Boy, was I wrong!

Rating: 10/10 (27 March 2004)

This is my second review of this movie. After watching it six times, I felt compelled to make amends to my earlier, and thoroughly wrong, review. I really don't know what I was thinking about to suggest that Scarlett Johansson was not up to the part, or that Bill Murray was miscast. I was simply overcome by pre-cinema bias against Mr Murray; and also because I like 'Ghost World' so much. How I was wrong. I am now wondering if 'Lost In Translation' is some kind of modern-day 'Brief Encounter'. The slowness still agitates new audiences, much as it made me fidget, but you have to see through the sedate pace and realism. I, of course, did not do that either initially, and I was only swayed to watch it again after the awards season. But I'm glad I did. All I can say to those people who thought this movie was both too slow and over-rated, is that it's worth giving it another try. Every scene now seems perfect, and I haven't got a single criticism, although I still prefer 'Girl With A Pearl Earring' to see Scarlett Johansson's full acting skills. In all, I have now made 16 trips to the cinema this year involving Ms. Johansson. I still think Naomi Watts is the best actress, but SJ is not far behind her. A truly magnificent actress, and still under 20. Sofia Coppola will find it hard to emulate this masterpiece. I've now taken my bias blindfold off...