Hey folks, Harry here... I'll continue to push LOST IN TRANSLATION for a while simply because this is a movie that really does deserve to be heard about and ultimately seen. Absolutely wonderful film. Here's someone else that'll tell you the same...
Have been a fan of the site for a while but never written in but wanted to say that Ford Fairlane's heart must be lying next to mine on the floor in pieces... my take on the new Sofia Coppola film goes like this:
Finding loneliness in a city of millions is not that difficult a task. Millions in New York City manage daily to do just that - - searching for a connection to someone or something real amidst the hustle and bustle of the impersonal 'real world.' Finding beauty in that loneliness and isolation may be more difficult a proposition but Sofia Coppola does just that in her latest film, Lost In Translation.
Set in Tokyo, a city that can make New York seem like the Little Apple, this film successfully conveys the sadness and disorientation of being not only alone but also sleepless in a foreign place. That said, it also shares the joy of finding a connection in the least likely of places.
Bob Harris, played by Bill Murray in what is arguably his finest performance, is an American movie star who is being paid $2 million to advertise Suntory, a Japanese whiskey. Although this is done by many Hollywood luminaries so as to not dim their 'star power,' Harris comments that he is in Tokyo being paid this outrageous amount of money instead of 'doing a play.' He is dissatisfied in his career, his marriage is troubled, he has forgotten his son's birthday? he is 'lost.' And his jet lag has turned into a full-on bout with insomnia.
Enter Charlotte. This recent college grad (philosophy) has followed her photographer husband to Tokyo so that he can take image-changing pictures of a local rock band. As he is often working, Charlotte finds not only many daytime hours to herself but has also been unable to sleep as well. Scarlett Johansson emerges here as a screen presence to be reckoned with. Impressive turns in both Ghost World and The Man Who Wasn't There were nothing compared to the subconscious turmoil and quiet desire on display here.
The two leads meet and quickly become friends (more?) who share a need for human company as well as a bemused fascination with the locals. Video game rooms, karaoke bars and the like are all explored and the language barrier proves to be more entertaining than hindering to the pair. The city comes alive with an energy and sense of vitality that often only translates on screen. But I bet that anyone who sees this film will be online researching airfare to Japan the next day.
Coppola allows her camera to capture the almost ethereal beauty of a crowded metropolis as well as the palpable chemistry between her two leads. Many films that deal with the subject of May-December romances fail because of this lack of chemistry. I will step up and say that Lost In Translation is easily one of the best screen romances I have seen in years. Without revealing too much, Murray and Johansson say more about longing with sideways glances than many actors can manage with full-on sex scenes.
Behind the visual beauty is a landscape of well-chosen indie rock gems that prove a soundtrack can be as smart and relevant as a score without ever overpowering the emotion it is trying to underline. Tracks from Phoenix, Air, Sebastian Tellier and My Bloody Valentine stand out in a collection full of winners.
While the supporting pair of Giovanni Ribisi and Anna Faris is also impressive in a smaller but vital capacity, Murray and Johansson (as well as Coppola's languid pacing and sensual camera work) are the stars. Murray should receive a well-deserved Oscar nomination for his performance but it is Johannson's natural, self-assured turn that makes his performance possible. This is one of the few 'must see' films of the year. So do.
Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. :)
Max Mooney
