The Most Overrated Film of 2003

Rating: 1/10 (21 June 2004)

First of all, unlike many viewers who disliked "Lost in Translation", I did not disliked it because it "lacks plot" or because "nothing happens". Cinema has proved, over 40 years ago, that Cinema is not Literature, and therefore plots can be subdued.
However, unlike Films such as "Before Sunrise", Lost in Translation doesn't work. You never seem to believe that Bob and Charlotte are having actual fun, instead it seems like they are PRETENDING to have fun. The main problem is that unlike "Sunrise", their relationship never feels natural, and you can always tell that there's a script behind their dialogue.

This is, obviously, non-intentional, which harms the film to a great extent, specially since it is not as clever or as atmospheric as it think its. Indeed, all the little atmosphere the film has is due to the excellent soundtrack and to the inherent charm Tokyo has, NOT because of Coppola's skills or the extremely dark and plain Cinematography. (the average film goer seems to love it for some reason. Anyone can shoot buildings from inside a car, and the interiors are poorly lit, at all times)
While Murray and Johansson are solid in their own respective parts, they lack any chemistry, and the same goes for Ribisi and Faris. In fact, Faris should not be in this picture, but apparently Sofia Coppola felt we needed a little bit of her personal problems (shown in an extremely literal manner) on the screen.
To sum it up, this one could've been a Cult Classic, one of the great off-beat Romance Films in Cinema History. Unfortunately, due to Coppola's spoiled-girl Direction and amateuristic skills and editing, it's simply "cute".
6/10