Lost in Translation – Film Review

A lonely, aging movie star named Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and a conflicted newlywed, Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson), meet in Tokyo. Bob is there to film a Japanese whiskey commercial; Charlotte is accompanying her celebrity-photographer husband. Strangers in a foreign land, the two find escape, distraction, and understanding amidst the bright Tokyo lights after a chance meeting in the quiet lull of the hotel bar. They form a bond that is as unlikely as it is heartfelt and meaningful.

Sofia Coppola is one of the best directors of all time in my opinion. All of her films are so intricately detailed and they’re so full of life, love, charm, and emotion and yet her best film remains her 2003 effort Lost in Translation. This is a staggeringly beautiful film that wanders throughout the everyday life of an aging movie star who meets a young woman, and for the remainder of the film, we watch the relationship between the two blossom.

But it’s a complicated relationship they have because it doesn’t seem crystal clear what kind of relationship they want with each other. Coppola’s writing style here is absolutely excellent and constantly keeps you on your toes, waiting to see what will happen next between the two. Just when you think you may have a clear understanding of what’s going on, Coppola swoops in to remind you of just how multi-layered her films are in all the best ways.

There’s no wonder why this film was nominated for Best Picture at the 76th Academy Awards. Of course, it’s not better than The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King which did take home the top prize that night, but it’s still a remarkable effort and one that’s brimming with love and life in virtually every scene. Movies like this still get made occasionally, but they never manage to come close to the style and heart Lost in Translation effortlessly displays.

Bill Murray is absolutely delightful in this film as he always is. My favorite role of his will forever be Peter Venkman in the original Ghostbusters movie, but he’s seriously excellent here in the role of a moody but lovable movie star who has nothing to do with his time except for go to bars and try to make some new acquaintances. Scarlett Johansson is equally brilliant in the role of Charlotte, delivering one of the most nuanced and intriguing performances of her entire career. Her work as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is seriously timeless, but it’s always nice to remember that Johansson is a genuinely great actress when it comes to more laid-back roles, too.

Lost in Translation is a staggeringly beautiful meditation on life and a powerful vehicle for both Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.