Best Appreciated By Those Who Have Traveled To Japan

Rating: 8/10 (16 February 2004)

I think "Lost In Translation" is best appreciated by those who have actually spent some time in Japan, especially Tokyo. Having lived and studied in Tokyo, I really appreciated Sophia Coppla's movie and empathized with its characters as they tried not only to find themselves but also to adapt to a culture that can be a bit `foreign' at times. The subtle winks at Japanese Pop Culture were really neat (the Japanese Strip Bars, the pachinko parlors, the odd and wacky TV Programs) I also liked the references to things that really irk many foreigners (the mixing of `r's and `l's, the small shower stalls, the shabu-shabu eateries). It sure is refreshing to see the Japanese portrayed normally and not as Samurai Sword wielding maniacs, corrupt businessmen, crazy tattooed Yakuza, overly apologetic buffoons or Sailor Uniformed lolitas. I found `Lost In Translation' a bit slow at tim es but never overly boring. It seemed to be reminiscent of Japanese films like those of the `Tora-San' series or `Shall We Dance'. While at certain points it seemed like a travelogue for the Japan Travel Bureau (JTB), I was pleasantly surprised by how good the picture was and how it did not try to rely on Hollywood `love story' clichÃ©s. Bill Murray was at his subdued best and Scarlett Johansson is extremely likable and appealing in her role. Anna Faris also puts in a terrific performance as Kelly (a not so-subtle parody of Cameron Diaz).