What Sofia Coppola depicts is not a clash of cultures but the rubbing of American pop culture against Japanese pop culture, influenced by America.

Rating: 4/10 (30 May 2005)

ROST IN TLANSRATION I disagree with some points raised by BBCi and Roger Ebert. While welcoming the absence of the overworked violence and pyrotechnics, I miss any respect for the true differences between the two cultures. The film loses itself in showing the modern Japanese behaving like Americans and offering the minuscule differences as points of interest. In short, what Sofia Coppola depicts is not a clash of cultures but the rubbing of American pop culture against Japanese pop culture, influenced by America. The gaudy talk show master for instance, is definitely more American than Japanese. The only difference between the neurotic neon advertisements around Time Square and those on the Ginza is that they use different sets of characters. Americans the world over are staying in American hotels. So they can be sure of getting more of what they're used to and meet with fellow Americans. Few of them show any interest to get involved into what is truly different in the culture they have immersed themselves in.
GLOBALSATION AT ITS WORST When Harris appears for his television appointment, he does so in an open shirt, while all the Japanese studio staff wear a necktie. Certainly not part of their traditional costume, but copied from the Western businessman's. Now this would seem to signal a difference in culture. But its the other way round from what Coppola wants us to see. The attempt to portrait two cultures meeting head-on just backfires. Americans tend to equalise ties with accomplishment, so it's highly unlikely they would ever attend a business meeting abroad in casual attire. Given any motive in the Harris character, I would admire the man for his individuality. But I can find none to warrant this.
LOST IN PURITAN HYPOCRISY Hollywood shows us Americans as having difficulties to express themselves, but Charlotte and Bob top anything we have ever experienced before. When they do converse, what they say is utterly meaningless. It comes as a relief, when there is a 45 second scene where they just sit side by side saying nothing at all.
INCOMMUNICADO Americans tend to be particularly incommunicado when it's time to share their feelings. After reading the critiques we expect quite a bit of deviation in this movie. We are bitterly disappointed: Neither do Murray and Johansson manage to convey feelings nor do they philosophise on culture, the world and everything, as some critics have it. They just don't find the words even when given the time to do so. The two protagonists seem happy in their misery but utterly desinterested in looking for the differences between their culture and that of their host country.
A STORY OF MISSED CHANCES "Lost in Translation" fails to show anything worth being called humour. With few exceptions the quips uttered by Murray are not funny. The ability to make jokes about their own idiosyncrasies is lost on American satire. The film is full of missed chances. Although both the Americans and the Japanese seem to think they are superior to other people, they do so on entirely different grounds. Americans see Big and Powerful as synonymous with Great and Good, the Japanese are convinced that their intricate ancient culture preceded and surpassed anything the West had to offer after the fall of the Roman Empire. The Japanese people shown in this film are not the traditional Japanese, but Americanised Japanese. When they say "Welcome", "How're you doin'?", "Have a nice day", "Are you OK?" or "...you know...", these meaningless bits were picked up from American, not European culture. Empty word shells to bridge awkward moments of inhibition.