Lost In Translation (2003)
Release Date: September 12, 2003
What's It About: Bob, an aging American actor, is in Tokyo to film a whisky advertisement. Charlotte, a twenty-something, is recently married to a photographer and has followed him to Tokyo as he fulfills his job. The two coincidentally happen to be staying in the same hotel and eventually meet and form a friendship, sharing with each other their life woes and wisdoms.
The Good: The film's beauty is in its simplicity, employing simple cinematography and realistic dialogue. The lead performances are sublime, generating a rich chemistry between two people of contrasting backgrounds who meet each other halfway. Throughout the film there are a series of beautiful shots and sequences of the urban metropolis that is Tokyo. There is both macrocosmic and microcosmic symbolism in both the film's setting and the actions of the characters themselves- they are both literally lost in a foreign nation, and personally lost in their own personal dilemmas and unable to express themselves clearly to the world at large. The film's final scene left me with a deep nostalgic emptiness, recalling memories of departures of good friends.
The Bad: Thin plot, slow pace and few characters. The Japanese people themselves seem to be portrayed in a negative light, being either uncompromising, overly ostentatious subjects of humor, and in all cases, inconsequential to the film's outcome.
Best Performance: Both Bob and Charlotte are stunning, but Bob comes out on top. Bill Murray brings his usual deadpan expression and delivery, but this is amplified against the energetic, bombastic and spectacular backdrop of the city of Tokyo. This persona fits his role as a tired, worn-out movie star in the midst of an existential crisis.
Should I Watch It: As one of the more practical films of the romance genre, Lost in Translation explores the grounded reality of peoples' uncertainties about life and the meaning of forming bonds through them despite the pain life brings. I absolutely implore you to watch this film, as it is one of the rare gems in the romance genre and a shining example of Minimalism in film.
Post-Credits Scene: No
Similar Films: About Time (2013), Her (2013), Two Lovers (2008)
Trailer:
Great movie! Very much a mood piece, the film's deft balance of humor and poignancy makes it both a pleasurable and melancholy experience.
Must be a classic movie,, 👍
Seems pretty interesting! It's awesome to get such a good description of a movie :) I love Bill Murray! I guess, I have to go to the cinema soon!
This is a great, great movie! :D
It made me feel like watching it again.