MOVIE REVIEW

Lost in Translation

      A washed out actor whose family is falling apart and a woman who likes to walk around in her underwear, whose husband is a very busy man, what do they have in common? Nothing. Now put these two in Japan, and what do they have in common? Loneliness. But that’s the beauty of their relationship, they don't even know each other, yet their loneliness brings them together at their fortuitous meeting in their absurd hotel bar.
      The humor is in their silence, their confused looks, their miscommunication, and the hospitality of their Japanese hosts. Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson do an excellent job of portraying two, tired Americans living without love, and visiting a foreign place and doing exactly what the title says, becoming lost in translation. From the prostitute who comes to entertain Murray in his hotel room, to the video shoot, his glazed, confused look makes you laugh so hard, tears begin to roll. Johansson supplements the movie with balance, adds a type of seriousness that relieves the cramps before the next laugh. She is almost always involved in the silent scenes portraying loneliness as she sits upon her ledge overlooking the view of Tokyo, in her underwear and a T-shirt.
      There is no beginning and no end to this movie, but whatever is in between is pure genius. Sofia Coppula captures the truefeelings of tourists in any foreign country and puts it into film. There is no vacation or business trip that you go on, where you laugh all the time, or always have fun, and Coppula expresses that through the awkward silences throughout the movie.
      If you haven't seen this movie, you are missing out, and if you have already seen it, see it again. On my list it has five stars and it is definitely one of the best movies of the year.

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