Lost on me

Rating: 5/10 (13 March 2004)

I just rented "Lost in Translation" last evening and watched it with my other half, who promptly fell asleep less than 30 minutes into it. Ok, this shouldn't be insulting--it's a normal occurance when we rent movies after cooking at home and staying in for the evening--but, since I saw the entire thing, it was an omen in retrospect.
I have to agree with some of the user comments I've read thus far--this is the type of film you almost feel obligated to "get" lest you sacrifice your intellect in mixed company. But, if I have to work that hard to get something, I have to wonder if it was worth getting to begin with.

I'm also troubled by the fact that I don't want to reveal any spoilers, yet don't know what would classify as one given there isn't much to report. I get the fact that they're bored. I get the fact that they can't sleep. I get the fact that they find one another in a hotel that they are staying in, that (given that they're in a foreign country like Japan) they should have tons to say to one another because they share a common language, but, they chose instead to say very little to one another--communicating in this "higher way" of comfortable silence and understated bonding. Is that what I'm supposed to get? Yeah...I think that's about it really. People have been calling this a "love story," but, I didn't get that. I know I've been in a foreign country, met fellow Americans or English speaking travellers, bonded with them, hung out with them, promised to keep in touch when leaving, and have never heard from them since--with equal non-effort on my part. That's kind of what I thought it was.
I guess I wouldn't worry too much if you're one of those viewers who feels stupid for not walking away from this film changed or emotionally enlightened. Those who go into this film with that in mind surely will, or will watch it a thousand times until they do. Those, like me, who just wanted to see Bill Murray--who I love--in a role that was nominated for an Oscar after years of good work got what they were after, too. I may not "get" that either, but, I tried. When my other half woke up five minutes after I'd taken the DVD out, he immediately said, "Ahhh...I missed it." To which, I replied, "No, honey...you didn't."