Lost me after 20 minutes

Rating: Null/10 (12 January 2004)

I have more respect for Sofia Coppola's acting in "Godfather III" than I do for her writing and directing on this film. Maybe the critics are trying to make it up to her after the savaging they gave her in 1990? I can't see any other reason for all the awards and attention "Lost in Translation" is getting.
Bill Murray gives practically the same performance he's given many times before, except he makes a very sad face once in a while. How can anybody say this is his best work after seeing him in "Groundhog Day"? My main impression of Scarlett Johansson is watching her sit in a window sill looking out at the Tokyo traffic.
I guess the scene where they watch "La Dolce Vita" on Japanese TV is meant to link this movie with Fellini's classic, but "La Dolce Vita" managed to deal with boredom and alienation without being boring itself. I can't decide whether "Lost in Translation" or "Cold Mountain" is the most overrated movie of 2003 - both Oscar-bound for reasons I will never be able to figure out.