Review of Lost in Translation (2003) by Shane M — 17 Feb 2015

Independent films have come a long way since Quentin Tarantino's Pulp Fiction from 1994. The film has cemented its status as a landmark film and the beginning of the rise of independent films thanks to its Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay, six additional nominations for Best Picture, Director, Actor, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress, and Editing, and massive critical and commercial success.

Influence followed thereafter, with new filmmakers such as Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, the Coen brothers, and Sofia Coppola. Coppola may come from a family of filmmakers, and is the father of film legend Francis Ford Coppola, but her filmmaking status has been hit-or-miss recently.

Her newest film The Bling Ring has received criticism from critics and viewers, but some of her old films garnered her lots of resoect and awards. Her directorial debut The Virgin Suicides received mostly positive responses from critics and audiences, and signaled her as a promising up-and-coming filmmaker that might join the ranks of her father or his friends including George Lucas.

She had an acting career that has since ended (thankfully), but no one cares about that. Her sophomore effort as director would come with Lost in Translation, a comedy-drama starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

The film follows Murray as Bob Harris, an actor who travels to Tokyo to do an advertisement for Suntory whisky for $2 million. While there, he meets Charlotte (Johansson), a recent college graduate in Tokyo as well with her husband John (Giovanni Ribisi), a celebrity photographer on business.

Charlotte is usually alone in her hotel room, and leaves to explore the unique culture and sights that Tokyo has to offer. When Charlotte and Bob meet, they develop a connection and bond by going out on the town, giving them both company in a place unknown to them.

Viewers are introduced to characters who are far away from home, new to Japanese culture, and have only experienced that culture from food they eat at Japanese restaurants or something along those lines (mainly guessing).

They are complete strangers to everyone else, with Charlotte being in a small part of conversations with John and his friends, or people she meets on the town. Bob is acknowledged by people who know him because of his movies, and he gets phone calls and even mail from his wife at home.

There's not much to be said about them, but that's the point. Coppola wrote the script in a way to make these characters and the events surrounding them to get "lost in translation" (hence the title).

This helps viewers understand how lost they are not only in Tokyo, but in life as well. The subtlety of their dialogue highlights the journey that have longed to complete, and wonder for what's ahead of them in the future.

This results in a moving, melancholy viewing. The film however does allow humor into the story, and it blends well with the drama, making the occasional laughs worthwhile. Coppola wrote, co-produced, and directed the film, and she did a brilliant job with all three of her responsibilities.

With writing, she uses the dialogue and actions of Bob and Charlotte to give them character, while themes of alienation, love, and friendship help drive the film towards a visceral conclusion. Directing, Sofia utilizes raw emotion from her cast to give depth to their characters, while the visual style symbolizes loneliness (natural lighting has its advantages).

Sofia also uses the backdrop of Tokyo to truly give off the sense of alienation, and succeeds at creating a melancholic atmosphere for viewers. The cast is brilliant, with Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson firing on all cylinders.

Murray may be a legend with his comedies, but his dramatic side is just as powerful, giving us a moving portrayal of a man struggling with life, aging, and coping with what he has. Johansson has become popular with Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but this role showed what she could bring to a role, giving us a young female with tons of confusion involving life, marraige, and the future.

Crying from subtlety is surprising at times, but the actors make it work thanks to dramatic delivery that feels honest rather than forced. Giovanni Ribisi is commendable as John, who seems to know Tokyo possibly due to previous jobs he may have had before the events of the film (guessing), and is respectful toward Charlotte, but isn't keen on spending time with her, damaging the relationship.

Anna Faris steals every scene she's in as Kelly, one of John's friends. It's an admittedly better role than Cindy in the Scary Movie franchise, and she delivers the laughs with success always ringing its bell.

The result of all the hard work on a $4 million budget (independent enough for you?) was over $119 million at the box office, and four Oscar nominations, winning one for Best Orginal Screenplay for Coppola.

The other nominations were Best Picture, Director, and Actor for Murray. A true art-house film, and one of the greatest independent films of all time.