Sofia Coppola's Dad Taught Her a Little Something About Directing

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 2010)

O.k. so maybe Sofia Coppola can't act, but the girl sure can write and direct.
"Lost in Translation" is her sweet, melancholy story about two strangers at very different points in their lives (Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson) who nevertheless form a deep connection brought about by the culture shock both keenly feel while adrift in Tokyo. There's no ick factor here due to the age difference, because Coppola's screenplay does not fall into the cliché of having this be a romantic adventure. Instead, it's about two different people who find a friend in an unlikely place just at the point in their lives when they both desperately need one.
Murray's trademark hangdog humor is put to perfect use, while Johansson gave us an early indication of her acting chops.
Grade: A+