offbeat, amusing and melancholy

Rating: 7/10 (2 July 2008)

'Lost in Translation' would be a good movie to watch at a nearly empty matinée on a rainy weekday afternoon when you're feeling sorry for yourself. The reason being, you'll be able to relate to the two main characters, Bob and Charlotte, as that's what they spend a lot of time doing. The good news is, the movie doesn't wallow in self-pity, but rather uses a measure of it as a jumping off point for a relationship to form between them. This happens against the backdrop of Tokyo... but more on that in a moment. Bill Murray plays Bob Harris, a somewhat over-the-hill movie star in Japan to film a whiskey commercial. People instinctively like him, because of his celebrity and the fact that he is charming and funny (when he wants to be). Most of the time, though, he is quiet and keeps to himself outside of public appearances. At first, Bob is anxious to finish the job and return home. Then he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) in the hotel bar and they gradually begin talking. They are both married, neither very happily, and they find in each other a playmate of sorts to pass the time with while stuck in Japan. Charlotte, who is much younger, is there with her husband, a photographer, who seems to find any excuse to go off without her. So she and Bob start finding things to do together, in a casual, unforced way. But they don't have an affair, in the romantic/sexual sense. Though it's never spoken, one can almost hear each of them thinking that they're not going to do something rash or stupid just because they're bored. It's also clear that there's a strong attraction between them, beyond just palling around together; each begins to feel the other is a kindred spirit and there is teasing and flirting, such as when they go to a karaoke party at a Japanese friend's apartment. But there is almost a palpable sense of relief in that neither feels obligated to pressure or be pressured by the other to have sex. All this goes on in the context of two people in Tokyo, strangers in a strange land, you might say. And the residents of that city are portrayed in a way that does indeed make them appear very odd. They seem almost like an alien race who have been brainwashed/corrupted by American and western culture. The Japanese have their own traditions, of course, and those are touched on. The American influence though is everywhere, distorted, as though drawn through a Japanese filter so that what emerges is familiar but warped, like the insane TV show Bob agrees to be interviewed on. I don't suppose any of this is particularly new, yet it makes quite a bizarre impression as presented in 'Lost in Translation,' and even the film's title is perhaps a comment on the dichotomies between Japanese and American society. Towards the end of the film, Bob has a one-night stand with a nightclub singer and Charlotte is angry about it. She isn't even sure why but she is. They go to lunch and there is a funny, snipy exchange-
Charlotte- "Well, she is closer to your age. You could talk about things you have in common, like, um, growing up in the '50's. Maybe she liked the movies you were making in the '70's, when you were still making movies." Bob- "Wasn't there anyone else there to lavish you with attention?"
The movie's ending drew some criticism but it seemed perfect to me. On his way to the airport, Bob sees Charlotte walking down a crowded sidewalk, and he runs over to her; they embrace and he whispers something to her which we can't hear. Then they separate and he heads on to the airport. His expression makes clear to me that Bob is happier having spoken to her and has resolved to do something. You are left to your own conclusion but my impression is that they have agreed to meet back in the States. It's nice to think so, anyway. Bill Murray is essentially still playing Bill Murray in 'Lost in Translation,' but a muted, melancholy, toned-down version that is right for the film. And Scarlett Johansson is believable and fetching in a role that requires her to react to his long silent stares and she does so in a warm and credible manner. In fact, my main criticism of the movie is that there are TOO many of Murray's 'long silent stares.' You want to reach into the screen, shake him and yell, 'Say something!' But that said, 'Lost in Translation' manages to be sad, funny, and even a little uplifting when it's all said and done... depending on what you make of that ending.