January 29, 2005
Lost In Translation
Lost in Translation was one of the big "indie" hits
from 2003. Nominated for 4 Oscars, winning one (Best Screenplay), it
was a critical and commercial success. Written, directed, and produced by Sofia Coppola, daughter of near Hollywood legend Francis Ford Coppola, it tells the story of a chance meeting of
two lost souls visiting the bustling metropolis of Tokyo and coming
together to form a bond against the confusing world. Both Bill Murray, as the
world-weary fading movie star and Scarlett Johansson, as
the neglected wife of a fashion photographer, give standout
performances in this very muted film.
Bob Harris (Murray) arrives in Tokyo, courtesy of Suntory, the large Japanese liquor maker. He's here to film some promos for their whiskey. Harris' star faded a long time ago, as a sort of Charles Bronson-ish action hero, but he is still revered in Japan. He arrives, tired and worn out, and is quickly reminded by his wife back home about forgetting his son's birthday. He hears from her on many other occasions, each time merely a domestic triviality that get funnier and funnier, culminating in a huge decision involving carpet squares.
Charlotte (Johansson) has been married two years, but is already disillusioned with life and her marriage. Her husband is a photographer who already pretty much ignores her, leaving her to wander Tokyo, a stranger in a strange land. She crosses paths with Harris a few times, each time getting a little closer. When her husband goes off for a 3 day trip, Charlotte asks Harris to accompany her to a local friend's party, after a chance meeting at the swimming pool.
Charlotte and Bob get closer and closer, with several touchingly quiet scenes of them discussing life from different ends of the rainbow. Charlotte isn't sure what she wants to become, while Bob isn't satisfied at his destination. Each offers the other a missing piece of the puzzle; Charlotte brings her youthful, albeit muted, optimism, while Bill shows her that things can work out okay in the end. They orbit around each other for the movie, which ends on a satisfyingly ambiguous note.
All in all, a very low key movie. Probably too low key for its own good, really. There was no denouement, as there was no real conflict. Just two people struggling to figure things out, and offering a new perspective to the other. Bill Murray had some really funny scenes, both laugh out loud (like the excercise machine) and more understated, like the many laconic comments. Scarlett Johansson was beguilingly beautiful, without being movie star-ish, if you know what I mean. She played off nicely with Anna Faris, who played a movie star promoting a movie and was a confidant of Charlotte's husband. Johansson's understated beauty contrasted nicely with Faris' perky movie star blondeness.
The DVD had a pretty interesting "Making Of" featurette, that was basically just a hand held video camera, filming while they were filming. It showed the "guerilla" filming as it happened, which was pretty fun. There was also an interview with Murray and Coppola, as they talked about the movie. The music was excellent, while the sounds did not, of course, push your speakers at all. There was also a collection of cut scenes, which once again showed that these movie makers know what they are doing, leaving these on the floor.
So I liked it enough to think about buying the DVD, although it is more of a mood piece than a real conflict-laden movie. Sort of like listening to a favorite CD when in the mood - a blue and confused mood. I'm not sure I understand all the hype though. For most people, a rental would work just fine.
Lost In Translation (Widescreen)
Anna Faris, Bill Murray, Giovanni Ribisi, Scarlett Johansson
5,000 miles from home, Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is facing a mid-life crisis, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is having an identity crisis. When these two lonely Americans cross paths in a Tokyo bar, their chance encounter sparks a series of hilarious adventures, creating an unexpected connection that might not last, but will stay with them forever. Posted by jdarnold at January 29, 2005 12:50 PM
