Hey folks, Harry here... I posted My Review last week and with every day that goes by, I hunger to see it more. This is a film that lingers in your mind like a fond memory of a place you want to revisit, a conversation with a soul you miss. Every single friend of mine that attended the screening I had here in Austin has called me up to ask... repeatedly, when it plays in Austin again. It really is that good. Ford Fairlane, well he was caught off guard by the film and it blindsided him... he's a bit crazy below, but you'll see it's because his mind was blown by a movie that never drags teeth.
Hey Harry. Ford here, and I am still gathering myself from the powerhouse that is Lost In Translation. Tonight was an absolutely historical event at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.
First off, we got to screen Lost In Translation, so let me start with that. This movie could have been done in a thousand different ways, with the majority of them falling into a labor of melodrama, of a rather paint by numbers romantic dramedy, and avoids ever going the easy way out. It's one of those "Where did my passion go?" stories, where two people in similar but completely different circumstances find each other, and help each other find their way. But the end could have been really hokey, and the dialogue could have been two funny, and it could have become too much of a comedy, and it could have been too heavy on the drama, but dammit, this movie hits everything just right.
Truth be told, I have been an average Sofia Coppola fan at best. I liked Virgin Suicides, but never really got that complete connection with it that so many other people did. I thought there were many fantastic things about it (and hell, the movie had Michael Pare in a great bit part, and every movie should be required to have a bit part for the man that took down Raven in Streets of Fire), but it just never was the movie I kept hearing that it was.
But no sophomore slump here. Virgin Suicides was her rookie season, and now she's hitting 'em out of the park. This movie also works on such a personal level with her. I might be looking too far into this, but everyone has heard the rumors of her and Spike Jonze breaking up, and when you think of that watching the movie, you wonder just how autobiographical this picture really is. Before she made this movie was when Jonze was making it huge with Being John Malkovich, and then he had Three Kings, the Jackass television series, and the film, and Adaptation. Don't get me wrong. I think that Spike Jonze is amazing, and I have nothing personal against him. But think of it from Sofia Coppola's point of view. Like her husband Giovanni Ribisi, who is great, Jonze probably often was too busy to completely devote himself to their marriage, regardless if he realized he was doing it. And maybe she felt that distance between them, like the main character in this film, was becoming too great, and she began to wonder exactly who she was, and where they stood in this world anymore, be it together or not. One has to think that there is an incredible amount of her personal life in this film, especially when you watch it and you feel all of those notes ring so true. It's not a 90210 love story. It feels just like real life. And one only needs to take one look at Anna Faris in the film to realize that she is Cameron Diaz, and swirling ass or not, my man, you have to admit this. She was in Malkovich, like Faris' character had worked with Ribisi before. And she has said in interviews that Jonze was her favorite director, much like Faris proclaims for Ribisi in this film. And one wonders if these scenes of Diaz popping up, and flirting with Jonze could have possibly happened in real life. And maybe it was those painful moments that brought such a true and amazing weight, value, and truth to this film. Because in my opinion, you don't create pieces like this without having lived a good deal of it.
But let me stop myself before giving away all the credit. This film belongs to everyone involved. It simply wouldn't have worked without the cinematography by Lance Acord makes Tokyo a mysterious, and fantastic world, and one that we can see these real characters exist in. He doesn't overdo it, as so many movies of this type have done. He captures everything just right, while letting the spirit of Tokyo blend through every shot.
Murray and Scarlet Johannson also deserve dueling Oscars for this film. For all of you that thought it couldn't get better than Rushmore, buckle your seatbelts. This could give it a run for its money. Bob Harris is such a perfectly flawed character. When he's on, he's the guy you always wanted to be, and when he's screwing up, you see a horrible reflection of yourself, and while you hate what he's doing, you understand that he's human, and can see yourself in the same shoes.
I'm trying not to make this too vague, because everyone should experience this film without knowing too much, so enough about the film. It's the best of the year. If it's this or The Matrix, go see this. Buy your tickets in advance, and tell all your friends.
After the film, Sofia Coppola was scheduled to discuss the film, but by surprise, we also had the surprise of Bill Murray attending for the Q&A. A standing ovation occurred, and it was an amazing spectacle. Murray and Coppola traded a few friendly barbs, gave the credit due to the cast and crew that helped them make such a wonderful film, and unfortunately, as all Q&A's have, the moronic questions came flying like 'Mr. Murray, will you do a sequel to The Man Who Knew Too Little' and another question about the end of the film, which had no business being asked. If you are one of the above two bozos, please never ask a question ever again at a Q&A when in the presence of greatness.
This review is a mess simply because this movie tore me apart.
Four breasts. Zero corpses. Camouflage shirt fu. Whiskey Fu. Commercial directing Fu. Gratuitous translation. God Save The Queen Fu. Karaoke Fu. Gratuitous photo taking. Rock n Roll detective nominations for Bill Murray for being Bill Murray. Rock n Roll detective nominations for Scarlet Johannson for saying "That was the worst lunch ever." Rock n Roll Detective nominations for Sofia Coppola for actually putting her heart into a film, which I hope audiences love her in return for. And Rock n Roll Detective nominations for Anna Faris for saying "...and we both have dogs, and both like yoga, and live in Los Angeles.." or something to that extent.
Sofia Coppola, I just want you to know that you broke my heart tonight, and I love you for it.
Out.
