Not for everyone

Rating: 9/10 (4 June 2004)

My wife and I sat down to watch Lost in Translation. I enjoyed it completely and she didn't.
The reason I liked it and she didn't are the same - it really is an arts movie, driven by visual direction, character development and unspoken dialog.
Lost in Translation offers a too real form of escapism that forces the viewer to re-evaluate their own lives. It is almost a 'heart of darkness' type self discovery - Bill Murray as Bob Harris and Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte each go on a journey of self discovery, they face their primal fears and needs and overcome them. (or maybe I am trying yo read too much into it?)
This is a complex film, much more than a simple forbidden love story. The plot is driven by character development, although there is an underlying 'Casablanca'-esque forbidden love component.
Bill Murray is superb, as is the beautiful Scarlett Johansson.
All in all this is a very laid back, subtle movie with near perfect acting and direction.
Plot 7/10 Acting 9/10 Direction 9/10 Overall 8/10