Lost in Translation

[smilodon]

IMDB Listing

by Sophia Coppola.

An absolute gem. Bill Murry's best work ever and one of the most honest film to come out of America in years.  It's almost impossible to explain what the film is about. Check the link above and read some of the extrnal reviews to get an idea.

If you don't like this film then I fear you may be dead from the neck up. 10/10

[A Twig]

In true inimitable Zok style:

It was rubbish

[smilodon]

I still say read the reviews, wonder why it won Oscar's, BAFTA's, Golden Globes and international critical aclaim.

[Dr Sadako]

Originally posted by smilodon@Jun 30 2004, 10:48 PM
I still say read the reviews, wonder why it won Oscar's, BAFTA's, Golden Globes and international critical aclaim.

Yes we all do wonder. I saw it and I was not at all impressed.

The whole idea of the movie is to catch the mood "just before falling in love". Well, I wasn't that impressed. <_<

[smilodon]

Hmmmmmmm I vowed to give up doing big reviews on this forum but my hand has been forced  

At it's heart Lost in Translation explores a tricky subject to nail down properly: human character.

The film is basically about two Americans visiting Tokyo: Bob Harris (Murray), plays an aging movie star who was big in the 70's but now has to make ends meet by doing drinks commercials, and Charlotte, who is there just tagging along with her husband who is a rock photographer. The two of them are struggling to adjust to  Tokyo, a very different world from their normal home, that being LA. Added to which they are both having marriage problems. Charlotte feels ignored by her husband who is rapped up in his work and Bob is obviously having issues with his wife back home, with whom he seems to be on little more than basic speaking terms

Bob and Charlotte meet in the hotel they share and recognise each other as two lost souls in the huge unintelligable city they are staying in. Over the course of the film they develop a strong friendship that boarders on a romance but is never quite consumated.

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson give flawlessly perfect performances. Despite the fact that Murry's is in his 50's and Charlotte is twenty something there is a real chemisty between them that manifiests itself in the relationship that their characters develop on screen. Together they allow their growing relationship to wonderfully carry this emotially intricate film.

Murray is excellent, and manages to tone down his usually OTT comic style to just the right level, making him engaging without being rediculous.

Scarlett Johansson gives a stunningly subtle perfromance that made me really care about this poor lost soul and her lonely isolation.

What really made this film work was that it disn't descend into a May to September love story with the obligatory final bed scene. This film was far too discerning and subtle for that. What's important here isn't the sex but the slowing growing romance.

Sophia Coppola can't act for toffee by her direction is extraordinary. She shows Tokyo as a sprawling scarey yet beautiful city. Dazzling neon nights are the perfect backdrop to the movie, and I can't think of another city where the film would have worked half as well.
   
The character-driven movie is often slow and, I guess it will bore some people . It's not a film that you can just plonk yourself infront of and say 'OK, I'm not putting any effort into this so just entertain me!' It's a film that requires some thought and a little effort to appreciate. You have to be tuned in and paying attention for it to work it's magic. It requires patience that I fear too few will give it.

It is a magical, character driven film. An evocative setting, brillaintly scripted, wonderfully acted and the most intelligent thing I've seen for a long long time.

(addition] Some people obviously will watch this film, give it a fair chance and not like it at all (Sadako, Twiggy). My comments about needing thought and effort to appreciate was directed at people who might have rented it expecting a laugh a minute Bill Murry film in the mold of Groundhog Day etc.  I therefore might have sounded a little arrogant which wasn't the intention[/addition] :whistle:

[Gh0st Face Killah]

I'm with Smilo on this one I enjoyed this film. Even though Bill Murry is playing a somewhat subdued character there are still some wonderfully comic moments.

[ChimpBoy]

It's a good film, but not as good as it thinks it is.  The hype became a bit too much and if you bought into it you would probably be disappointed after watching.  But on it's own merits it's a nice little film.

But then I'd watch and enjoy anything with Bill Murray.

[smilodon]

To be honest this one totally passed me by. I had no clue that it had won anything until I was writing my review. So I had no preconceived ideas about it at all. Probably the best way to watch as you say.

[Gh0st Face Killah]

Likewise. I was introduced to it by a mate who had it on region one and he knows my taste in movies and said I would enjoy it. He hasn't failed me yet.

[Dingo]

Originally posted by ChimpBoy@Jul 1 2004, 07:29 PM
It's a good film, but not as good as it thinks it is.

So who needs critics when the films review themselves these days? <_<  

[ChimpBoy]

To this day I still laugh out loud whenever I think of that scene where Murray sings "More Than This" by Roxy Music  :lol:

If you liked LIT then check out "Virgin Suicides", Sofia's directorial debut.  Very, very good.

[ChimpBoy]

Originally posted by smilodon@Jun 30 2004, 09:37 PM
Bill Murry's best work ever

Methinks you have overlooked the classic "Caddy Shack"

[DogMeat]

Originally posted by smilodon@Jun 30 2004, 11:48 PM
Hmmmmmmm I vowed to give up doing big reviews on this forum but my hand has been forced  

At it's heart Lost in Translation explores a tricky subject to nail down properly: human character.

The film is basically about two Americans visiting Tokyo: Bob Harris (Murray), plays an aging movie star who was big in the 70's but now has to make ends meet by doing drinks commercials, and Charlotte, who is there just tagging along with her husband who is a rock photographer. The two of them are struggling to adjust to  Tokyo, a very different world from their normal home, that being LA. Added to which they are both having marriage problems. Charlotte feels ignored by her husband who is rapped up in his work and Bob is obviously having issues with his wife back home, with whom he seems to be on little more than basic speaking terms

Bob and Charlotte meet in the hotel they share and recognise each other as two lost souls in the huge unintelligable city they are staying in. Over the course of the film they develop a strong friendship that boarders on a romance but is never quite consumated.

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson give flawlessly perfect performances. Despite the fact that Murry's is in his 50's and Charlotte is twenty something there is a real chemisty between them that manifiests itself in the relationship that their characters develop on screen. Together they allow their growing relationship to wonderfully carry this emotially intricate film.

Murray is excellent, and manages to tone down his usually OTT comic style to just the right level, making him engaging without being rediculous.

Scarlett Johansson gives a stunningly subtle perfromance that made me really care about this poor lost soul and her lonely isolation.

What really made this film work was that it disn't descend into a May to September love story with the obligatory final bed scene. This film was far too discerning and subtle for that. What's important here isn't the sex but the slowing growing romance.

Sophia Coppola can't act for toffee by her direction is extraordinary. She shows Tokyo as a sprawling scarey yet beautiful city. Dazzling neon nights are the perfect backdrop to the movie, and I can't think of another city where the film would have worked half as well.
   
The character-driven movie is often slow and, I guess it will bore some people . It's not a film that you can just plonk yourself infront of and say 'OK, I'm not putting any effort into this so just entertain me!' It's a film that requires some thought and a little effort to appreciate. You have to be tuned in and paying attention for it to work it's magic. It requires patience that I fear too few will give it.

It is a magical, character driven film. An evocative setting, brillaintly scripted, wonderfully acted and the most intelligent thing I've seen for a long long time.

(addition] Some people obviously will watch this film, give it a fair chance and not like it at all (Sadako, Twiggy). My comments about needing thought and effort to appreciate was directed at people who might have rented it expecting a laugh a minute Bill Murry film in the mold of Groundhog Day etc.  I therefore might have sounded a little arrogant which wasn't the intention[/addition] :whistle:

ITYM "chick flick".

D"me new man"M

[smilodon]

Originally posted by ChimpBoy+Jul 2 2004, 11:58 AM-->

[GhostMjr]

I will have a look thank you guys for feedback!