Spot on

Rating: 9/10 (3 March 2004)

People who think Lost in Translation lacks beginning and ending have not understood what Sofia Coppola tried (and in my opinion she succeeded in an excellent way) to do. We are allowed to see a short timeframe of these two persons lifes, and how their lifes have been or what they might evolve in is left to our imagination although we get enough clues. We see only what we have to see. That's the strength of this movie.
Beautiful, romantic, funny and realistic without getting cynical, this film is an exceptional character study which steers with ease between comedy and drama. Murray is excellent. Nothing is overdone. Good dialogues. Great last scene in which we don't hear what Bill Murray whispers in her ear. Well timed kiss.
Most of the things people who didn't like Lost in Translation write I disagree with. Maybe you need some sort of a recognition with events out of your own life. I think people who traveled a lot might relate to certain situations better or at least understand what the director tried to say. Japan in this respect is 'the world -or life- itself'. Strange, fast, wonderful, moving. I was impressed.