Lost in Translation (2003)

Director:

Sofia Coppola

Writer (WGA):

Sofia Coppola (written by)

Release Date:

3 October 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Everyone wants to be found.

Plot:

A movie star with a sense of emptiness, and a neglected newlywed meet up as strangers in Tokyo, Japan and form an unlikely bond.

Plot Keywords:

American Abroad | Alienation | Advertising | Isolation | Poignant

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 70 wins & 58 nominations

Cast

Scarlett Johansson	...	Charlotte
Bill Murray	...	Bob Harris
Akiko Takeshita	...	Ms. Kawasaki
Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe	...	Press Agent
Kazuko Shibata	...	Press Agent
Take	...	Press Agent
Ryuichiro Baba	...	Concierge
Akira Yamaguchi	...	Bellboy
Catherine Lambert	...	Jazz Singer
François du Bois	...	Sausalito Piano (as Francois du Bois)
Tim Leffman	...	Sausalito Guitar
Gregory Pekar	...	American Businessman #1
Richard Allen	...	American Businessman #2
Giovanni Ribisi	...	John
Diamond Yukai	...	Commercial Director (as Yutaka Tadokoro)

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexual content.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA | Japan

Language:

English | Japanese | German | French

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:PG (British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Malaysia:18PL (re-rating) | Hungary:14 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:(Banned) (uncut version) | Indonesia:Dewasa | Argentina:13 | Australia:PG | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A (Alberta) | Canada:G (Québec) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:6 (bw) | Hong Kong:IIB | Italy:T | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:A | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (edited for re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (original rating) | South Korea:15 | Spain:13 | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15 | USA:R | Singapore:M18 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Japan

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

The BB-gun the angry bartender used to drive out Bob, Charlotte and Charlotte's friends is an Airsoft MP5 with a Tokyo-Marui tracer adapter, firing plastic phosphor-luminescent BBs. The adapter's strobe light makes the BBs glow.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Bob first arrives at the hotel he has the first button or two undone on his shirt with no t-shirt visible. When we see him in the elevator moments later, a white t-shirt is visible under his shirt.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ms. Kawasaki: Welcome to Tokyo.
Bob: Thank you very much.
Ms. Kawasaki: My name is Kawasaki. Nice to meet you.
Bob: I've heard of you. Thank you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Fear of Clowns (2004) (V)

Soundtrack:

Too Young

A great film, but the rating was lost in translation

It's very interesting to see all of the ratings that Lost In Translation received in different countries. In Canada it is only PG, while in America it's rated R! And really, the only explanation for this is a brief scene at a strip joint that shows some nudity. I really look down on that R rating because Lost In Translation is a good-hearted film that should be enjoyed by all ages. Notice how during the 2003 Oscar season two films played the "only one special effect: the effect on the audience" card; one being this film and the other being Mystic River. Both are great films, both are rated R in the U.S., but only one of them can carry along its story without brutal murders.

So what can I say about Lost In Translation that hasn't been said a million times already? It's all true. It's subtle, down-to-earth, and allows the audience to observe and relate to the characters, Bob and Charlotte. Both of them have a life crisis to deal with, and I guess if you're thousands and thousands of miles away from your problems it makes it easier to take an objective look at them, even if they do follow you. Bob and Charlotte confide in each other and develop a relationship. That's what it's all about, and every scene is precious. It's a real and true to life kind of film. We never hear the lines: "Oh, Charlotte, I'm so glad I went to Japan. You've changed my life in such a profound way and you'll always be in my heart." That's because that just isn't the way it goes in real life. The feeling is there, the characters know it, the audience knows it, so it has to be left at that.

So, yeah, I love this movie. It's clearly the highlight of Bill Murray's career and marks the perfect first real stand-out in Scarlett Johanson's. It's so rare to see a movie that only has an interest in its characters (and only two of them, at that!) and makes them so charming, lovable, and familiar. This is a great example of non-Hollywood Hollywood films: the well-known actors and producers going to the roots of independent film-making. In an age where half the movies out there are packed with CGI, this is refreshing to see.

My rating: 10/10