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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106
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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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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
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.
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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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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.
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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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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.
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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
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
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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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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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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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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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
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.
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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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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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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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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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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.
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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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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
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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
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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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
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 disappointment
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 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.
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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)
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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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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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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.
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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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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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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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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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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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