Lose Yourself In Movie Heaven!

Rating: 10/10 (15 October 2003)

Turning Japanese, I think I am turning Japanese, I really think so; or at least turning to the resplendent & outlandish Sofia Coppola Tokyo world of "Lost in Translation". Director Coppola's masterpiece piece will receive great fortune cookies, I mean fortunes, come this award season. Bill Murray stars as Bob Harris, an aging American actor who travels to Japan to endorse a whiskey. This whiskey business is very lucrative for Bob not to pass up even though he must travel zillions of miles to appear in tv commercials & print ads in promoting the liquor. Scarlett Johansson co-stars as the beautiful Charlotte, a newlywed who accompanies her photographer husband on a business trip. "Lost in Translation" fixates on Bob & Charlotte's relationship in glorious, but yet, isolated Tokyo. They are lonely souls finding compatibility in an incompatible society. The upper echelon scenes of "Lost in Translation" are set in a hotel cocktail lounge & a karaoke watering hole. Murray's karaoke rendition of Roxy Music's "More Than This" is remarkable, and more than I expected. Young Coppola's chic direction glamorizes not only the city of Tokyo but also our 2 solitary protagonists. Sofia, daughter of legendary Director Francis Ford Coppola, is clearly on her way in being hailed as the "godmother of young female directors". I am sure that she will be offered remunerative monetary projects that she won't refuse. Scarlett Johansson was near perfect as Charlotte. Hopefully, her dexterous work will not be forgotten and be "gone like the wind" during award season. Frankly my dear Scarlett, I will give a damn if you are not recognized. "What about Bob?" You ask. Simply stated, Bill Murray as Bob delivers the best performance of his celebrated career. "Lost in Translation" es una de las peores peliculas de esta temporada. Hey! What happened? I really meant to say that "Lost in Translation" is one of the best films of the season. I guess I got a bit "lost in translation" myself. So lose yourself with "Lost In Translation". ***** Excellent