Lost in Translation (2003)

Rating: 10/10 (15 November 2008)

Hands down the best film of 2003. Subtle, quiet, witty, intelligent, beautiful, and sophisticated.
Bob (Bill Murray) is a middle-aged actor in Tokyo, Japan to shoot a whiskey commercial. He's lonely, depressed, and unhappy in his marriage with a wife who is constantly making subtle jabs at him about not being there for his children. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is a recent college graduate and newlywed in Tokyo, Japan because her photographer husband dragged her there. She's unsure if she made the right decision regarding her marriage, and doesn't feel comfortable with her new life. Bob and Charlotte meet up one night at the hotel they're both staying at, and have a heart-to-heart conversation about life in general. Neither one of them can stand Tokyo, and the culture is difficult for either of them to adapt to. They both enjoy each other's company so much and have so much in common that they form an unlikely friendship in a city in which they individually feel so cut off and helpless. It is through friendship that they both realize what they've been missing in their lives.
Sofia Coppola made incredible decision after incredible decision in the making of this film. The setting of Tokyo is so beautiful and yet so cold at the same time. The dialogue between Bob and Charlotte is ingenious. You really appreciate that there are still films out there that can depict a relationship between a male and female that is based on friendship and intellectual stimulation, without relying on sexual tension. It's such a wonderful film that anyone can enjoy, because it's so relate-able to your everyday life. If you've ever had a friend who pulled you out of a hard time when you felt so lost, regardless of their age or background, this is the film for you.
10/10, a masterpiece.