Great, a must see for almost everyone

Rating: Null/10 (3 May 2004)

After seeing Lost in Translation, I have only two minor complaints. The movie, while well acted, did not in my opinion warrant Bill Murray's best actor nomination. The role was written for him or someone just like him to play, so there's no reason he shouldn't have been good in this film. The second complaint is that I had a little trouble empathizing with Bill Murray's character, but both of these are purely personal opinion.

The movie centers Bob Harris, a once famous movie star doing commercials for Suntory whiskey in Tokyo, Japan. He meets a young woman named Charlotte, played by Scarlett Johansson, who was just recently married to a photographer who is on a project in Tokyo. The details of the plot are vague because they are simply nuances as the story revolves mostly around how Bob and Charlotte experience their separate yet linked situations. Bob is in his mid-fifties, married with children, and it bitter and melancholy. Again, being bitter and melancholy is not a stretch for Bill Murray. Charlotte is young, a philosophy major that among other things, is unsure what she should do with her life. Obviously, the two have something to offer each other and they do so while experiencing the culture of Tokyo. Of course the title refers to the obvious fact that they don't speak the language, but it has a more subtle meaning as well and refers as much to the differences between them as it does to their feelings not being realized by those who are closest to them.
The movie is a little slow for most people, but it's made in true Coppola style and is very much a throwback to good old-fashioned character studies. The camera shots are interesting and Tokyo is captured well on film. The character of Charlotte is supposed to be based somewhat on Sofia's own life and it shows her as an intense person who has some disdain for the pop culture that many celebrities revel in. The character of Kelly is one of those representations and it's pulled off superbly by Anna Farris. The movie's funnier scenes involve some horrific karaoke, a night out at a club, in Bob's hotel room, and at a hospital. The wit is intelligent and not laugh-out-loud funny, so its appeal is limited.
The movie's only drawback I found is that for me, it was difficult to empathize with Bill Murray's character. He's sarcastic and bitter, and he winds up making a very poor choice. In the end it's tough to not say that all of his problems are a direct result of his bad choices and that he has no one to blame but himself. And he's supposed to be this way, resigned to surrendering to his marriage and the way his career is, but also happy with it. He's amusing, but not funny even though he could be. He is a complex character, and while I can appreciate that, I still felt less for him than I did for Charlotte. Charlotte is much easier to feel for because she has a fault she has no control over, namely youth. The movie's climax isn't so much about whether Bob and Charlotte will end up together or not, but whether they can feel better about their problems. One of the best scenes in the movie is when Bob whispers into Charlotte's ear. You don't know what he says, and it's done intentionally. After seeing the whole film, it's easy to appreciate this little moment of privacy between the two. This is a very intelligent film and definitely worth seeing. This is not Groundhog Day, however. Think more what American Beauty almost achieved. That's the best way to describe this excellent film.