ROTTEN TOMATOES: The Secret of the Lost in Translation Whisper Unlocked Comments

The Secret of the Lost in Translation Whisper Unlocked

by Jeff Giles | December 14, 2007

Summary

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 cinema. Back to Article

(1-49 of 49 posts) | Reply

zachdybs writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:44 AM

interesting.
but now i feel a little dirty for having listened to their secret.

and its just a movie.
but its one of my all time favorites.

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Dr. Hanso writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:45 AM

The ending still sucks.

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Dr. Hanso writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:45 AM

The ending still sucks. Nice work, though.

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Baccus83 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:46 AM

The ending's brilliant, and it's interesting to hear what he actually says - but all the same entirely beside the point. I mean, there's a reason Sofia Coppola decided to keep it from us.

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cowzilla3 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:49 AM

Not happy at all, totally ruined the open edning there.

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puablo writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:57 AM

Interesting indeed. I think I actually kinda like it.

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RBatty024 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:00 AM

It's actually a damn good line. It has a Zen koan quality that you find throughout the film. I always think of the movie through Zen terms, so this works within that context. Of course, just because that's what Bill Murray said doesn't mean that's what the character said.

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laika86 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:03 AM

The ending is so great because of the ambiguity.

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LordVapor writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:18 AM

makes a lot of sense actually. always thought that it was bullcrap if they wouldnt have ended up together, because they were obviously in love, and life is too short.....although, we all know that just cause two peope love each other and should belong together, doesn't make it fact.....

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iankusc writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:40 AM

Sometimes Technology is the problem and not the solution. This is like the tacked on "Special Edition" of Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind. Some things are just better left to the imagination.

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Novastar. writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:43 AM

Bill Murray you old dog!

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bethehero7404 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 09:28 AM

great film...so now what, are we going to find out what was in that suitcase in Pulp Fiction now? Geeze.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Dec 14 2007 09:49 AM

The soul of the ving rhames character was in the suitcase.

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blinkybrown writes:
on Dec 14 2007 10:20 AM

Definitely prefer thinking it all just ended with the kiss. That line changes the film entirely. It wasn't meant to be heard.

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Prosper761 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 10:41 AM

Still the single most overrated movie ever made. Sophia Coppola should put down her camera for good. Between this and "Marie Anroinette," I lost 4 hours of my life that I'll never get back.

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clamman27 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 11:14 AM

Who the hell cares? At the end of the day its still one of the most over-rated, over-analyzed movies of recent years. And no, Bill Murray didn't deserve an Oscar for this. Neither did Sofia. But again, who cares? What's done is done. LiT fanatics will whine oh you just don't get it, it's a beautiful character study... blah blah. Over rated.

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malaguy writes:
on Dec 14 2007 11:19 AM

nice work, but the movie still blows my *** harder than any other over-indulgent pretentious piece of **** movie out there.

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justice_rehnquist writes:
on Dec 14 2007 11:57 AM

Lost in Translation was a great film. For the first time in contemporary cinema, two adult characters were depicted as behaving responsibly toward each other in spite of their demonstrable love and appreciation for each other. Any other hack director would have had the characters have sex together and engage in this ultra-passionate temporary affair. Sofia Coppola wrote these characters as intelligent and aware of their moral obligations to refrain from infidelity (although Murray's character did sleep with the red-headed lounge singer). By contrast, Murray's respect and deep love for Johannsen's character restrained him from violating the bond of fidelity with his wife.

Johannsen's character was in a marriage manifested by neglect, while Murray's character was in a marriage that was suffering from a loss of mutual spousal effort to maintain genuine romance and heartfelt communication.

This film is great and the unrevealed whisper at the end brought a heightened sense of satisfaction and empathy.

If you want stereotypical, melodramatic cheating spouses with little or no genuineness, rent Todd Field's "Little Children." This film felt like a 2-hour noontime soap opera.

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lambman writes:
on Dec 14 2007 01:42 PM

can somebody just quote the line in their reply? I am sure I am not the only one at school/work where youtube content is blocked

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Missing Reel writes:
on Dec 14 2007 01:56 PM

Umm...I thought the last part of the line was clearly "call your husband and tell him that you love him." I thought the first part was just the mystery.

If that is the line, I don't like it at all. Hell, it's a goodbye scene; Not an "I'll call you..." scene.

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The Toe writes:
on Dec 14 2007 02:11 PM

Notice the level of eloquence in the replies by the ones who hate the movie.

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gunslingR writes:
on Dec 14 2007 02:16 PM

bleh. slept through most of the movie and could really care less. slow news day RT? surprised they haven't caught up with all the Dark Knight posters that were recently released...

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arendr writes:
on Dec 14 2007 02:45 PM

This is dumb. It's like finding out what's in the briefcase in Pulp Fiction. It's more effective as a mystery, and any words would be a letdown, even if Shakespeare had written them.

This is like people trying to figure out what the guy says in the "Just" music video.

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randal1013 writes:
on Dec 14 2007 03:11 PM

even with the digital processing, the dialog is still indecipherable.

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nathanpoitras writes:
on Dec 14 2007 03:27 PM

Way to go Bill Murray! Get that young stuff!

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VibTDog writes:
on Dec 14 2007 06:56 PM

Ving Rhames' penis was in the suitcase.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:17 PM

Soul...penis...same thing.

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VibTDog writes:
on Dec 14 2007 07:25 PM

true

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man in the water writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:27 PM

I don't buy it, the sound is still blurred asnd washed out. Sorry, just think this is people who want to famous and thought cracking open the secret of the whisper would make them well known.

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man in the water writes:
on Dec 14 2007 08:28 PM

Also, Little Children is an excellent film, the whole Lost in Translation movie is perfect as well.

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unclehulka writes:
on Dec 15 2007 06:16 AM

i miss bill. when is this pimp gonna hit the big screen again?

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lavatory love machine writes:
on Dec 15 2007 09:05 AM

In reply to this comment (#1355688)
no

his souls wasn't on the case, tarantino said that's incorrect

that came from the bandaid on ving's back, that according to some myth is from where you can still the soul of a person, but that completly unintentional, ving rhames had the banaid there when he cametoshoot his firstscene, tarantino liked how it looked and told him to leave there, unaware of the soul myth

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lavatory love machine writes:
on Dec 15 2007 09:16 AM

like someone said, that line sounds too much like a goodbye

I've seen that movie so many times and everytime I think the line is about how they can meet again if something happens or if she ever needs something she can go to him for help, not a close goodbye

but I think that line is not meant to be heard because it doesnt add anything to the previous goodbye, most likely it was add lib by bill murray without sofia coppola knowing about it beforehand

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uglygnome writes:
on Dec 15 2007 09:23 AM

This was one of the most over-hyped movies ever made. Despite a somewhat strong performance from Murray, this was the lackluster, irritating role that would launch Johansen into a career of lackluster, irritating roles. Knowing what he whispered won't make it any better.

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randal1013 writes:
on Dec 15 2007 12:29 PM

it's bill murray, he probably said something like "meet my in my trailer in 15 minutes for beer and sex"

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adam41480 writes:
on Dec 15 2007 06:30 PM

I loved Murray in this role (despite the movie's pace dragging like my dog's butt on the carpet), but I have to agree with uglygnome that this movie unfortunately helped launch the career of one of the most irritating and overrated actresses in Hollywood today! Who cares about the whisper? It was just as dull as the rest of the movie!

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kubla writes:
on Dec 15 2007 07:04 PM

I kinda like what he said.

I feel like marie antoinette "exposed" sophia copolla as being an over-indulgent film-maker, but in its weird quirky, stream of consciousness way, I've always appreciated this movie.

I don't think the movie was about sexual love, but two people who understand each other despite lots of boundaries in a place where a lot is "lost in translation"... I know, too subtle, right?

So for him to say, "I have to go, but I won't let that come between us", he is saying that there are reaons why they can't be together, but that they have a deeper understanding of each other and a connection that can never be taken away. It doesn't necessarily mean that they are going to "hook up later" as some have suggested.

I agree that it's nice not knowing what they said. It makes it so that their connection has a mysterious quality.

But if this is indeed what he said, and I agree it really isn't all that clear, it doesn't ruin the movie for me. Just my two pennies.

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bookworm1994 writes:
on Dec 15 2007 07:24 PM

i agree with lambman. someone, please, post the line. i have youtube blocked as well. PLEASE.

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Ciaranmv writes:
on Dec 15 2007 08:39 PM

Who cares? it's just a movie

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GandalfTheWhite writes:
on Dec 16 2007 02:13 PM

My sound doesn't work, anyone care to quote it?

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GandalfTheWhite writes:
on Dec 16 2007 02:14 PM

Whoops, nevermind...guess I didn't see they subtitle it.

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stevalex writes:
on Dec 16 2007 02:15 PM

Spoiler........

This youtube video claims that Murray whispers, "I have to be leaving, but I won't let that come between us. Okay?"

I like it. It's like he's saying he'll be with her in spirit.

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Lizard Brain writes:
on Dec 16 2007 02:52 PM

He said, "Let me tap that ***" and you know it....

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Schumacherh8ter writes:
on Dec 16 2007 03:52 PM

Personally, I found "Lost In Translation" to be ****ing terrible! "BloodRayne" was better!

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jrdamwijk writes:
on Dec 16 2007 06:52 PM

I don't think this should have been done, but it doesn't affect how I feel about the film either way. It's still a great, subtle, understated film, and that's why the ending was so great. But honestly, did anyone really think that he said "Bye you damn douche, Ill never talk to you again" or something? I know people say it was a goodbye scene, but really, I never took it like that. She was clearly happy by what he said, and it wasnt a subtle "Yes, I love you but I know this is the way it has to be" bittersweet happy, it was a "I'm so excited for our future" happy.

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High School With Money writes:
on Dec 17 2007 07:45 AM

He gave away the ending to [i]Ghostbutsters 3[/i] and said "... so now you don't have to see it, okay?" That was sweet of him.

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tomwaitsjr writes:
on Dec 17 2007 12:39 PM

"I have a sweet golf cart I scored from the hotel. Let's get S###-Faced and run over Japaneese midgets..."

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phraggle writes:
on Jan 28 2008 05:41 PM

In reply to this comment (#1361571)
Yeah, but... Scarlett... you know. Phooowooaaaar!

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Ross H. writes:
on Jan 23 2009 08:28 PM

In reply to this comment (#1355782)
to anyone who thinks this movie is overrated, I have this to say : "you people voted for Hubert Humphrey, and you killed Jesus."

and you've probably never felt lonely or lost before, or had a meaningful encounter with someone unexpected that you knew could never work out, but still had a strong impact on you.

it's not pretentious. if you don't think the movie is beautiful, you're simple.

(Reply to this)

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