Lost In Translation

*

I have taken out my compass, tried to realign myself, and I’m still lost as to why this film is receiving the big buzz and 4 Academy Award nominations. Lost In Translation is not a bad film. It is a fairly good showcase for Scarlett Johansson, and as an early work of Sofia Coppola it has the earmarks of someone who is going to make significant contributions to the art of cinema. But, it is not one of the better pieces from last year and in the rearview of time will not be considered as a seminal first, a great love story or much more than a sweet travel-log.

What is most appealing to many that I’ve talked to about the film is the setting. The fast paced, exotic world of Tokyo and the custom wielding Japanese are host to Bob Harris (Bill Murray), an over the hill actor who has been contracted to a Japanese company to hawk their whisky. While his face becomes plastered across the city he sits every night, alone in the hotel bar, getting soused. Eventually, he meets the young, beautiful and married Charlotte (Scarlet Johansson).

Charlotte is an along-for-the-ride wife whose husband works away the days and snores away the nights. Through their common disenchantment with their situations Bob and Charlotte, who keep meeting in the hotel public areas, develop a friendship. At first it’s only that, but as the story progresses and the hollowness of their marital situations becomes apparent we see that these two are on the edge of making things right by doing the wrong thing. A night together in bed takes place, but they remain fully clothed and simply fall asleep together, as friends would. This is the sweet edge to the story and it remains that way throughout.

Bill Murray plays his part well but is pretty much just a low keyed Bill Murray. Every move he makes, if geared up higher is .... Bill Murray. The real acting here is done by Ms. Johansson who is currently starring in The Girl With The Pearl Earring.

While still at local theaters, this piece is also now available on video and DVD. It was released in this manner because once the Academy Awards is over the buzz will disappear faster than the monsoon season in Albuquerque. My suggestion is to find a night when; you want to travel to Japan, want to watch Murray subdued, want to see the very sexy Scarlett Johansson, and go rent it. This is also the best way to determine what, if anything, Bill says to Scarlet at the very end of the movie. I won’t spoil it here by telling you