LIT draws a fine line between subtle and boring!

Rating: 6/10 (20 April 2004)

Lost in translation is about many different things and to enjoy it completely you need to be able to identify with most if not all of these things.
You need to have some understanding of Japanese culture (or at least of a different culture) and also what it is like to spend time away from home, working, in a foreign country within a foreign culture. You also need to identify with either Bill Murrays mid life crisis or Scarlett Johansson 'just out of college' lack of direction. A slightly uncomfortable marriage would also benefit you with respect to the overall enjoyment of LIT. A desire 'to be found' is also essential!
If the above is a good description of you then you will probably find this a very intelligent, subtle and enjoyable movie. If on the other hand you are lucky enough to be completly happy with yourself, your marriage, your work, your future and your life in general, then you will probably find this to be rather slow at best and boring at worst.
I was somewhere in middle (found it a bit slow, but very subtle) and will probably watch LIT again in 20 years to see how I react to it then.
The movie certainly accomplished what it tried to accomplish but is certainly not for everyone but at some point in everyones life it will probably be for them!