the romance is very subtle, but it’s definitely there. It’s not defined as a romance in the film although they are doing pretty much all of the things you would do if one were in a romance.
One of the key elements of enjoyment in the film is a surprising dose of humor that peppers the project, mainly brought to us by the dry comedy stylings of Bill Murray in a very subtle way. What a performance, but it just looks like he's just being himself and that is what’s so brilliant about it. On the most part, he’s playing Bob like most characters he plays, but he did it in a way that felt personal, like a really good friend.
Sofia Coppola said that she wrote the lead role specifically for Bill Murray and if he turned it down, she wouldn't have done the movie.
Scarlett Johansson was incredible as Charlotte at the tender age of 17, which makes her a minor playing this role. (Yeah, let that soak in.) On another note, I can’t imagine anyone else besides Sofia Coppola herself playing the role. Scarlett was incredible in this.
As well, there were small but memorable performances given by Giovanni Ribisi and Anna Faris.
This film seemed to hit a note with audiences because though it isn’t a film with a lot of plot and action, however, it is incredibly relatable on so many levels.
One thing that the film got special praise for, was depicting a realistic version of what it is like to visit Japan for tourists. The way that Tokyo was shot was incredibly voyeuristic and lent to the fascination of those who have longed to visit.
The story of meeting someone special that you will never see again, is something at least 80% of us have experienced. The feelings of loneliness and uncertainty while traveling are a few other experiences that the film conveys excellently.
The camera placement and movement helped to tell all of these story elements visually along with a wonderful soundtrack and score.
Everyone has their favorites from the soundtrack, but mine happens to be, Alone in Kyoto written by Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel (as Jean-Benoit Dunckle), performed by Air. I absolutely love that song!
Don’t let the uneventful poster fool you, this film is such a pleasure to watch.
My Rating:
8.2
That sums up my quick spoiler free review. This is Retro Nerd Girl signing off! Take care movie lovers! I'm off to the next review!
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