Marvelous

Rating: 9/10 (29 September 2003)

"Lost in Translation" is the first movie I've seen in a long time for which I didn't regret paying full price at the theater, especially after the brain-blistering acid trip of "The Hulk". Note that this movie is not fast-paced; it's more the pace of "Cast Away" than "The Fast and the Furious". It's also not Bill Murray as the total goofball we all know and love; this is a serious dramatic role for him, with just a lick of humour in the right places, careful not to overdo it.
Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a past-his-prime American movie star who is in Japan making some commercials for a whiskey. Though translators help him well enough to get by with conversation, he is lost in a search to reclaim his identity amidst the flashy technology and neon lights of modern Tokyo pop culture. His wife and children back home miss him, but they've grown used to their father's absence.
Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is two-years wed to John, a photographer on the job in Tokyo who is often away from the hotel room where he and his wife stay. Charlotte has a degree in psychology but is also searching for who she really is (or at least who she's supposed to be) in Tokyo's wealth of karaoke bars and arcades.
Their paths cross from repeated sightings of each other in the bar at all hours of the day and night, since neither is having much luck getting any sleep. They develop a warm friendship quickly, but each fights internally with sexual frustrations, loyalties, and choices that will shape their lives.
Bill Murray proves himself as a dramatic actor in this film, and the makeup artists do a wonderful job helping him along with how aged and tired he looks through most of the film contrasted against how youthful and bright he appears at certain points. Scarlett Johansson steps up as a precocious actress and tackles what had to be a difficult role for a 16-17ish year old (during filming) to play; it may not be hard to pull off 60 when you're 50, but it's really something when an actress can seem to be in her mid-20's with college and marriage behind her when in reality she's still of high school age.
Many bizarre parts of Japanese popular and underground culture are showcased in this movie. Perhaps some were played up a bit much, but that's part of the movie's charm as it sends protagonists and audience alike careening into a new culture.
I won't spoil the ending for you, but--personally speaking--this movie was a full 180 degrees from "The Life of David Gale", as the more I thought about that one the more I wanted to flip the switch myself. "Lost in Translation" left me wanting something else at first, but the more I thought about it the more I felt it couldn't really have ended better. As a final thought, I think the idea was not to be able to understand all of the last lines, and just to take it as was shown.
9/10, and it would be higher if it could appeal to a larger audience. This isn't a movie for everybody; it's a love it or hate it thing.