Review of Lost in Translation (2003) by Diego T — 15 Sep 2013

Rarely does a movie make me feel as conflicted as Lost in Translation. In fact, let's put that in a better way: Rarely does a movie make me FEEL. And yes, as a rule, I don't like art-house movies that pretend to be deeper than they really are. But there's something intangible about Lost in Translation that makes you think that its pretentiousness actually has some merit. Sure, it acts like it knows more about people and their relationships than you do... but there are times when you get the sense that it's not just blowing smoke, and it actually does. I'm a proudly cynical and analytical person, but this movie kind of threw me off. And I'm going to try my best to put that sensation into words for this review.

Lost in Translation stars Bill Murray as an American celebrity in Tokyo to do a commercial (and maybe participate in some typically Japanese talk shows). The soul-crushing atmosphere of business trips is pretty much captured here, featuring tiny hotel rooms, bland and unfeeling concrete buildings, and frustrating translation errors. Fortunately for him, he comes across Scarlett Johansson, who (as always) gives the movie a shitload of bonus points from me. Even if Murray is kind of annoying, Johansson is the rare combination of both good acting skills and, well... being easy on the eyes. The two of them begin to bond, and form a friendship that, SOMEHOW, never includes sex. Oh right, spoiler alert-- they never end up doing it.

The biggest plot hole here is Johansson's boyfriend. He's constantly complaining. I take offense to this. YOU ARE BANGING SCARLETT JOHANSSON. ACT LIKE IT. STOP BEING SUCH A WHINY BITCH! In fact, even Murray's spouse was fucking obnoxious, to the point of distraction. I get that it was supposed to signify 'trouble at home,' but HOLY FUCK! Why even go on a second date with these people? Also, the movie suffers from a reputation that precedes it-- it's been called one of the best indie films of all time, which frankly, is a bit of an overstatement. It's good, but it's not amazing. Quiet films like this don't set out to do much; they don't try to alter paradigms or change the world of cinema-- so stop acting like they do! It's like being told that The Godfather is the BEST MOVIE EVER for all of your life... and then you see it. No matter how good it is, it will not live up to your now-astronomical expectations. I suppose the appeal for Lost in Translation is pretty across-the-board, but 95%? No fucking way.

On to the pros-- and there are a lot of them. Firstly, the movie has a very distinct and very subversive feel that I enjoyed immensely. It accurately depicted what foreign travel is like, depicting a blur of neon lights and cultural differences that is endlessly enjoyable. The depiction of Japanese culture, ranging from karaoke bars to snow-covered pagodas, was very well-done and visually powerful. Sure, it got a little ponderous at times, but this isn't really out to be a gut-busting kind of movie. If anything, it's a dark comedy-- you'll laugh, but you'll be thinking while you do it.

But what will you be thinking ABOUT? This is where the movie kind of loses me, as it tries to somehow make this admittedly complicated yet cosmically unimportant platonic friendship be much larger than it actually is. It's a charming and reserved movie, and it will make you feel things... but I'm not quite sure what those things are. Is it supposed to be about how humans interact, and how everyone wants different things out of life? Maybe. You can really decide for yourself, which is both an asset and a fatal flaw to the story. You walk out wondering "Why was this even made?" It might be thought-provoking, but when you strip off all of its flashiness and pretty colors, it's just a drawn-out episode of Friends-- NOW WITH MORE VACANT STARES!

Not to say I didn't like it. In fact, I was entranced. It's a powerful movie that, although somewhat lightweight, carries an indescribable heaviness and bluntness that will both confuse and entertain you. Well... this wasn't a very good review, as reviews are supposed to accurately describe how a movie makes one feel. But the psychedelic, mesmerizing vibe that this movie gives off cannot rightly be put into words. Final Score for Lost in Translation: 6/10 stars. This movie will shake you up, even if it's just for a brief period of time, which makes it definitely worth a viewing. Maybe upon another viewing, I will be able to more eloquently describe this movie's finer points. Until then, you'll have to be satisfied with this. I will say this, however, as a tip for wannabe filmmakers: Don't make the mistake that Lost in Translation does. Don't put the best scene at the very opening moment of the movie.