Lost in Translation lost me

Rating: Null/10 (1 March 2004)

I am saddened that such a wonderful premise for a movie was not developed more. Being lost and lonely in the crowd of a foreign country was a great start. But it only started. Most stories have a beginning, middle and an end. This movie only had a beginning. The characters were underdeveloped, they didn't grow, they didn't change. There was no 'meat.' I would have loved to see Bill Murray at home before he left for Tokyo. There were meaningless scenes, and Scarlett Johannson mumbled throughout the movie. Bill Murray was just Bill Murray. I prefer him in comedy; he's just funny to the core, no matter what. I don't think he was the right actor for the role. The dialogue was painfully boring, and I thought perhaps that's why they named it what they did? I stayed awake only out of sheer curiosity; I couldn't understand how an Oscar-nominated movie could have been so bad. The last scene gave no conclusion either. It could have been so much better. It was like a meal where the waiter brought the appetizer, but no main course, no drink, no dessert.