Great Performances in a Moody Comedy-Drama

Rating: 7/10 (6 July 2004)

LOST IN TRANSLATION (3+ outta 5 stars)
Well-handled comedy-drama about two lonely, confused (and married) people who develop a bond during a stay in a Tokyo hotel. Bill Murray plays a famous actor in Tokyo to film a series of bizarre commercials... Scarlett Johansson plays a young wife accompanying her husband, who is on a job and too busy to spend much time with her. Unable to sleep and with too much free time on their hands, they turn to each other for comfort and companionship. Bill and Scarlett both give great performances... naturalistic and effortless. There really isn't much of a plot... beyond the obvious question of "How far is this relationship going to go?" Sofia Coppola (daughter of Francis Ford) wrote and directed and, on the basis of this, there are probably some really good films in her future. Bill was definitely robbed at the Academy Awards this year... no way should Sean Penn's method over-acting have been chosen over this.