movie's 411

>> LOST IN TRANSLATION

Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovani Ribisi
Director: Sofia Coppola
Genre: Drama




being a stranger in a strange land is an ancient storytelling theme. "lost in translation," the new film by sofia coppola, isn't the most profound treatment it has ever received. but the movie is more thoughtful, touching, and funnier than almost anything else the screen has given us lately. the main characters are two loners who wish they weren't. bill murray plays bob, a hollywood star who's flown to tokyo for a photo shoot that rapidly becomes as tedious as it is superficial. scarlett johansson plays charlotte, a lively young woman who's visiting the same city with her new husband.

that husband (giovanni ribisi) is an up-and-coming photographer more in love with his work than with his wife, and when he scoots away for an off-site assignment she's so lonely she can't sleep. neither can bob, who's bored to distraction by the mind-numbing work he's doing. they make each other's acquaintance in their hotel's bar late at night, and soon a gentle friendship blossoms between them, despite the differences in their ages and backgrounds.

on paper, this film sounds pitch perfect: bill murray in a quirky comedy with a great concept. although not a big fan of bill murray, i have to tip my hat off on his performance in this movie along with the co-star, the rising scarlett johansson. i even believe that this movie would be a total bust without those two. unfortunately, the problem is that the film, structurally was kinda confusing. the film, despite a great concept, is practically plotless, with no rising action or climax. sofia coppola took too many opportunities to flash stylism over substance that just scream pretentiousness. although the ending was very emotional, it was not quite satisfying. it feels as if it was just a series of funny scenes tangled in a romantic-but-maybe-not emotion between the two characters.

the film greatest strength *aside from the great casting*, is being able to capture the very specific world that bob and charlotte find themselves in, once they begin interacting - somehow they become essential to one another in a foreign place, and their relationship is one that exists between the boundaries of friendship, love or desperation - it's just completely unique and unnamed. the movie is mostly funny and somewhat contemplative, but never maudlin.

cinematography here is stunning. tokyo is rendered in all of its colorful and energetic glory. makes me wanna go there for a visit *without the jet lag, of course*.

i give the movie a 3 stars because i like the way it shows the emotion and how the relationship between the two characters evolved. they become dependent to each other emotionally, but they're not quite in love, because obviously bob was married and the same goes with charlotte. but they were there and share the loneliness in the foreign country. unfortunately, it just goes on very slow, in spite of all the funny scenes.. it just seems that it's neverending series of funny scenes to another. still, it's a film worth watching. even if it's only to see coppola gradually growing as a filmmaker. hopefully, her next film will be better.


>> rated by :: sLesTa | [ ]

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