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.
Lost in Translation (2003)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:214
Fresh:203
Rotten:11
Average Rating:8.4/10
Consensus: Murray gives one of his best performances in this expertly crafted mood piece.
Theatrical Release:Sep 12, 2003 Limited
Box Office: $44,566,004
Synopsis: Sofia Coppola's second feature-length film focuses on two guests at a Tokyo hotel--Bob (Bill Murray), a middle-aged actor in town to film whiskey commercials, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson),... Sofia Coppola's second feature-length film focuses on two guests at a Tokyo hotel--Bob (Bill Murray), a middle-aged actor in town to film whiskey commercials, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), the young wife of a trendy photographer (Giovanni Ribisi) who is always out on a shoot. When Bob isn't on the job taking fragmented direction from the Japanese crew, he's receiving faxes on home decorating from his emotionally distant wife. And while her husband is away, Charlotte spends most of her time trying to motivate herself to do more than look out the window at Tokyo's urban sprawl. So when the two meet in the hotel bar, they strike up an unusual friendship, one that provides a welcome escape from their boredom and loneliness. With LOST IN TRANSLATION, Coppola cements her reputation as a thoughtful and inventive filmmaker. Every element of the movie is pitch-perfect, from the dreamy, atmospheric score to the expertly timed editing to the lingering shots of the characters and the city. Most importantly, Coppola's minimalist script allows Murray and Johansson to give astonishingly moving yet subtle performances as people who are lost in the limbo of a foreign country, but find each other for comfort and companionship. Both heartbreakingly sad and hilariously funny, Coppola's LOST IN TRANSLATION is that rare movie in which everything is in its right place. [More]
Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris, Fumihiro Hayashi, Yutaka Tadokoro
Director: Sofia Coppola
Director: Sofia Coppola
Screenwriter: Sofia Coppola
Producer: Sofia Coppola, Ross Katz
Studio: Focus Features
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Reviews for Lost in Translation
...a deceptively simple study in unrequited attraction that succeeds in spite of minor problems with neglected sub-plots.
Lost in Translation revels in contradictions. It's a comedy about melancholy, a romance without consummation, a travelogue that rarely hits the road.
Very much a mood piece, the film's deft balance of humor and poignancy makes it both a pleasurable and melancholy experience.
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.
With this film it becomes clear that Sofia Coppola is a filmmaker with eyes all her own.
Working this time with her own story, Coppola lets it relax and breathe, devoting herself to moods and moments.
This is another step in Mr. Murray's career and one that hopefully gets him the recognition he deserves.
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.
While Sofia Coppola's debut was based on a well-received novel, her accomplished sophomore effort is a personal film based on her own experience. The melancholy film benfits from strong chemistry between Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.
Perfectly acted. Immeasurably funny. A great second outing for director Sofia Coppola.
So far as the central relationship goes, the film is almost European in its subtlety and nuance. Cinematic cherry blossom.
A magnificent picture because it specifically goes out of its way to avoid the clichés and elements would usually expect to see when watching this kind of boy meets girl movie.
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.
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.
[Murray] can still do more with a raised eyebrow than anyone since Groucho Marx, but he's mellower and sometimes slightly poignant.
Latest News for Lost in Translation
November 13, 2009:
James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
James Schamus might be a workaholic. If it's not enough that he's the head of Focus Features -- the independent imprint of Universal -- he's also an established producer and... More...
September 07, 2009:
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Richard Curtis has a plan. "What I've decided is to choose recent films," he explains to RT. "I do think that often people get stuck in always saying the five greatest films of... More...
December 21, 2007:
The Weekly Ketchup: Dark Knight Trailer, Peter Jackson Back On Hobbit, Terminator 4 Plot Details
In this week's Ketchup, those who missed the Dark Knight intro at the IMAX get a nice consolation prize, Tolkien fans can rest easy as Peter Jackson makes peace with New Line,... More...
December 14, 2007:
The Secret of the Lost in Translation Whisper Unlocked
Ah, the wonders of technology. First it gives us the remote control, then the Roomba -- and now, it's been used to solve one of the most impenetrable riddles in all of modern... More...
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