Sophia Coppola's latest cinematic effort, "Lost in Translation," offers a strikingly original film experience with a poignant and honest script, brilliant acting and direction that truly reveals the essence of the characters' life experiences. It is no wonder this film was chosen to be among the best pictures of the year. The academy has nominated it for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Bill Murray) and Best Original Screenplay (Coppola).
"Lost in Translation" focuses on the lives of Bob (Bill Murray), an aging and jaded movie star, and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), a recent college graduate and newlywed. Bob accepts an offer to promote Japanese whiskey in Tokyo, even though he hates himself for it. Charlotte, on the other hand, follows her husband to Tokyo while he shoots publicity photographs for celebrities.
Both of these lost souls eventually meet in a hotel lobby bar, where, despite their age difference, they find they have a lot in common. Bob and Charlotte feel disjointed and out of place in Tokyo where the language is not the only barrier. They are lost in the Japanese culture and in the more fundamental human experience.
Murray's performance is remarkable. He nails the aging Hollywood legend with ease by both exposing Bob's inner pathos and also allowing the audience to see glimpses of what this movie star used to be. His complicated character must deal with familial situations, temptation and the harsh realization that he is not happy with his life.
Johansson, who was not nominated but is just as deserving as Murray, brings a commendable sense of maturity to her role, especially for being only 18 at the time of the film's shooting. She feels trapped in her marriage and questions why she even got married in the first place.
As a whole, the film offers a unique experience for each individual viewer. It is simultaneously comedic, poignant and heart-wrenching. But most importantly, it is always real and honest. Coppola's achievement with"Lost in Translation" goes beyond language barriers to speak volumes.
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