Lost in Translation

Rating: 10/10 (12 September 2005)

Oscar, BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated director Sofia Coppola, daughter of famous Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, has created a very simple but very effective idea for a film. Basically Bob Harris (Golden Globe winning, and Oscar and BAFTA nominated Bill Murray) is a famous actor doing photo shoots and adverts in Japan for a scotch drink. During his work related trip he meets Charlotte (gorgeous BAFTA and Golden Globe nominated Scarlett Johansson). They become really close friends, and if they both weren't married there could have been a closer relationship. Also starring Scary Movie's Anna Faris as Kelly and Giovanni Ribisi as John. The best sequences include Murray looking like Roger Moore's James Bond, and getting stuck on the exercise machine. But the intriguing moment is when Bob is about leave, and he whispers something you never hear in Charlotte's ear. It won the Oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay, and it was nominated for Best Picture, it won the BAFTA for Best Editing, and it was nominated for the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music for Kevin Shields and Brian Reitzell, Best Cinematography, Best Original Screenplay, the David Lean Award for Direction and Best Film, and it won the Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy and Best Screenplay. Scarlett Johansson was number 10 on The 100 Greatest Sex Symbols, and the film was number 12 on Film 4's 50 Films To See Before You Die. Outstanding!