Film Review: Lost in Translation (2003)

Many who don’t like film of Andrei Tarkovsky complain about lack of plot and long scenes when nothing actually happens. Tarkovsky fans usually respond to such complains by claiming that Tarkovsky films have “great atmosphere”. Similar kind of defence can be invoked by fans of Sofia Coppola whenever someone criticises shortcomings of her work, including her most successful film, 2003 drama Lost in Translation.

Protagonist, played by Bill Murray, is Bob Harris, Hollywood actor who used to be a big international star decades ago but who is now forced to make ends meet by appearing in Japanese whiskey commercials. Bob arrives for the shoot in Tokyo where he would deal with jet lag, language barriers and culture shock. He checks in upscale Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel, where Charlotte (played by Scarlett Johansson), young woman who has graduated from Yale and who stays with her husband John (played by Giovanni Ribisi), celebrity photographer who came to Japan for a shoot. John is completely dedicated to his work and prefers company of his colleagues and old acquaintances to Charlotte, who is left in hotel. Series of chance encounters with Bob leads both of them to realise that they share feeling of alienation from the strange exotic country they found themselves in, as well as from their respective spouses. Their relationship soon develops in genuine friendship and two of them begin to venture out of hotel to Tokyo streets where they experience semi-humorous adventures that involve performances in karaoke bars. Their mutual affection grows and there are hints that the relationship might evolve into something more, but both are aware two major impediments in that direction – their stay in Japan soon coming to an end and huge age gap between two.

Lost in Translation was the most personal of all films by Sofia Coppola. Previously she had spent number of years living in Japan and became fond of Tokyo’s night life as well as city’s striking aesthetic which she found so modern and alien at the same time. The very idea for screenplay came in Park Hyatt Tokyo - the very same hotel that serves as plot setting - where Coppola was staying while promoting her directorial debut The Virgin Suicides. Much of the script was built around character of Bob Harris, a role specifically created for Bill Murray, actor who, until that time was known almost exclusively for comic roles and whose latest attempt to branch into more serious or dramatic roles, made nearly two decades earlier in The Razor’s Edge, had left much to be desired. Copoola, despite reputation and clout of her family name, had some issues before launching project, but when Murray finally agreed to shoot, her perseverance was rewarded.

The main such rewards comes from Bill Murray, who delivered one of the strongest, most believable and realistic performances. Some may argue that Murray, by playing Hollywood actor who had seen better days or has to deal with alienation and midlife crisis, might have played himself. Nevertheless, he is very good in his role and benefits a lot from chemistry with Scarlett Johansson, up-and-coming actress who was 17 years during the production, but who nevertheless plays woman slightly older than her with great confidence. Chemistry between two actors is well used in script that tries to explore themes of alienation and generation gap while using formula of doomed love affair very much like the one depicted in David Lean’s classic Brief Encounter. Coppola also adds her own very personal observations about Japan and its complex relationship with the rest of the world. There are attempts of mild humour that made some critics characterise Lost in Translation as romantic comedy. Some of those would later serve as basis for accusations of racial stereotyping and cultural insensitivity.

The more dangerous issue Coppola had to deal in the world increasingly dominated by “political correctness” is the age gap between the protagonists and possibility that Lost in Translation might be deemed as sexist. Coppola gave a little material to those accusations by opening shot with features young Scarlett Johansson’s posterior clad in underwear. However, she took much more caution in the rest of the film and decided to keep relationship between Bob and Charlotte strictly platonic. Just to make sure, she even added character of hotel’s lounge singer (played by Catherine Lambert), conveniently closer to Bob’s age, with whom the protagonist would have a one night stand. That small detail appears artificially inserted in the story and makes Lost in Translation look too cold and too calculated for what would otherwise be much warmer and authentic story.

Lost in Translation, nevertheless won plenty of critics and audience, ultimately earning Coppola an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film became Coppola’s biggest hit and in many ways represented new boost for Bill Murray’s career, while elevating Scarlett Johansson into one of the biggest female stars of 21st Century Hollywood.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

_

Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com
Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/
InLeo blog https://inleo.io/@drax.leo

InLeo: https://inleo.io/signup?referral=drax.leo
Unstoppable Domains: https://unstoppabledomains.com/?ref=3fc23fc42c1b417
Hiveonboard: https://hiveonboard.com?ref=drax y
Bitcoin Lightning HIVE donations: https://v4v.app/v1/lnurlp/qrcode/drax
Rising Star game: https://www.risingstargame.com?referrer=drax
1Inch: https://1inch.exchange/#/r/0x83823d8CCB74F828148258BB4457642124b1328e

BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG
ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7

Posted using CineTV