Lost in Translation

It's hard to say exactly why I liked Lost in Translation, especially when it left me feeling so...empty. Bill Murray plays a character very unlike his usual, and Scarlett Johansson finally looks healthy. I didn't want their relationship to turn sexual, and it didn't, thanks to Sofia Coppola's directing and writing. But we don't find out if they stay with their other halves or if their lives get better. It is a slow moving film, and does an amazing job of depicting the feeling of the characters without the script forcing the characters to have a therapy session with each other.

Bill Murray is Bob Hanson, a fading movie star on a trip to Japan. When Charlotte (Scarlett Jo) asks him why he is there, he replies, "Taking a break from my wife, forgetting my son's birthday, and getting paid two million dollars to endorse a whiskey." Charlotte is a Yale graduate, on a trip with her husband John, a professional photographer. Feeling lost and alone, Charlotte attempts to figure out who she is and why she got married. Both characters roam Japan, crashing into each other seeking solace and comfort.

There is actually very little dialogue, considering the movie focuses on two people. Murray does an excellent job portraying the sleepless, weary, and sad man trying to deal with the fact that he is in a familial situation that leaves him feel as though he isn't needed, or wanted. He does have a few zinger lines, but this is an unusual role for him. He plays it convincingly, and with style. Johansson doesn't step out of her comfort zone in this movie, except maybe where here waist line is concerned. For the first time, looking at her without pants on isn't a painful experience because she is actually at a healthy weight. She does a good job looking lost and alone- just like in most movies she plays in (Vicki Christina Barcelona, anyone?). Her girl-next-door look was great for this movie, it added to the feeling that she was definitely out of her element.

Like I said before, probably the best part about this film is the fact that there is little dialogue that actually tells you how someone is feeling, but the actors and film work combine to give the viewer more than enough insight to know just that. The music varies between 80's reminiscence to 90's punk, and it all keeps in sync with the emotion of each scene. There are a lot of close ups to convey emotion. Even the full shots are appropriate, giving the viewer a feeling of being disconnected from the world (which is exactly how the main characters feel). There is a shot of Murray in the bathtub when his wife calls, a full still shot. It captures how distant he feels from his significant other. The cinematography was also very detailed, though a little generic (sweeping car shots of Japan lit up at night). I did enjoy the scenes where Johansson sits at the edge of a giant picture window looking down at the city during the day, giving the viewer a feeling of smallness and insignificance.

Overall, I loved this movie. Yes, it left me feeling empty (seriously, what the hell do they decide to do?), but that is part of why it is so great. Nothing is handed to you in this film, you are forced to think yourself into their shoes. Does Bill tell his wife about his affair with the redhead? Does Charlotte ever leave her husband? Or do they just stick it out, continuing to live a monotonous life? Does she ever figure out what to do with her philosophy degree, does he ever act in something fun, or does he sell himself for what money he can get to fund his family? The usual Hollywood solution is divorce, but the director doesn't sell herself out though such a cliche venue. Thumbs up on this one, for sure.