Lost in Translation
Universal Home Entertainment | Release Date: September 12, 2003
7.5
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Generally favorable reviews based on 795 Ratings
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620
Mixed:
69
Negative:
106
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7
siggi104Jul 8, 2022
It's alright but I don't see anything special about it. The only thing that stands out is probably the soundtrack. Don't see it as a must-watch at all. Pretty forgettable tbh.
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10
kyle20ellisMar 29, 2022
I had been well aware of this film's reputation as a masterpiece for some time, and when I finally saw it I was so glad I did. I have seen it three times now, it improves each time. Lost in Translation is a brilliant film, but also a film youI had been well aware of this film's reputation as a masterpiece for some time, and when I finally saw it I was so glad I did. I have seen it three times now, it improves each time. Lost in Translation is a brilliant film, but also a film you need to see more than once to appreciate it.

Lost in Translation for example is a brilliantly written film. The script is wonderful, with a healthy balance of energetic humour and bittersweet soul-searching. The story, driven by its characters, is slowly-paced but purposefully so, any faster it would have detracted from any magic and poignancy and also would have made the title irrelevant. And I love the ambiguous but very meaningful ending. Lost in Translation manages to be both sad and funny, but it is also in its tone a magical and irresistibly moving film.

I can't say I am a fan of Sophia Coppola. I can say though Lost in Translation is her best written and best directed film, and probably the only one I would consider a masterpiece. And speaking of Coppola, she makes some risky but wise decisions such as the balance of the humour and the bittersweet poignancy and altogether it is a rock-solid directing job.

Lost in Translation looks absolutely beautiful too, with its skillful lighting, beguiling location work and stunning cinematography. The Japan-pop soundtrack creates a big emotional impact, and just adds to the authenticity Lost in Translation has.

The acting is marvellous. Bill Murray gives a delicate, restrained and masterful performance in the lead role, and from his performance here you would never guess he is the same Bill Murray who starred in broader films like GhostBusters. Scarlett Johanssen also gives one of her best performances as the younger woman trapped in a loveless marriage, not to mention she looks lovely here and shares a believable chemistry with Murray.

In conclusion, a masterpiece. 10/10 Bethany Cox… Expand
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10
TrailesqueDec 17, 2021
There is something very sweet and charming about this, despite the fact that it deals with jaded showbiz people, marital problems, and infidelity, or at least the possibility of infidelity. It does not hurt that two wonderful actors occupyThere is something very sweet and charming about this, despite the fact that it deals with jaded showbiz people, marital problems, and infidelity, or at least the possibility of infidelity. It does not hurt that two wonderful actors occupy the lead roles - Murray with his dry humor and Johansson with her subtle emotions. Director Sofia Coppola also does a fine job of portraying Americans feeling a little bewildered in Japan, even though most of the film is confined to high end hotels, bars, and restaurants.… Expand
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8
DawdlingPoetNov 21, 2021
I found the movie quite funny in a couple of different ways. First with the visual comedy, of which there's less but there is some, such as when Bob is on his own trying out one of the exercise machines at night and there's more subtle comedyI found the movie quite funny in a couple of different ways. First with the visual comedy, of which there's less but there is some, such as when Bob is on his own trying out one of the exercise machines at night and there's more subtle comedy through some pretty witty dialogue.

It seems funny that Charlotte pokes fun at Bob for being in what she sees as a 'mid life crisis', whereas when she's alone at the start of the movie, it seemed clear to me that she was the one feeling most lost and unsure of herself, you'd think its really her who's the more vulnerable of the two.

Of course, Bob has his own problems and indeed he does show signs of being in a mid life crisis, I suppose, although he seems miserable where he is, its not as if he's enjoying every second of being away from his family. Its not entirely clear what his state of mind is exactly, other than that he doesn't seem very happy and his work clearly bores him. At first, he wants out of the country and quick but that changes.

The movie features some pretty good camerawork, showing some of the really busy areas of the city, casinos filled with people with neon lights all around and karaoke bars and the reflection of the city lights on car windows.

As Bob ad Charlotte slowly get to know each other a little better, they open up a bit more, with Bob becoming I suppose more of a father figure to Charlotte. Charlotte admits some things and Bob opens up about what its like for him back at home. Its quite understated but I can see that it could be seen as quite moving, in scenes such as the one where the two of them lie, somewhat bare, on a bed without covers and they open up about themselves, as I say, which could be seen as symbolic, that their baring their souls to each other a little bit more perhaps.

This is a movie thats all about the subtleties I think, some will be pleasantly surprised and happy with that, others may not fully grasp it or be all that interested in it, I suppose. I enjoyed it the first time I saw it, for the visuals of the city, the shrine/temple and the thought of finding yourself somewhere foreign I suppose. Watching it a second time, I enjoyed it more, having seen more similar dark comedies in the recent past, I feel I somehow understood it and appreciated it more.

Also I can't review it without mentioning that both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson gave good performances. Bill gave his usual frustrated sort of tortured soul performance with vapid like expressions while revealing a little more about his characters feelings in dialogue and Scarlett expressing more feeling/emotion visually. I felt quite connected to her character, playing someone around my age who clearly has a real desire to try and discover who she is and what she should do in life, something I can relate to.

This is very much a dark comedy, with a drama element to it, although it is quite slow moving, I say drama for the fact that it covers adult or serious themes really. It has a real 'fish out of water' feel to it. As I say, its a slow paced movie, so don't expect a strong plot that clearly develops quickly, its more a case of it being a film that follows these two characters as they adjust to being in Tokyo, in an alien culture to their usual American one and they reflect on what they left behind and where they are, who they are and what the future holds, I suppose.… Expand
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10
UltimobeakerJul 4, 2021
This movie was an accident. How a film with basically no plot, that was shot as an afterthought, and starring two actors with no prior dramatic roles, became one of the defining films of the modern era is beyond my ability to explain. SofiaThis movie was an accident. How a film with basically no plot, that was shot as an afterthought, and starring two actors with no prior dramatic roles, became one of the defining films of the modern era is beyond my ability to explain. Sofia Coppola has certainly tried and failed to reproduce anything like it in the last 20 years, despite revisiting the "existential crisis" theme over and over. Maybe less is more and simplicity is beauty. Maybe I just saw this at a time in my life where I really resonated with needing to be culturally lost in order to find yourself. Maybe I just really liked traveling to Tokyo. Whatever special sauce made this film good has itself been lost in translation. I just know that if this film is viewed through the lens of 2021, it would certainly not have had a fraction of the impact(I'm looking at you dated Engrish jokes).… Expand
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10
Goc7May 24, 2021
Lost in translation is my favorite movie. Cinematography is beautiful, acting is great, soundtrack is amazing. This movie is a must for introverts.
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6
AJ_13Mar 7, 2021
This film feels so real and charming. Performances are great, but you could say its a bit simple movie.
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9
geewahJan 24, 2021
Sofia Coppola's best movie.
A brilliantly shot, and touching movie of two lost souls who connect in a relationship that is healing for all involved.
One of 2003's best movies.
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4
gracjanskiJan 6, 2021
Somehow I didnt like the movie: Many scenes with Japaneses were rude and unrealistic, yes I ve been in Japan for some weeks. In my view this movie is a insult to their incredible beautiful mentality. Bob is a very unsympathetic and cynicalSomehow I didnt like the movie: Many scenes with Japaneses were rude and unrealistic, yes I ve been in Japan for some weeks. In my view this movie is a insult to their incredible beautiful mentality. Bob is a very unsympathetic and cynical character with some good sense of humour. Indeed there was a beautiful chemistry with Charlotte and Scarlett Johanson was charming. But overall the mood was bad and boring. Also there ist not much story, you can write it in one sentence. So the mood of the movie is interesting, but still I dont want to see this movie again.… Expand
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9
MahmusSep 25, 2020
This is a prefect example of a movie that's not about a plot, but about a mood. A simple story about two lonely people. It captures a sort innocent awkwardness that's both very relatable and really touching.

Bill Murray and ScarlettThis is a prefect example of a movie that's not about a plot, but about a mood. A simple story about two lonely people. It captures a sort innocent awkwardness that's both very relatable and really touching.

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are amazing and work extremely well together. Their chemistry is subtle and awkward, which works perfectly for the tone of the movie.

The karaoke scene is probably one of my new favorite movie scenes ever.

I love the ending. I love the soundtrack. I love the movie.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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10
alejandro970Aug 15, 2020
Who has not felt like a perfect stranger in a city with an unknown culture and language? The story of an actor and a photographer's wife who happen to meet in Tokyo is the best example. The characters are absorbing and endearing, and theWho has not felt like a perfect stranger in a city with an unknown culture and language? The story of an actor and a photographer's wife who happen to meet in Tokyo is the best example. The characters are absorbing and endearing, and the feeling of being at least a spectator in Tokyo is wonderful. What Mr. Harris whispered to Charlotte will remain an unsolved mystery. To see today.… Expand
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9
miccaelMar 24, 2020
For me, this movie is simple yet realistic and relatable story which has been beautifully made. Soundtrack is also gorgeous. Johansson is so young here, and cute, it's unbelievable. The husband is total weirdo and I have no idea how theyFor me, this movie is simple yet realistic and relatable story which has been beautifully made. Soundtrack is also gorgeous. Johansson is so young here, and cute, it's unbelievable. The husband is total weirdo and I have no idea how they have enough chemistry to be a couple. Murray's character is on another side is super believable. It's just a nice movie, honestly.… Expand
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1
JeckxdeelMar 18, 2020
A very boring movie! A real piece of **** Sofia Coppola must absolutely stop her career!
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10
AndremaxFeb 21, 2020
Lost in translation is a bending of cinema genres. It has a delicious and sutille humor, a dramatic charge and a big sense of humanity that brings the most marking thing about this one: an intense emotional experience.
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10
Lena_somethingAug 22, 2019
Everything about this movie flows so naturally that sometimes I forget it's only a movie and it's only acting. What makes this movie so special anyway? The little details? The unspoken words that resonate clearly to the audience? TheEverything about this movie flows so naturally that sometimes I forget it's only a movie and it's only acting. What makes this movie so special anyway? The little details? The unspoken words that resonate clearly to the audience? The reflection we see of ourselves in those teo characters? Whatever it is, i love it… Expand
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10
AlonsinxxxApr 16, 2019
Great performance of Billy Murray, great soundtrack and cinematography. A piece of art.
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8
FilipeNetoAug 23, 2018
There are some films that are so intellectual that they should not be mixed with commercial cinema. This film, with constant ramblings about loneliness, the meaning of love and the feeling of being lost (in life, in a city, in a marriage...)There are some films that are so intellectual that they should not be mixed with commercial cinema. This film, with constant ramblings about loneliness, the meaning of love and the feeling of being lost (in life, in a city, in a marriage...) is certainly one of those films, unsuitable for those without the proper intellectual and philosophical disposition. Everything revolves around an actor and a young woman who, in the midst of their own frustrations, find themselves in the same hotel in Tokyo. They don't speak Japanese, they don't understand culture and mentality of that people (at the same time, innovative and traditionalist) and, after some talks, they understand that they're feeling the same yearnings for "something more", missing in their own lives. Chemistry between both characters is evident, it makes the public think that they will be lovingly involved at any moment, but not. It is an intellectual and sentimental chemistry that does not involve sensuality or romance. The biggest problem of the film is that it does not have much more to offer us and it has a very slow pace, lined by a slow soundtrack, to the taste of the director, Sofia Coppola. This will surely drive away the commercial audience, who usually wants entertainment and not a movie that makes them think.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
ahmedaiman9999Aug 7, 2018
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Her. Both of these movies have style, themes, or ideas which are similar to that Lost in Translation has. Therefore, either of them would make perfect bittersweet double feature with Lost inEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Her. Both of these movies have style, themes, or ideas which are similar to that Lost in Translation has. Therefore, either of them would make perfect bittersweet double feature with Lost in Translation. And I loved these two movies so much; however, I have some issues with each one of them.

Don't get me wrong; Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind's script is more genuine and creative, but the main issue I have with it is that it lost its balance between humor and subtle pathos at some point. Lost in Translation, by contrast, doesn't have this problem. In fact, the perfect balance between humor and melancholy. The movie deals with heavy themes such as loneliness, insomnia, emptiness, existential crisis, and more hefty themes, but nonetheless the movie never feels gloomy or bleak. Actually there are some funny moments due to the movie's smart dialogue that made me laugh many times.

As for Her, I think it is a very unique, and has an idiosyncratic style and screenplay, except for its third act. It chose a familiar and conventional way to end its one-of-a-kind story. That didn't just disappointed me, but that also made the movie feels inconsistent near the end. For a moment, I felt that Sofia Coppola would make the same mistake in Lost in Translation. That's because at some point at the third there was a scene that feels if it sets a subplot that would end the movie in a stereotypical way. And I think this was an unnecessary and manipulative. Also, this is the only main issue I have with Lost in Translation. This movie is bittersweet, but its ending is Just Like Honey!

Both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson at the top of their games. They may gave their best performances in their respective career. Scarlett Johansson did a great job in playing the Philosophy graduate Charlotte who is twenty-something. I felt she's really at this age. As for Bill Murray, his role is far more complicated, and he just killed it! I've never seen him giving such a powerful serious performance. His character suffers from something like a midlife crisis, and there are many great actors played characters like this before. But Murray's terrific comedic abilities adds to this character, and made it more complex, yet more amiable.

Aside from the fact that this movie looks gorgeous, it's exquisitely directed by the talented director, Sofia Coppola. Just try to notice the visual tools, how they work, and utilized, and what they imply. You will find out that Lost in Translation is a well-directed as it's a well-written film, maybe the direction is what deserves the highest praise. Also, the movie is consistent in tone. As I mentioned, the balance between between humor and sadness, and while the smart screenplay has a major in that, the meticulous direction has a role that isn't, by any means, less important. The soundtrack is sweetly hypnotic! This is now one of my favorite soundtracks put in film. The words of every song match the current state in every different phase in the movie.

I loved Lost in Translation so much! I can't praise it highly enough, or maybe I can, it's Manhattan of the 21st century!

(9/10)… Expand
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0
MrArmChairJun 15, 2018
This must be a clever film as it made feel very tired and jet lagged just watching it. Certainly those who love it claim it to be clever and that you are stupid if you don't 'get' it. But I just spotted an Emperor with no clothes on.This must be a clever film as it made feel very tired and jet lagged just watching it. Certainly those who love it claim it to be clever and that you are stupid if you don't 'get' it. But I just spotted an Emperor with no clothes on. Dreadful, grey, gloomy, tedious, dreary, dull, boring. Yawn. What a laugh, "Check the box if your review contains spoilers" - there is NOTHING to spoil!… Expand
2 of 3 users found this helpful21
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8
amheretojudgeJan 16, 2018
welcome to tokyo..

Lost In Translation Sophia's witty writing sense about juggling emotions between the characters is not only projected beautifully but also acted out magically on the screen for it be a semi-comic scene or a disappointmentwelcome to tokyo..

Lost In Translation

Sophia's witty writing sense about juggling emotions between the characters is not only projected beautifully but also acted out magically on the screen for it be a semi-comic scene or a disappointment about the separation. Lost In Translation is a very mild movie which touches just the perfect chords that a simple drama in a theatre does.… Expand
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1
mohammadjalalAug 16, 2017
f..cking boring,Full of claims
,over rated movie.i hate this movie .i hated hated hated hated hated hated hated this movie .i hate everyone who like this sh...t.
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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9
CineAutoctonoJul 31, 2017
"Lost in Traslation" was a very good movie, I loved the photography, and all the places, the culture, and the people of Japan, I liked the perfomances of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, and i Liked the story, and the story is very good,"Lost in Traslation" was a very good movie, I loved the photography, and all the places, the culture, and the people of Japan, I liked the perfomances of Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, and i Liked the story, and the story is very good, I´ve enjoy this moviee, This movie is magic.… Expand
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10
TheGreatDustyCZAug 3, 2016
Absolutely great movie with amazing actors, well written screenplay and awesomely picked soundtrack. One of the BEST movies ever made. Bill Murray should have won an Oscar. 100%
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10
Antgiog1202May 16, 2016
We've seen romance between people in their springtime of life or in their advanced years; but have we ever seen one side criss-cross each other to bring us an outlier of an age difference? "Lost in Translation" provides us with theWe've seen romance between people in their springtime of life or in their advanced years; but have we ever seen one side criss-cross each other to bring us an outlier of an age difference? "Lost in Translation" provides us with the heartwarming information that age does not matter in the context of love. When your lost in a contrasting environment, not only by the foreign atmosphere; by the internal conflict you are dealing with, there's no other option but to find that solemate that you can relate to and provide comfort with.

This film is a complete masterpiece and probably one of greatest cinematic achievements of all time!

Rating: 10/10

A+ = 10
A = 9
A- = 8
B+ = 7
B = 6
B- = 5
C+ = 4
C = 3
C- = 2.5
D+ = 2
D = 1.5
D- = 1
F = 0… Expand
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9
EpicLadySpongeMay 3, 2016
Genius thinking is from the main star who plays a character that suffers from insomnia and the director who brings everything look so true from the cover.
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7
night4Apr 28, 2016
It may not have enough action for some people, but I really enjoyed it and I'm glad I gave it a shot.

The acting is so good it breathes life into what could have otherwise been a dull movie.
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6
ReubenIsAGodApr 22, 2016
for me, "Lost in Translation" falls flat. Its such a nice little story about a deep loving friendship between to people where they find what they want in life out of their deep connection. I personally believe that it is a powerful movie, butfor me, "Lost in Translation" falls flat. Its such a nice little story about a deep loving friendship between to people where they find what they want in life out of their deep connection. I personally believe that it is a powerful movie, but it is VERY slow and at times drags, and overall the message at the end feels rather hollow, yet somehow rewarding like real life. ha.… Expand
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9
WhatdoyouthinkApr 20, 2016
I enjoyed this movie because it captures the joy of chance meeting of two people and of making a real personal connection. It is like going on a weekend retreat where you had deep conversations with someone you never would meet otherwise. II enjoyed this movie because it captures the joy of chance meeting of two people and of making a real personal connection. It is like going on a weekend retreat where you had deep conversations with someone you never would meet otherwise. I did not read even the movie description before seeing it but knew Bill Murry and Scarlett Johansson somehow are strangers that become friends or something, so I had no clue what it was about. I thought Scarlett may even be a kid in it, but she is a young woman in the movie. I could not get enough of the quirkiness of the characters, their conversations, and the situations they find in a new foreign place, Kyoto Japan. The movie is sometimes funny, yet also sometimes turns to serious yearning, and the combination is believable. If you want a normal romantic comedy then you may not want this, as it is more off beat and harder to label. The main actors and background characters do such a great job of giving the movie a feeling of not acting, more like they are just living a documentary. The side characters did great to make it feel real. I do wonder if anyone has an issue with the cultural portrayal of Japanese because they focus more on unusual characters but it is probably like viewing Las Vegas as a portrayal of American culture. The movie stays with you and is memorable, and I enjoyed watching where it went and did not want it to end. At times we can only be ourselves when with strangers.… Expand
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10
aadityamudharApr 18, 2016
If "Titanic" was the iconic bloated romance novel of movies, then "Lost in Translation" is the quiet, poignant poem that is all the more affecting because of that.
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10
MovieMasterEddyApr 3, 2016
An American in Japan, Making a Connection.

The director Sofia Coppola's new comic melodrama, "Lost in Translation," thoroughly and touchingly connects the dots between three standards of yearning in movies: David Lean's "Brief Encounter,"An American in Japan, Making a Connection.

The director Sofia Coppola's new comic melodrama, "Lost in Translation," thoroughly and touchingly connects the dots between three standards of yearning in movies: David Lean's "Brief Encounter," Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" and Wong Kar-wai's "In the Mood for Love." All three movies are, in their way, about a moment of evanescence that fades before the participants' eyes — as is "Translation." ("Translation" also exhibits the self-contained, stylized lonesomeness found in post-punk, like New Order's "Bizarre Love Triangle.")

Ms. Coppola's movie also happens to be hilarious — a paean to dislocated people discovering how alive they are when they can barely keep their eyes open. The sexiness comes from the busy, desperate need-to-impress heat of a flirtation, an unrequited love communicated through a filter of sleep deprivation.

"Translation," which opens today in New York and Los Angeles, is also one of the purest and simplest examples ever of a director falling in love with her star's gifts. And never has a director found a figure more deserving of her admiration than Bill Murray. He plays a vodka-and-bitters version of himself and the persona that made him famous. His character, Bob, is an American movie star who is in Tokyo to participate in the celebrity not-so-secret shame: he's picking up a boatload of dough to perform in commercials for Suntory whiskey. He arrives in Japan just in time to gaze, slightly embarrassed, at the sullen billboards of himself that are starting to appear there. While blinking sleeplessly around the lobby of the majestically hermetic Tokyo Hyatt, he meets Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), who has been abandoned by her photographer husband (Giovanni Ribisi); he's off shooting a band.

The movie follows the twists and connections in Bob and Charlotte's relationship — like some trans-Atlantic phone calls, their feelings reach each other on a five-second delay. The lag time only embellishes the comedy, and the heartbreak.

It's the first grown-up starring part that Mr. Murray has had, and he inflects every facet of public awareness of Bill Murray with a sure, beveled determination. That may be because he has never really had a leading role that has asked him simply to pay attention to the other actors instead of guide the scene or save it.

Lean and physically witty — because he has dropped the awareness of the audience's demand for mainstream comedy — he even seems to be standing taller, perched on Bob's courtliness. Generally, Mr. Murray has given performances worth paying attention to in movies that no one sees, like his physical inhabitation of Hunter S. Thompson in "Where the Buffalo Roam," perhaps the only film example extant of Mr. Murray's ability to depict vulnerability and physical threat simultaneously.

Here he supplies the kind of performance that seems so fully realized and effortless that it can easily be mistaken for not acting at all. The corollary of this is that Ms. Coppola's direction is so breezily assured in its awareness of loneliness that the film could potentially be dismissed as self-consciously moody rather than registering as a mood piece. But it's bound to be recognized as a movie worthy of the kind of Oscar attention occasionally given to films that challenge audiences subtly. Mr. Murray could collect the Academy Award that he didn't get for "Rushmore."

Here, his capacity for absorbing everything around him has taken a toll, and the visibility of that burden is what "Translation" is all about. The psychodrama in the phone calls from Bob's wife adds a chilling layer of passive-aggressive horror that makes you understand why he had to flee to Tokyo. But thanks to Ms. Coppola's gracefulness, those conversations don't overwhelm the movie; instead, they add texture.

Music is a big part of the director's life; Ms. Coppola's previous feature, a screen adaptation of "The Virgin Suicides," was informed more substantially by the score by the group Air than by the narrative. She also allows Bob a chance to croon some karaoke, including a cover of Roxy Music's "More Than This."

The movie conveys dislocation and the hungers it causes more than just visually. Perhaps because of that, "Translation" exists more as a film rendering psychological colorations than as a script.

But as a result of Ms. Coppola's faith, this is really Mr. Murray's movie, and his respect for his director couldn't be more visible.

In the handful of films she has done — including her short, "Lick the Star" — Ms. Coppola has shown an interest in emotional way stations. Her characters are caught between past and future — lost in transition. Perhaps her films are a kind of ongoing metaphorical autobiography, but no matter. The important point is that there's a lot up there on the screen, plenty to get lost in.… Expand
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2
johnslegersJan 3, 2016
Why is this film so praised? Our protagonists are a naive stuck-up girl right out of college and an equally stuck-up cynical actor. Neither show any real interest in Japanese culture (he's even quite disrespectful) and neither makes anyWhy is this film so praised? Our protagonists are a naive stuck-up girl right out of college and an equally stuck-up cynical actor. Neither show any real interest in Japanese culture (he's even quite disrespectful) and neither makes any really attempt to connect with the Japanese (even though they both get the chance to connect). Even though she seems to have a degree in philosophy and he seems to be somewhat of an intellectual type, their interactions remain mostly superficial. And still, their interaction with one another is pretty much everything we get to see for this entire film. I guess this film appeals to people just as pretentious and shallow as the main protagonist (which is the only reason I can think of to explain its popularity), but I personally found it hard to connect with either of them AT ALL.

Further, I wonder how much sense it makes for their relationship to have remained purely platonic. Both seem to be estranged from their respective spouses, his wife is on the other side of the ocean, her husband is on a photo shoot for several days, both act like they haven't had sex in a long time, she's a beautiful impressionable young girl, he's a famous actor, they both don't shun alcohol and at one point they become close enough to lie together on a bed while he touches her feet. Maybe it's just me, but I personally find it hard to believe they didn't end up having sex together considering the aforementioned conditions. Anyway, the shame and confusion arising from such a situation (after both realise they made a mistake cheating their respective spouse) would at least have made a far more interesting film to watch Maybe this film appeals to people who never spent more than a few days in a foreign country, but having spent about 3 months in Poland I couldn't see anything I haven't experienced myself AT A FAR GREATER INTENSITY. For me, this makes "Lost In Translation" as exciting to watch as two people sitting at a bus stop waiting for the bus to arrive. Actually the latter would probably be more interesting, because the bus doesn't take THAT long to arrive.… Expand
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10
NShep53Jun 3, 2015
Bill Murray shows his great acting range in a personal favorite of mine. Lost in Translation is a beautiful film. Tokyo is a gorgeous city that really shines throughout the movie. Scarlett Johansson (in an early role) shows just how amazingBill Murray shows his great acting range in a personal favorite of mine. Lost in Translation is a beautiful film. Tokyo is a gorgeous city that really shines throughout the movie. Scarlett Johansson (in an early role) shows just how amazing of an actress she is (and just why she became a star). If you want a true, deep love story or just watch a great piece of cinema, you can never go wrong with Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation.… Expand
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7
JacobMay 30, 2015
Lost in Translation takes life and presents it in a way that creates a real, believable, and immersive setting. Bob and Charlotte are characters that can be connected with and identified without the film explicitly saying what they areLost in Translation takes life and presents it in a way that creates a real, believable, and immersive setting. Bob and Charlotte are characters that can be connected with and identified without the film explicitly saying what they are feeling through cinematography, sound, and natural dialogue. All this creates an engaging film that speaks to its audience and is worth a watch.… Expand
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9
ydnar4May 23, 2015
Lost in Translation is one of the most engaging films I have ever seen and I think this film will only gain more recognition as it ages and I will likely appreciate the film more as I age. I think this is the type of film that you take moreLost in Translation is one of the most engaging films I have ever seen and I think this film will only gain more recognition as it ages and I will likely appreciate the film more as I age. I think this is the type of film that you take more from each time you watch it. Bill Murray, there are just no words to describe the performance he gave in this movie. I think he was truly perfect, and it is one of the best portrayals I have ever seen and although I liked Mystic River as well I think Murray's performance beats out Sean Penn's for the 2004 Academy Award. There is also an amazing performance by Scarlett Johansson who was only 18 years old when this film was released, this role displays a mature woman far beyond her years and it would be nice to see a performance like this in the future. Warning for people who hate slow movies! This is a slow film but if you like to watch movies that change your outlook on life and opens you mind then there may be no better film than Lost in Translation.… Expand
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9
JDC4May 18, 2015
I have watched this movie many, many times. I never get tired of it as each time I see something different. As others have written here the two main(and almost only) characters find themselves in Tokyo alone looking for some way to pass theI have watched this movie many, many times. I never get tired of it as each time I see something different. As others have written here the two main(and almost only) characters find themselves in Tokyo alone looking for some way to pass the time. Each finding new faults in their partners or relationships which they seem unable to rectify. Hence the liaison between the two. It seems to me like they are both on vacation with the end of the movie coinciding with the end of the "vacation". A dreamworld. But the unanswered question I have is why Bill Murray's character returns to the USA. We are left having to arrive at our own conclusions-responsibility, obligation, commitment. I was cheering for him to stay on. Fulfilling the unfulfilled dreams of many of us. Looking for a more satisfying life, a more enjoyable life which is crowded out by our many obligations. Here is a guy who has no money problems, has no career problems but has his "ball and chain" back in the USA. The sad part for me is that I can relate to his dilemma, relate to his choice to go or stay and saddened by his choice to return home. Bill Murray is fantastic in this role, hats off to him for having broken the "Bill Murray" mold.… Expand
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10
PfilipMar 16, 2015
This is a perfect film. Oh, it will not suit everyone's taste--the hopelessly jaded or fatally hip may sneer and snore--but make no mistake, this is cinematic lightning in a bottle. Those two actors, that screenplay, that director, thatThis is a perfect film. Oh, it will not suit everyone's taste--the hopelessly jaded or fatally hip may sneer and snore--but make no mistake, this is cinematic lightning in a bottle. Those two actors, that screenplay, that director, that music, and that city in that year... everything interweaves exquisitely, not a single element could stand to be changed.

It is the quietest moments that enrapture you, the 4:00 a.m. sleeplessness where everyone is slightly dazed and raw, the walls are down, and the soul is simply too tired to put on a false face... it is these two lost, imperfect human beings who have more in common than they have any right to, and the bond that forms as they take inspiration from each other. This is not a romance of any kind. But it is perhaps the most intimate relationship you will ever see on screen.

Turn off your cell phone, turn off the lights, turn up your sound system, and be unguarded long enough to know the loneliness--and its antidote. Forget whatever you know about these actors today and just get to know Bob and Charlotte. Over a decade on, I am still unabashedly in love with them, and with this entire film.… Expand
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0
andreekaMar 6, 2015
an a very boring film. it just about talking, talking, talking, and really talking. i still wonder why this movie got nominated for best picture in so many awards.
1 of 5 users found this helpful14
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10
ParsaSadriMar 5, 2015
Filled by excellent performances by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, great writing, great directing, loveable characters, realistic dialogue and the total opposite of your typical Hollywood movie clichés. This movie highly deserves to beFilled by excellent performances by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, great writing, great directing, loveable characters, realistic dialogue and the total opposite of your typical Hollywood movie clichés. This movie highly deserves to be in my top 15 movies of all-time.… Expand
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10
HSPLazerzJan 30, 2015
The most subtle and emotional film I've seen, indeed the best there is. If you're looking for some true emotions and a true experience unlike anything else, you've come to the right spot. People who gave this bad reviews obviously require aThe most subtle and emotional film I've seen, indeed the best there is. If you're looking for some true emotions and a true experience unlike anything else, you've come to the right spot. People who gave this bad reviews obviously require a revolution, death counts over 9000, and some stupid **** "earth is gonz dye nd ve ndd tu gu torwds marz!" to even notice a slight bit of emotion. But if you're mature, and you can understand emotions and people in general, yes, you will love this.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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8
beingryanjudeSep 1, 2014
The magnum opus of Miss Sofia Coppola. She proves with Lost in Translation that she is more than capable of upholding her family's name in the filmmaking industry.
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10
epiclucaAug 21, 2014
This masterpiece of a movie is so aesthetically pleasing, from the soundtrack to the alien atmosphere of Tokyo that is perfectly conveyed by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Whilst the movie does have it's comedic points where things getThis masterpiece of a movie is so aesthetically pleasing, from the soundtrack to the alien atmosphere of Tokyo that is perfectly conveyed by Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Whilst the movie does have it's comedic points where things get literally Lost In Translation, I find this to be more of a rom-com minus the romance and comedy. Romantic intentions are implied but there seems to be a mutual respect between the characters that is so perfectly crafted by Sofia Coppola. The small amount of the time through the film that the characters have to develop is used wisely, both come out of the story having learnt valuable life lessons about themselves which ultimately are passed onto the audience.… Expand
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10
TrevorDevendorfAug 17, 2014
First of all Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides) the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather). No expectations what so ever, Sofia is one amazing director, this movie was wonderful and a delight. I like the aspect that that twoFirst of all Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides) the daughter of Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather). No expectations what so ever, Sofia is one amazing director, this movie was wonderful and a delight. I like the aspect that that two American strangers meet in Japan, with Bill Murray as Bob and Scar Jo as Charlotte. Brilliant casting, also with another favourite actor of mine Giovanni Ribisi. Has a few really funny parts, the film had my attention the whole time! Very entertaining for all kinds of movie-goers!… Expand
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7
SpangleMay 30, 2014
A loveletter to love and attraction, Lost in Translation is a moving film that is certainly not flawless. On the positive side, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are phenomenal and their chemistry is great. It is amazing to believe thatA loveletter to love and attraction, Lost in Translation is a moving film that is certainly not flawless. On the positive side, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson are phenomenal and their chemistry is great. It is amazing to believe that Johansson was 17 at the time that this one was filmed. The cinematography of the film is also gorgeous. Sofia Coppola picked a great location for this one in Japan and really maximized its potential with the look of the film. In addition, as the two become closer-and-closer, but have obvious things preventing them from being together (both being married for starters), it is a charming film that shows how the best things in life can be unplanned and completely unexpected. The way in which their relationships with their spouses, or lack thereof, is also very well done. The amount of development that happens there and with the characters themselves in the short time frame of the film is impressive. For a romantic film, it was never mushy or fake, rather it felt completely genuine and natural, while also being funny at times to lighten the mood.

On the negative side of things, this one certainly is not a loveletter to marriage. Rather, it feels as if the film's goal is to argue against marriage at times as both people deal with unhappy marriages. As they move closer together, the fact that they are married to other people is a disturbing element for me. There are many things that could keep them apart (age being a major one) that would keep that "we want to be together but can't be" element alive, so I did not enjoy that Coppola chose marriage as the thing that keeps them apart. In addition, the age difference is a tad creepy. Murray is over 50 here and Johansson is 17. The fact that they are forming this type of relationship is a tad off-putting. The same effect could have been created with a younger actor instead of Murray or an older one instead of Johansson. Finally, the criticism the film has faced for its portrayal of the Japanese is fair. The portrayal is there to exaggerate the differences between the two protagonists and the culture that surrounds them, but it feels more mocking and offensive than simply showing how their culture is different from ours.… Expand
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0
SUETIGGERSFeb 15, 2014
It's reassuring to see that I'm not so alone in really hating this movie. I now know better specifically why it drove me nuts watching it. I gave it a one just because of the visuals.
I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something toIt's reassuring to see that I'm not so alone in really hating this movie. I now know better specifically why it drove me nuts watching it. I gave it a one just because of the visuals.
I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for something to happen. But, it didn't. I'm not an action-oriented person but this movie barely breathes...and that's supposed to be what? something worth my time? Thanks to all these reviewers for helping me see others saw the sublime nothingness I saw.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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0
MovieGuysFeb 2, 2014
Boring, tedious, pointless: the many adjectives I can use to describe this movie. The Coppola family usually directs such great films (The Godfather!), but Sofia's slow-moving melodramatic car wreck is dumb and unintelligent with an easilyBoring, tedious, pointless: the many adjectives I can use to describe this movie. The Coppola family usually directs such great films (The Godfather!), but Sofia's slow-moving melodramatic car wreck is dumb and unintelligent with an easily forgettable script and nothing else going for it.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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0
syr44Jan 10, 2014
Wow, who are these critics that gave this horrible movie high marks?? Easily the worst movie I've ever had the displeasure of wasting 102 minutes of my life. How anyone can say this is 'art', or 'poetic' is beyond me. It's plain awful,Wow, who are these critics that gave this horrible movie high marks?? Easily the worst movie I've ever had the displeasure of wasting 102 minutes of my life. How anyone can say this is 'art', or 'poetic' is beyond me. It's plain awful, only seeing the light of day cuz it's daddy Coppola's little girl. She's not following in daddy's footsteps, but he apparently owns the critics and some narcissistic moviegoers. No other possible reason for this tripe to have favorable reviews. I usually don't buy into critics, but I failed on this one. My bad. Sofia, find new work. Oh, I am so sorry I watched this movie till the end expecting it to get better!! It can't, and won't get better. Save yourselves!!… Expand
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10
StevenFJul 20, 2013
Lost in Translation can be interpreted in various different ways, especially with this chosen title. The film at times is like seeing some beautiful poetry on screen, it weaves between growth, despair but also companionship, especially sinceLost in Translation can be interpreted in various different ways, especially with this chosen title. The film at times is like seeing some beautiful poetry on screen, it weaves between growth, despair but also companionship, especially since writer/director Sofia Coppola immediately challenges and also lures the audience into sympathy for our unlikely friends.
Bill Murray electrifies the screen as bored and seasoned American actor Bob Harris, who we meet in Tokyo filming a whiskey commercial, his sense of delusion and loneliness is immediate as we find his face often expressionless and his nights are spent sitting at his hotel bar, where he meets Charlotte, a young American graduate who shares the same mindset of loneliness and culture shock as Bob, two unlikely pals who are in a strange new world, a strange new way of life.
The two exchange various anecdotes about how they ended up in Tokyo, a place so alive and vibrant, but they feel disconnected and isolated. We learn of Charlotte living with her photographer husband, who she believes isn't spending enough time with her, thus her alienation of the city she currently resides. Bob also has relationship issues that continue to prey on his mind the longer time he spends by himself but also the older he becomes.
The budding friendship and agreement of their awkwardness in the city helps them develop their love for the place, and Sofia Coppola perfectly captures a place and whole different way of life worth falling for. She has written a beautiful script that at many moments is not heavy on dialogue, but relies on the veteran talents of Murray but also the charm and freshness of Johansson. These two stars truly command the screen, and set up the situations that the title possibly refers to, their encounters with friends, media personalities and even closer people, but they can remain lost in their own mind, through withdrawal or homesickness, one can speculate.
A poetic, beautiful, hard-hitting but clever film that explores the decency of the common man, while also dealing with situations that will arise out of a comfort zone, and how the person may react to such a change, but with the acting prowess at full steam in the film, its hard not to admire the overall work and effort, with clear affection and mastery put in throughout.… Expand
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8
Trev29Jun 9, 2013
Bill Murray is pitch perfect in this role. It seems as if this character was carved out specifically for him. When this movie is funny, it is unbelievably hilarious. This really is a realistic picture of lost people who come together to formBill Murray is pitch perfect in this role. It seems as if this character was carved out specifically for him. When this movie is funny, it is unbelievably hilarious. This really is a realistic picture of lost people who come together to form a heartwarming friendship.… Expand
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10
DahopaApr 26, 2013
Honestly, if there was one movie that I could take to a desert island, I think this might be it (assuming Godfather counted as a trilogy). Thoughtful, real and splendidly written, directed and acted.
0 of 1 users found this helpful01
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7
AwesomeReviewerFeb 24, 2013
“Lost In Translation” is a fine movie. The writing is pretty good and the film has a lot to say. There is a lot of underlying themes and dialogue that make you think and reevaluate your own life. However, the film falls short because of its“Lost In Translation” is a fine movie. The writing is pretty good and the film has a lot to say. There is a lot of underlying themes and dialogue that make you think and reevaluate your own life. However, the film falls short because of its execution. There are scenes and moments that are just beautiful and thought provoking, but we have to sit through a lot of dare I say it boring moments just to get to one of these “good parts.” The cinematography is elegant, but the urge to be artistic detracts from the sweet story that is being told. On the other hand when we do get these so called “good parts” they are well worth it and make us realize why we’re sitting through this movie.

Characters and acting are good. The characters are deeply layered and enhance the film. They’re characters that we want to know more about and wish them the better in life. Bill Murray plays a man going through a mid life crisis where he feels like there is a sudden void in his life. Scarlett Johansson is a young girl who is in the infant stages f her marriage and recently graduated, but doesn’t know what to do with her life. They both balance each other out and fill in the wholes the other lacks. Their on screen chemistry is sweet, however the romantic aspect often becomes a bit weird.

Overall, “Lost In Translation” is a solid film. Its writing is top class, but the overall story is missing that extra “umph” to take it to another place. The movie also teeters on boring, but the good parts and the depth are worth the slower pace. I give it 3.5/5, a solid romantic tale.… Expand
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9
MontezDec 14, 2012
There are many things "lost in translation" during the film ranging from language to hand gestures in this sleek, moody yet humorous modern classic. With fantastic performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation is aThere are many things "lost in translation" during the film ranging from language to hand gestures in this sleek, moody yet humorous modern classic. With fantastic performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation is a melancholic piece of cinema from Sofia Coppola, who in the end reminds us bound-to-be lone-wanders that that the only thing universally understood is true love. Translations may vary, but the message is always understood.… Expand
1 of 2 users found this helpful11
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4
HalfwelshmanJul 22, 2012
Lost in Translation is thoroughly disappointing. It appears to be pretty much universally praised, yet it's a flawed film. I'll concede that it's beautifully filmed, that Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson give great performances and that theLost in Translation is thoroughly disappointing. It appears to be pretty much universally praised, yet it's a flawed film. I'll concede that it's beautifully filmed, that Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson give great performances and that the relationship between their two characters is sweet and endearing, as a tale of two lost souls finding a connection is always compelling. Despite these positives, the film puts forward an extremely patronising, stereotypical and borderline racist view of Japanese culture. By depicting a steady procession of carefully cherry-picked Japanese "oddities", it's almost like the film's main objective is to say "hey, come laugh at the silly Japanese, they're not like Americans at all". A recurring joke in the film is the mockery of Japanese speech pattern of the replacement of the letter r with the letter l. This gag is barely funny the first time it is used, but it is reprised four or five times throughout the film. In one of the key "comedy" scenes, Murray's character struggles to understand a heavily accented Japanese director during a photo shoot, and his mimicry of the poor man's voice to decipher each instruction isn't funny, just embarrassing, akin to the lack of logic behind an English-speaking tourist abroad raising his voice to make themselves understood to non-English speakers. To make matters even worse, the film is all-too-often slow or just plain boring. Beyond great chemistry between Murray and Johansson and striking aesthetics, the appeal of Lost in Translation is, well, lost in translation chiefly thanks to some criminal cultural insensitivity that really shouldn't be applauded in the modern world.… Expand
2 of 6 users found this helpful24
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10
pkgadersonsJul 3, 2012
Great movie .
0 of 3 users found this helpful03
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0
john24Jun 25, 2012
Great .
0 of 4 users found this helpful04
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10
jocerealMar 14, 2012
Frail, dreamy, beautiful, with the most gorgeous Scarlett yet to be displayed on screen. Leaves you shaking with hyped sensitivity. Too bad so many people associate Bill Murray with goofyness; this was a piece of humanity, shy with desire toFrail, dreamy, beautiful, with the most gorgeous Scarlett yet to be displayed on screen. Leaves you shaking with hyped sensitivity. Too bad so many people associate Bill Murray with goofyness; this was a piece of humanity, shy with desire to experience closure. Unfortunately, beauty, like many other things these days, needs to be exagerated for people to get it.… Expand
4 of 4 users found this helpful40
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9
Potter17Dec 28, 2011
Dealing with complex feelings like boredom, sadness and frustration by writing and directing the film herself, Sofia Coppola shows such elegance and creativity and makes "Lost in Translation" an almost impeccable film.
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10
LITIGreatOct 14, 2011
An amazing Movie. I fell in love with Charlotte then, but scarlette Johansen has never appeal to me since . I've read on blogs and site about how impressed they were with scarlette maturaty for only being 18 at the time. i disagree i feltAn amazing Movie. I fell in love with Charlotte then, but scarlette Johansen has never appeal to me since . I've read on blogs and site about how impressed they were with scarlette maturaty for only being 18 at the time. i disagree i felt That she brought a sense innocense to the character that made the semi plutonic relationship with an older bill murry more understadnle/relatable. The apparant plot is thin. that is to say not much realy happens. But too looks at this movie from perspective of action movie is too miss the point enterly. This movie needed its quite movemnts to reveal the subtle intimate moments between its characters. and to give the viewer an impression of isolation and unease. What one would experience if they felt traped in a foreign country. and serves to give its viewer that yearning for compionship with whomever they could relate to. And it just so happens that that person is kinda person is as beatuiful as charlotte or cool as bil. which is awsome ln my opion . i want to add more but im a lazy writer. this movie i absoulutley love, it came into my life at the right time. this is one of the few movie that i can without a doubt give it a perfect rating. in short you have up and your downs but mainly you have your inbetweens and its only when you can find someone to care for that it makes it worth while. pleas do yourself a favor go in without expection and try to watch with it patient movie goers.… Expand
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10
J-ShapAug 25, 2011
There is something to be said about the kind of quiet elegance that Lost In Translation slowly sweats out over the course of 102 minutes. Most art films claim to be visual poetry. If that is true, the films of Sofia Coppola are visual songs,There is something to be said about the kind of quiet elegance that Lost In Translation slowly sweats out over the course of 102 minutes. Most art films claim to be visual poetry. If that is true, the films of Sofia Coppola are visual songs, with quiet, melancholy guitar strings, and fuzzy, indistinct feedback.… Expand
2 of 2 users found this helpful20
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10
RebeccaTYAug 17, 2011
A thoughtful film with subtle humour, beautiful cinematography and relaxed pace that allows you to be engulfed into the alienation to two seem to suffer and the solace they find each other in this new city. The soundtrack fits the scenesA thoughtful film with subtle humour, beautiful cinematography and relaxed pace that allows you to be engulfed into the alienation to two seem to suffer and the solace they find each other in this new city. The soundtrack fits the scenes brilliantly too. I love this film.… Expand
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5
DelPieroRUSJul 16, 2011
I don't like this movie. After 10 minutes it is already obviously what will be in the end. Very boring story... It's not deserve even average 6,6 score, which it have now from users.
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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1
jediboyJun 17, 2011
This movie is a poor piece of film, over-hyped by critics for no other reason save that the director's father is Francis Ford Coppola. Features Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson in Tokyo for separate reasons. Japan and the Japanese areThis movie is a poor piece of film, over-hyped by critics for no other reason save that the director's father is Francis Ford Coppola. Features Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson in Tokyo for separate reasons. Japan and the Japanese are portrayed in a poor (and stereotyping) fashion, (video games, karaoke, gadgets, and the misprounciations of "Ls" as "Rs").

There is borderline racism in this movie, as the way these two lead roles act, as if lost, estranged, abandoned, or stranded on the moon surrounded by Aliens. I've been to Japan (I'm a western European) and found no such culture shock. That is really the premise that this movie is built on - culture shock of White Western people finding themselves in Japan. And that is where it fell down for me. In terms of comedy, it was billed as "Bill Murray - comedy genius - at his best." Far from it. I like Murray (Quick Change, Stripes, Caddyshack, etc.) This was just not funny, and I do not think there is any attempt for him to be funny.

Scarlett. Well she does not do anything wrong, but does not do anything right either. All in all, a very poor script. Very poor direction. A complete lack of substance, with ignorance and racism creeping in at times.

Such a time sink.… Expand
3 of 6 users found this helpful33
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10
jAbMaNFeb 14, 2011
Lost In Translation is a great romantic beautiful that I ever seen recently. The storyline is great and Bill and Scarlett are great actors. It doesn't matter how old they are, the chemistry just works and they do belong together in the end.
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
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9
OscarPicks2010Jan 8, 2011
Sofia Cappola is one of Hollywood's directors that can make silent pauses and no dialogue in between movies so irresistably watchable. Her takes in writing and directing movies within movies isn't new, but there's something new in this, maybeSofia Cappola is one of Hollywood's directors that can make silent pauses and no dialogue in between movies so irresistably watchable. Her takes in writing and directing movies within movies isn't new, but there's something new in this, maybe it is in a foreign setting. Movie star Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is going through a mid-life crisis. He went to Tokyo, Japan to promote a liquor drink that was going nowhere. Staying at a hotel and drinking at the bar downstairs everyday, he started seeing a newlywed who's also having a complication in her relationship, Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson). Perhaps the movie's main element isn't the top-notch award-winning script that shaped the movie in every way, or the stylish directing from Sofia Cappola, perhaps it's the unbelievable chemistry between Johansson and Murray (nominated for an Oscar). Lost In Translation really changed Hollywood's perspectives in some ways and Bill Murray/Scarlet Johansson is the best on-screen couple I've seen in years.… Expand
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8
TubieNov 2, 2010
Another great movie with Bill Murray in it. I've always loved Japan and many things that come out of that country so the setting of this movie was a real treat for me, with a beautiful plot and a great cast. All of these things make thisAnother great movie with Bill Murray in it. I've always loved Japan and many things that come out of that country so the setting of this movie was a real treat for me, with a beautiful plot and a great cast. All of these things make this movie one of my favorites.… Expand
2 of 4 users found this helpful22
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10
ryancarroll88Aug 27, 2010
If "Titanic" was the iconic bloated romance novel of movies, then "Lost in Translation" is the quiet, poignant poem that is all the more affecting because of that.
23 of 28 users found this helpful235
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10
opticAug 21, 2010
The best movie ever made. Period. Sublime in every delicious aspect.

If you don't 'get it', don't worry, its the same reason that you 'don't get' abstract algebra or number theory. Its complex and you're not.
1 of 3 users found this helpful12
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10
MarcBJan 4, 2010
Along with Sideways and No Country For Old Men this is one of the three best films of the decade. I love how these two characters connect for a brief moment in time when they are at very different places in their lives. It becomes a bond so Along with Sideways and No Country For Old Men this is one of the three best films of the decade. I love how these two characters connect for a brief moment in time when they are at very different places in their lives. It becomes a bond so intimate, that by the end, even we arent allowed into the privacy of their love(Im thinking of their last scene together). Great film. This film creeps up on you and lingers. All of a sudden this simple story about strangers in Tokyo becomes something more, about the fleeting bonds of unexpected friendship, love and time and chance, and how it can change your life even though it goes so quickly. I love how there is no real time limit on the space they inhabit together. Like, it doesnt go from point a to point b and then end at point c. One minute they are there, amidst the swirling lights of Tokyo, the next moment they are gone. Back to whatever reality is for both of them. Its almost like a dream. All you know is, they connected. If only briefly, they got lost together.… Expand
1 of 3 users found this helpful
10
DDec 29, 2009
One of the greatest films ever made and probably the greatest by an American director. If S. Coppola continues to make films anywhere close to the standard of this masterpiece she could be considered alongside the masters of modern cinema One of the greatest films ever made and probably the greatest by an American director. If S. Coppola continues to make films anywhere close to the standard of this masterpiece she could be considered alongside the masters of modern cinema such as Rohmer and Antonioni.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
5
DaveDec 28, 2009
Definitely overrated by the critics. The humor is rather crass, and much of it stems from ignorance/intolerance of other cultures.
5 of 14 users found this helpful
10
elisabethhDec 27, 2009
Lost in Translation is such a deeply memorable and idiosyncratic movie. I've watched it (and marveled at its amazing portrait of dislocation and connection) many times.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
0
mawNov 8, 2009
I didn't get this movie. Is there something wrong with me?
4 of 9 users found this helpful
10
apostolosaOct 18, 2009
A movie-trip across your heart! A sound deep into your soul! Yes, we are awake listening to Bob and Charlotte's whispers, taking us far away, above the cityscape of Tokyo! Sofia created a masterpiece! Just for the soul-listeners.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
MichaelH.Aug 19, 2009
Pure perfection. Moving and touching everytime. The ending brings tears every watch.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
KieranJAug 7, 2009
A lot of these reviews give this movie a 1 or a zero, usually citing reasons such as ' it was actionless' ' boring' ' where was the plot? i didn't get a climax, something which I've been socially A lot of these reviews give this movie a 1 or a zero, usually citing reasons such as ' it was actionless' ' boring' ' where was the plot? i didn't get a climax, something which I've been socially conditioned to look forward to!' This movie is subtle, maybe it lacks action, but not everything's about action. The exploration into ideas about isolation and loneliness and poignant romance shared between the two characters is something special.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
0
NigelMJul 26, 2009
Don't listen to the pretentious reviews here, this is a bad film plain and simple. Boring, meandering tosh.
5 of 11 users found this helpful
10
J.C.VJul 23, 2009
I think that the message this film give us is very important. There's some comments under mine that says this movie is boring, without climax, drama or something else, but that's the typical kind of comment that an average person I think that the message this film give us is very important. There's some comments under mine that says this movie is boring, without climax, drama or something else, but that's the typical kind of comment that an average person would say. The movie is not so direct as "Requiem for a dream" (for example) is, may be kinda slow for some people but I think that the main topics are wonderfully expressed. [I'm sorry because my english is not so good but that's what I have to say. I loved that movie, and I think is one of the best I've ever seen...].… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
6
JohnAJul 2, 2009
lost in translation is one of those movies that makes a person feel good for watching it. most of its viewers love its small "Anti Hollywood" feel, but BELIEVE me, aside from being a respectable piece of art (at best), lost in translation lost in translation is one of those movies that makes a person feel good for watching it. most of its viewers love its small "Anti Hollywood" feel, but BELIEVE me, aside from being a respectable piece of art (at best), lost in translation really doesnt offer much more to its viewers then that nice little indie feel. the problem with the movie is that there isnt enough character development involved. at no point did i as a viewer have a specific feeling for anyone in the movie because theres really not enough that i knew about them as people. its hard to say this movie does much more then offer the occasional chuckle. the characters are too distant to be relatable so of course when they say something funny it feels like a sad attempt to be witty. im not asking that every movie have characters that i can identify with, but its really important that at some point in a movie the audience member has a see where the character is coming from. this movie is beautifully acted. the only problem is that they play roles of people that no one really wants to see. these are 2 very distant people who eventually come together to make sense of it all, but its hard to think that the director does a very good job in showing the audience any of that. at no point later on in the movie are these characters really more developed then they were to begin with. for what its worth the movie did have a small amount of its dry humor, but in NO WAY is this movie a comedy. (NO SPOILERS AHEAD....) the ending is much different from the rest of the film and just for a second the audience gets a little piece of emotion. and you really see the characters for who they are. problem is the entire rest of the movie never set us up for such an ending. nobody wants a romantic happy ending garbage heap, but this movie was just so fixated on trying to be real that it just ended up being boring. as a viewer i felt that i was finally given the ending only because the director knew its what i wanted to see, and NoT because it was the actual direction the movie was meant to take. life doesnt always have a clear cut road and there arent always yes or no answers. this movie tries so hard to convey that message, but from actor to audience, somewhere in between the message seems to have been Lost in Translation.… Expand
3 of 5 users found this helpful
10
TaraBMay 3, 2009
Just a simple film told in the most graceful, lyrical way, with subtle, perfectly cast performances but Murray and Johanson.
1 of 2 users found this helpful
9
MarcJ.Mar 9, 2009
This is a great movie. It moved into my top 20 list a long time ago. Many films follow a very traditional structure. You know- a fully structured plot, a clear climax, and a "feel good" resolution at the end. These films generally treat you This is a great movie. It moved into my top 20 list a long time ago. Many films follow a very traditional structure. You know- a fully structured plot, a clear climax, and a "feel good" resolution at the end. These films generally treat you as a passenger, explicitly making it clear when these points in the story are happening (perhaps by showing a big explosion or a car chase). It's a great formula for entertainment, and there is a place for these movies. But Lost in Translation is not one of these movies. It leaves some room for the viewer to interpret events, the nature of relationships, and so on. It's not that people that don't like it aren't smart enough to understand it- it's just that they're likely approaching the movie the wrong way.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
10
MatoylaFeb 19, 2009
For anyone that has ever travelled alone. For anyone that has ever stood on that precipe and wondered "what would have happened...?" And could Bill Murray singing karaoke to Scarlett be one of the most sad and profound romantic scenes ever For anyone that has ever travelled alone. For anyone that has ever stood on that precipe and wondered "what would have happened...?" And could Bill Murray singing karaoke to Scarlett be one of the most sad and profound romantic scenes ever shown.One of my top 10 films.… Expand
0 of 1 users found this helpful
1
JoeB.Jan 8, 2009
This may be the worst movie I have ever seen. I'm only giving it a "1" because I love Bill Murray. This movie is an hour and some odd minutes of my life I will never get back. Unfortunately, it is highly representative of a generation This may be the worst movie I have ever seen. I'm only giving it a "1" because I love Bill Murray. This movie is an hour and some odd minutes of my life I will never get back. Unfortunately, it is highly representative of a generation that needs to stop complaining and get off it's ass and get a life. No real plot, no drama, no climax, no deep discovery culminating in a social statement. It's about two pathetic souls that don't even know how to amuse themselves let alone each other.… Expand
5 of 10 users found this helpful
10
JohnB.Dec 22, 2008
Actually, Brandon, you missed a lot. This is a wonderful movie. It's a simple, slow-moving character study of two people in a foreign land who have little more waiting for them at their homes. They are lost and find one another. Actually, Brandon, you missed a lot. This is a wonderful movie. It's a simple, slow-moving character study of two people in a foreign land who have little more waiting for them at their homes. They are lost and find one another. It's not plot-oriented in the cliched sense (hence, the numerous low scores, many, though not all, from people like Ed F. who need plots or action spoonfed to them). I agree with Alex, it's not mindless entertainment, but a soulful, beautiful film that touches on much deeper feelings than most films. Believe me, as someone who loves all movies, from silly comedies and action thrillers, to the most obscure highbrow art flicks, this is a fantastic movie.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
0
AllanODec 3, 2008
Both me and my Asian wife thought this was way too slow with no real content. Very boring. I see very little humour, most of which plays on the Asian culture, which was not funny to one familiar with it. No real plot, no finish, no point.. I Both me and my Asian wife thought this was way too slow with no real content. Very boring. I see very little humour, most of which plays on the Asian culture, which was not funny to one familiar with it. No real plot, no finish, no point.. I got all the subtleties, but I was expecting some amount of entertainment, I want the two hours of my life back.… Expand
4 of 9 users found this helpful
0
BrandonMOct 30, 2008
Nothing happens. Honestly, this may be the worst movie I have ever seen. It's a long movie where a guy goes to Japan and meets a friend. Theres no humor, no drama, no climax, no resolution, no theme, nothing. NOTHING! It's not like Nothing happens. Honestly, this may be the worst movie I have ever seen. It's a long movie where a guy goes to Japan and meets a friend. Theres no humor, no drama, no climax, no resolution, no theme, nothing. NOTHING! It's not like I'm missing some underlying plot, or missing the subtleties of the love/friendship these 2 lonely people share in a foreign land, but that entertainment lasts all of 5 seconds. I implore you, don't see this movie and then later pretend it meant something, because it certainly did not.… Expand
5 of 11 users found this helpful
9
JoseS.Aug 24, 2008
So, it's a little slow - still, Bill Murray has never been better, and Scarlett Johansson is wonderfully understated. also the best Sophia Coppola has ever done, doubt she'll top this. A comedy with a big heart.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
1
EdF.Jul 17, 2008
A film should have one of the following: Good plot/story Good dialogue Visually good looking Action Lost in Translation has none.
4 of 9 users found this helpful
9
AlexJul 9, 2008
A thinking person's movie, with powerful performances by the lead actors....clearly not everyone's cup of tea but the movie is actually a mirror of real life with all of its sadness and poignancy.
1 of 3 users found this helpful
10
MikeHMay 27, 2008
Not to sound pretentious, but the people who don't understand the film are the ones to give it low scores. The only thing that the movie has going against it may be it's inaccessibility. It's funny, artistic, sensitive, Not to sound pretentious, but the people who don't understand the film are the ones to give it low scores. The only thing that the movie has going against it may be it's inaccessibility. It's funny, artistic, sensitive, endearing, subtle, and powerful. It's film at it's best, and if you like pop-garbage movies than I'm sorry, you won't like this. It's not "action-packed!" or "sexy, kinky, shit" it's genuine and calm.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
10
SuzannH.May 5, 2008
For those who have an inner life, this is a great movie.
1 of 3 users found this helpful
2
JosephB.Jan 11, 2008
I could not believe when I saw this film that it was the same thing all the critics had been raving about. Overlong, underplotted, little or no character development, overtly racist...it's well acted and shot, but the film has no heart.
4 of 6 users found this helpful
10
MojoP.Dec 28, 2007
Simply put this is an incredible film of pitch perfect dialogue and some great shots of Japan. It captures humanity in the two lead characters with stellar precision and truth. I can see how regular movie goers may get bored, this movie is Simply put this is an incredible film of pitch perfect dialogue and some great shots of Japan. It captures humanity in the two lead characters with stellar precision and truth. I can see how regular movie goers may get bored, this movie is one to really focus on with each line spoken having meaning for plot advancement. Simply put, the writing and acting is brilliant, sheer ace. I loved it anyway. Music was ace too.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
KaylaF.Nov 2, 2007
Probably my all time favorite movie. Its so human, its fantastic. This movie deserves nothing less than 10/10
0 of 0 users found this helpful
3
JackB.Nov 1, 2007
There are a few redeeming qualities to this movie: (a) scarlett, (b) bill, (c) the ending. Why there are more non-redeeming qualities are as follows: (1) it's frankly not believable, (2) cliche' typical daddy save me There are a few redeeming qualities to this movie: (a) scarlett, (b) bill, (c) the ending. Why there are more non-redeeming qualities are as follows: (1) it's frankly not believable, (2) cliche' typical daddy save me complex-fantasy, (3) creating boring mood is plain boring (4) annoying by design to group Japanese culture as boring & silly, (5) it's pretentious & works hard to be clever (6) it's devoid of making a connection (7) effectively leaves audience empty. The most frustrating part is this movie has more potential. Both these characters could have pulled off so much more, could still keep that somber mood & developed more mystery & intrigue. I kept wanting more of Bill to step out, and needed more of Scarlett to bust. I have no patience for shallowness. This girl is in Tokyo. He is in Tokyo. Hard to be lost (souls) That is not believable. If they were in the middle of the Guam - maybe. If they can't bring energy to Tokyo, then they can't bring energy at all, and therefore these characters are frankly hopeless and that is the most unattractive part of this film. Why waste time with people that cant barely save themselves in the best of world-class circumstances. Yawn..ZZZZZzzzz.… Expand
6 of 12 users found this helpful
9
MarkI.Jun 24, 2007
Simply beautiful. This film warms the soul.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
5
JamieP.Jun 17, 2007
Coppola's idea is really great. too bad it was not presented in a good way. you cannot miss the fact that this movie is boring and overrated.
0 of 1 users found this helpful
10
DanielAMay 24, 2007
Most who are critical of this movie point to its "lack of a plot" and meandering story as serious faults, and therefore claim they hate it. Yet they've become so used to these substandard, 3 act, plot-twist-filled, muddled messes that Most who are critical of this movie point to its "lack of a plot" and meandering story as serious faults, and therefore claim they hate it. Yet they've become so used to these substandard, 3 act, plot-twist-filled, muddled messes that Hollywood churns out every year that they can't see the simple and powerful beauty of Lost in Translation. They're jaded with films, and expect to see actions and consequences, when in fact a lot of LiT is about inaction and restraint: what the two protagonists DON'T say to each other, what they DON'T do together, etc. These people who bash the film may or may not be of sub-standard intelligence; who knows. But it's clear that they cannot appreciate subtle genius and beauty, and that masterpieces like this and La Dolce Vita would go right over their heads.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
BrianZ.May 16, 2007
You have to see the end of the movie to understand its meaning and to receive its full impact.
0 of 0 users found this helpful
10
BarryApr 26, 2007
I know it's a love hate film but I'm firmly on the love side. I could watch this film every week but I'd be afraid I'd wear out my fondness for it. I doubt it though. I actually feel as if I'm in Tokyo for an hour I know it's a love hate film but I'm firmly on the love side. I could watch this film every week but I'd be afraid I'd wear out my fondness for it. I doubt it though. I actually feel as if I'm in Tokyo for an hour and a half when i watch it. I love the way it doesn't go for the Hollywood ending and I love the whisper and i love that people hate they don't know what's being said.… Expand
0 of 0 users found this helpful
8
ChadD.Apr 6, 2007
It took me a 2-3 views to really appreciate all this movie has to offer. There is so much that is unspoken and even unseen. If quiet, visceral films are not your thing; if you prefer stories that are more linear and "eventful," you should It took me a 2-3 views to really appreciate all this movie has to offer. There is so much that is unspoken and even unseen. If quiet, visceral films are not your thing; if you prefer stories that are more linear and "eventful," you should probably skip this one. It requires a little patience and for you to allow some personal investment, but will reward you for allowing it to seep in.… Expand
1 of 1 users found this helpful
10
GS.Mar 2, 2007
Perfectly shot. Excellent on-screen chemistry. Original...need I say more?
0 of 0 users found this helpful
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