Lost in Translation (2003)

• Review: **** (out of ****)
• Starring: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Faris
• Director: Sofia Coppola
• Screenplay: Sofia Coppola
• Length: 102 min.
• MPAA Rating: R (For some sexual content)

A brief glance in an elevator brings two lonely married people together in Focus Features' Lost in Translation.

There are few directors inthe span of history who will be remembered for their significantachievements. Executive producer Francis Ford Coppola is one. His worksgreat achievements include the classic films Apocalpyse Now and TheGodfather trilogy. Now, his latest great achievement has burst ontothe filmmaking scene. Daughter Sofia Coppola has made this deep andmoving motion picture that examines the delicate relationship betweenan aging actor and an impatient newlywed. Lost in Translation is aconventionally-packaged film with an unconventional story.

Bill Murray amazes theaudience with a brilliant performance as washed up actor Bob Harriswhose career has taken a nose dive and is now in Japan to filmcommercials for Suntory-brand liquor. "It's Suntory Time" is the phrasehe must utter falsely as a non-English-speaking crew watches his everymove. In one of the film's funniest moments, the director speaks to Bobonly in Japanese while a translator stands by to interpret his words.The stark contrast creates a humorous dichotomy of speech and foundsthe backbone of the title and its incurring meaning.

Scarlett Johansson playsCharlotte the two-years-married wife of an American photographer on alocation shoot in Tokyo. Her days are spent wistfully staring out herhotel room window at the traditional big city landscape in a countrywhere her culture and language are virtually foreign. Johansson isstartling in her ability to convey deep emotions without uttering a word. Her loneliness is as unbearable for her as itis for the audience. When she finally meets fellow American Bob Harris,her body language shifts towards elation while in his presence and thenback to loneliness and loss when he's away.

Lost in Translation isCoppola's third directorial effort and fourth writing credit. Her workspeaks for itself. This story is one of lost understanding and foundlove. We find two individuals disparate in lives but brought togetherby boredom and the simple commonality of being American. It isn't hardto see that the film is of a high caliber. The design elements,editing, cinematography and music, are all extremely traditional andtypical of an independent film but it's the message behind the film andthe terrific performances that make it a success. We find ourselveshoping for emotional success between Bob and Charlotte. We watch themfrom scene to scene developing an amazing attraction for one anotherthat we know cannot last but watch excitedly to see if it does.Coppola's vision is singular and universal at the same time. It has adeep emotion that surfaces effectively on the big screen.

Lost in Translationcarries the label independent but by all means that's a good thing. Somany major Hollywood releases are ignorant and devoid of greatcharacter development. Films like this help the audience realize thatthere are movies out there that can lift the spirit and tell a storythat feels real. It helps us understand that the people we see are justas human as we are and it makes us feel comforted by their successesand failures.

-Wesley Lovell (December 15, 2003)