Review of Lost in Translation (2003) by Jason M — 24 Dec 2016

This is one of the most grossly overrated films of all time. It's simple plot, simple screenplay and light dialogue must have taken the groupthink of Hollywood critics by surprise to have showered such praise on an amateurish film. I am certain that the producers were as surprised as I was that the $4M budget movie went on to make $120M at the box office, and win Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Screenplay. She was nominated for Best Director in this, her 2nd only feature, at the time when Martin Scorcese had never won an Oscar as a director in his career - absolutely shameful. Do you think her father Francis had anything to do with it?

Bill Murray takes a serious turn in much non-acting and little dialogue here. I remember feeling angrily frustrated with the ending when I saw this at the theatre. However, the feeling dissipated as quickly as it came after I realized the film was not worth such emotional investment.