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Lost In Translation (2003)

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Average Rating: 8.4/10
Reviews Counted: 219
Fresh: 208 | Rotten: 11

Effectively balancing humor and subtle pathos, Sofia Coppola crafts a moving, melancholy story that serves as a showcase for both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

Average Rating: 8.5/10
Critic Reviews: 41
Fresh: 40 | Rotten: 1

Effectively balancing humor and subtle pathos, Sofia Coppola crafts a moving, melancholy story that serves as a showcase for both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

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Movie Info

After making a striking directorial debut with her screen adaptation of The Virgin Suicides, Sofia Coppola offers a story of love and friendship blooming under unlikely circumstances in this comedy drama. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a well-known American actor whose career has gone into a tailspin; needing work, he takes a very large fee to appear in a commercial for Japanese whiskey to be shot in Tokyo. Feeling no small degree of culture shock in Japan, Bob spends most of his non-working hours

R, 1 hr. 45 min.

Drama, Comedy

Directed By: Sofia Coppola

Written By: Sofia Coppola

In Theaters: Sep 26, 2003 Limited

On DVD: Feb 3, 2004

Box Office:$44.6M

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Lost In Translation Trailer & Photos

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Cast

Critic Reviews for Lost In Translation

All Critics (219) | Top Critics (41) | Fresh (214) | Rotten (11) | DVD (41)

Lost in Translation revels in contradictions. It's a comedy about melancholy, a romance without consummation, a travelogue that rarely hits the road.

October 5, 2008 Full Review Source: TIME Magazine

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Richard Corliss

TIME Magazine

Top Critic

Very much a mood piece, the film's deft balance of humor and poignancy makes it both a pleasurable and melancholy experience.

October 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Variety

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David Rooney

Variety

Top Critic

With this film it becomes clear that Sofia Coppola is a filmmaker with eyes all her own.

November 1, 2007 Full Review Source: Newsweek

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David Ansen

Newsweek

Top Critic

[Murray] can still do more with a raised eyebrow than anyone since Groucho Marx, but he's mellower and sometimes slightly poignant.

March 7, 2005 Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Eleanor Ringel Gillespie

Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Top Critic

In Japan, the most extreme delicacy goes hand in hand with garishness, and Coppola offers up both for our delectation. It's a heady, hallucinatory combo.

August 7, 2004 Full Review Source: New York Magazine

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Peter Rainer

New York Magazine

Top Critic

Of course, Mr. Murray gets all the laughs with his exquisite timing and wry delivery, but Ms. Johansson makes an eloquent and charismatic listener.

October 9, 2003 Full Review Source: New York Observer

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Andrew Sarris

New York Observer

Top Critic

A lot here for mature older teens and adults.

December 25, 2010 Full Review Source: Common Sense Media

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

A relationship picture with elegant connective tissue; it's brittle and real, focused on the nuances of body language and unspoken desire, while indulging in a cheeky bit of knowing absurdity when the mood strikes.

December 28, 2009 Full Review Source: Modamag.com

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Brian Orndorf

Modamag.com

...a deceptively simple study in unrequited attraction that succeeds in spite of minor problems with neglected sub-plots.

June 13, 2009 Full Review Source: ColeSmithey.com

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

[A] top notch gem with beautiful direction courtesy of Sofia Coppola, incredible cinematography, a touching story, and great acting in part of Scarlett Johannsen and Bill Murray.

April 29, 2009 Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed

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Felix Vasquez Jr.

Cinema Crazed

Wonderfully warm and witty.

October 18, 2008 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile

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Urban Cinefile Critics

Urban Cinefile

Transcends its initial culture clash comic riffs to evolve into something altogether more moving by the end. As a result, it's a work of considerable power and pathos.

October 5, 2008 Full Review Source: Film4

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James Mottram

Film4

Working this time with her own story, Coppola lets it relax and breathe, devoting herself to moods and moments.

August 13, 2007 Full Review Source: eFilmCritic.com

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Rob Gonsalves

eFilmCritic.com

This is another step in Mr. Murray's career and one that hopefully gets him the recognition he deserves.

July 14, 2007 Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound

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Joe Lozito

Big Picture Big Sound

Alternately laugh-out-loud silly and profoundly moving, kudos to Sofia Coppola for managing to capture an undeniable chemistry between Murray and his 18 year-old co-star, despite a certain asexuality.

May 23, 2007 Full Review Source: Princeton Town Topics

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Kam Williams

Princeton Town Topics

Sofia Coppola's accomplished sophomore work is a personal, melancholy film, based on her own experience, and benefiting from strong chemistry between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.

January 24, 2007 Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

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Emanuel Levy

EmanuelLevy.Com Source: EmanuelLevy.Com

Perfectly acted. Immeasurably funny. A great second outing for director Sofia Coppola.

August 8, 2006 Full Review Source: Oscar Guy

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Wesley Lovell

Oscar Guy

So far as the central relationship goes, the film is almost European in its subtlety and nuance. Cinematic cherry blossom.

June 24, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

From the casting choices to the soul-soothing musical score to glimpses into Japanese visual culture, it's obvious that Sofia pays careful attention that each element of the film stands strong alone, but can also contribute to the whole.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat

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Stina Chyn

Film Threat

Like so many things made in Japan, Sofia Coppola's new film is smaller and less costly than its standard American counterpart while at the same time superior in most important respects.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat

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Rick Kisonak

Film Threat

A magnificent picture because it specifically goes out of its way to avoid the clich�s and elements would usually expect to see when watching this kind of boy meets girl movie.

December 6, 2005 Full Review Source: Film Threat

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Peter Lowry

Film Threat

More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Lost In Translation

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Sofia Coppola's 'Lost in Translation' is an aptly named film that portrays more of the talents that made Coppola the filmmaker she is today. It may be the film that represents her techniques the best. Again coaxing great performances, especially from the impressive Murray, the film was still unable to completely

May 7, 2012

Kase Vollebregt

Super Reviewer

After the first thirty minutes, the movie becomes much slower and a lot more somber. Despite the crawl, Lost In Translation is still a fantastic comedy/drama due to the believable performances (especially from Murray, who still has comedic timing and delivery down to a science), a consistent and captivating mood, and

January 27, 2012

Sam Barnett

Super Reviewer

Lost In Translation Quotes

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1. Bob Harris: For relaxing times, make it santori time.
– Submitted by Feli Y (52 days ago)
1. Kelly: Ok, listen, I'm under Evelyn Waugh, okay? Okay, Arigato Arigato!
2. John: Muchi Muchi!
3. Charlotte: Evelyn Waugh?
4. John: What?
5. Charlotte: Evelyn Waugh was a man.
– Submitted by Feli Y (52 days ago)
1. Charlotte: I just don't know what I'm supposed to be.
– Submitted by Sara B (2 months ago)
1. Bob Harris: The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.
– Submitted by Sara B (2 months ago)
1. Bob Harris: Can you keep a secret? I'm trying to organize a prison break. I'm looking for, like, an accomplice. We have to first get out of this bar, then the hotel, then the city, and then the country. Are you in or you out?
2. Charlotte: I'm in. I'll go pack my stuff.
3. Bob Harris: I hope that you've had enough to drink. It's going to take courage.
– Submitted by Marcela O (9 months ago)