Lost in Translation

amacachi · 06-08-2010 05:40AM

basquille wrote: »

.. well, I didn't mention it persé!

For God's sake, you always have to drag everything down. :pac:

Great film, not sure why I like it so much but I do. I suppose it's down to how easy I am to please and the fact that nothing in the film annoyed me, especially since I ****ing love Japan. :pac:

Renn · 06-08-2010 09:21AM

Really don't think this is as good as everyone here is making it out to be. But like I said before, it's been a while since I've seen it and it didn't do anything at that time. If I was recommending Coppola I'd definitely be bringing up Marie Antoinette instead of this.

megadodge · 06-08-2010 10:26AM

Have to say, I'm flabbergasted at all the credit this film gets.

It's been a while since I've seen it now, but I cannot actually remember any particular scene or line in the film, which is highly unusual for me. I'm afraid it left me completely numb.

Not sure how it could ever be classified as 'comedy' either.

I can understand people who have been in the same situation relating to it, but overall I found it a dull, uninteresting film.

ntlbell · 06-08-2010 10:40AM

megadodge wrote: »

Have to say, I'm flabbergasted at all the credit this film gets.

It's been a while since I've seen it now, but I cannot actually remember any particular scene or line in the film, which is highly unusual for me. I'm afraid it left me completely numb.

Not sure how it could ever be classified as 'comedy' either.

I can understand people who have been in the same situation relating to it, but overall I found it a dull, uninteresting film.

for relaxing times make it suntory times :cool:

take everything · 12-09-2010 05:53AM

Lost in Translation.
Just watched it (yes i know it's out nearly 10 years now).
I was expecting great things altogether.

Bill Murray (one of those rare actors that combines comedy and drama so well) and who can do little wrong IMO- Check.
Unconventional love story (by hollywood standards)- Check.
Awesome Japanese scenery- Check.
Decent nuanced acting and dialogue- Check.
Tale of existential ennui- Check.
Theme of connection vs alienation (obviously heightened in the cultural context)- Check

But just something about it made me go meh.
The most meaningful scene for me was probably the two of them lying on the bed and Murray's character discussing with Johansen's character the difficulties of life/marriage.
But other than that i have to say it was just kinda boring.
Maybe it was Johansen's character- she was just so mopey or something.
And i'm trying to remember why i should have cared about her.
Or even Murray's character (admittedly the more likeable).
:pac::pac::pac::pac:
I dunno i enjoyed American Beauty, Broken Flowers, About Schmidt, Before Sunset/Sunrise (comparable themes- romance; midlife ennui etc).
Maybe it's because everyone raves about it so much and my expectations were raised.

/awaits accusations of being a knuckledragger.

FruitLover · 12-09-2010 06:59AM

take everything wrote: »

Maybe it's because everyone raves about it so much and my expectations were raised.

I'd say this. Give it a few months and watch it again now that the pressure of expectation is off - I think you'll probably enjoy it more.

johnny_ultimate · 12-09-2010 12:09PM

Always one of those films which seems to divide audiences, so it is one of those rare films I kind of understand many people not liking.

Have merged this with the other recent thread, so you can see some other people's opinions for and against it

JohnMearsheimer · 13-09-2010 02:51AM

I'm glad I found this thread! Lost in Translation is my favourite film. I saw it in the cinema with some friends when it came out and they all walked out along with a good few others. In the years since a lot of people told me they couldn't stand the movie and it baffles me. This movie has stayed with me over the years and every so often I find myself thinking about it. I think it means more to me now as I've got older (I as 19 when it was released) and learned a few more of life's lessons. I found it deeply satisfying on so many levels, even the bittersweet ending. I love them both walking away from each other and blending back into the crowd with Just Like Honey playing in the background. It always makes me wonder what could have been if I met certain people at different times and under different circumstances.

Basq · 13-09-2010 10:04AM

Good to see this bumped as I read this last week and was meant to post it..

The Blu-ray will be released in the US (Region A) in December - see Amazon.com.

Hoping it'll be region-free or we'll get a Region B release shortly after.

Aldebaran · 13-09-2010 02:01PM

I'm glad I'm not the only one who completely adores this movie. I have watched it so many times now that I've lost count, and I rarely re-watch movies, but this is one that just doesn't get old. Every time I watch it I am completely absorbed by it. It feels like I movie that was made just for me, though from reading this thread I'm sure many people feel that way about it too.

I love the photoshoot scene, makes me smile every time:

'You want more mysterious? I'll just try and think, "Where the hell's the whiskey?'

Richard Dower · 13-09-2010 08:52PM

Overrated.

Basq · 13-09-2010 09:00PM

Richard Dower wrote: »

Overrated.

From someone who's a lover of "tween" movies, I expected that!

Richard Dower · 13-09-2010 09:04PM

^ that "tween" line you trot out is boring, i watch a wide variety of things...

amacachi · 13-09-2010 09:09PM

basquille wrote: »

Good to see this bumped as I read this last week and was meant to post it..

The Blu-ray will be released in the US (Region A) in December - see Amazon.com.

Hoping it'll be region-free or we'll get a Region B release shortly after.

Yay, I need to see more detail in the opening scene!

Basq · 13-09-2010 09:23PM

Richard Dower wrote: »

^ that "tween" line you trot out is boring, i watch a wide variety of things...

Well.. explain why you didn't like it, as opposed to just throwing out a word like 'overrated'!

Richard Dower · 13-09-2010 09:32PM

Overrated is a subjective term, an opinion, i felt it didn't warrent the hype surrounding it. if you want a Japanese setting try The Ramen Girl with Brittany Murphy, i just found it rather dull.

Basq · 13-09-2010 09:35PM

Richard Dower wrote: »

Overrated is a subjective term, an opinion, i felt it didn't warrent the hype surrounding it. if you want a Japanese setting try The Ramen Girl with Brittany Murphy, i just found it rather dull.

[OT]

Overrated is also the most lazy type of criticism you can apply to something..

.. in the rare time you hear a critic use the term 'overrated', you can bet your ass they'll have some serious backing and reasoning as to why they thought it was 'overrated'.

But in my opinion, 'overrated' is used by people who can't construct an opinion on whether or not they liked a film.

[/OT]

Richard Dower · 13-09-2010 09:43PM

The delivery and subject matter didn't interest me, which is why i found it dull...the bittersweet unrequited love story set against the Tokyo skyline, and dreadful actress that is Scarlet Johansen, Murray i have seen the majority of his work from the early days of Stripes to Caddyshack to his more serious roles in the 90's etc.

He's evolved alot as an actor, i don't fault him in the role, but i found Coppola's story and characterisation to be rather depressing and as a movie it bored me.

Basq · 13-09-2010 09:48PM

I don't agree with a lot of your points.. but I'm thankful you elaborated on 'overrated' anyways Rich.

Richard Dower wrote: »

The delivery and subject matter didn't interest me, which is why i found it dull...

If you weren't interested in the delivery (not sure what you meant here.. the way dialogue is delivered?

) or subject matter, then you never really gonna like it to be fair!

Richard Dower · 13-09-2010 10:13PM

^ i watched it on Channel 4, i hadn't seen or known anything about the movie at the time, thus i didn't go in with predjudice or preconceptions, i mentioned The Ramen Girl because the lead actor is famous in Japan, all his dialogue was delivered in Japanese, in fact all but two characters were American.

All the dialogue from them was Japanese and subtitled, i compare and use this as an example as to how and why i enjoyed that movie much more, it gripped and gave me much more sense of "lost in translation" then the Coppola movie did.

I suggest you watch that movie, so you'll understand what i'm talking about.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0806165/

jrd · 13-09-2010 11:02PM

basquille wrote: »

Good to see this bumped as I read this last week and was meant to post it..

The Blu-ray will be released in the US (Region A) in December - see Amazon.com.

Hoping it'll be region-free or we'll get a Region B release shortly after.

thanks for posting. LiT seems to be a real Marmite film - i.e. you love it or hate it. Personally I am completely hooked on the film. It really reasonated with me when I saw it first when I was living in London. It has still held enormous appeal, eight or nine viewings later. Definitely in my top 10 and I keep going back to it.

PS I may be the only one who likes Scarlett in it

take everything · 14-09-2010 01:44AM

Just thinking again about the problems i had with this film.

I just found it difficult to care that much for the characters.
Their problems weren't great in fairness, seeming more prone to self-absorption/self-indulgence than anything really.
I just wondered if their circumstances really justified their pervasive mooching.

And i just wondered if the culture shock thing was overplayed. The fact they couldn't find something/someone to cheer themselves up in such an exciting city. Their aloofness from everyone around them kinda grated after a while.

me-skywalker · 14-09-2010 02:07AM

Richard Dower wrote: »

The delivery and subject matter didn't interest me, which is why i found it dull...the bittersweet unrequited love story

I think your severally missing the development in their relationship. I do not think by the end of the film it is 'unrequited love'. There's a unique build up and inter-play between the two characters growing close to each other and developing sensitive feelings for each other while still retaining their distant core value, as honestly broken people, for a fleeting chance of knowing what could ever happen.

take everything wrote: »

Just thinking again about the problems i had with this film.

I just found it difficult to care that much for the characters.
Their problems weren't great in fairness, seeming more prone to self-absorption/self-indulgence than anything really.

Every person has their own problem and some would see them less consequencial than others. Bill's character had everything a 'normal' life would be considered to be succesful i.e money, family and a great career behind him; but approaching his twilight he still has a burning sense inside that he's missing out on something different and is searching to find what it is.

take everything wrote: »

Their aloofness from everyone around them kinda grated after a while.

I found it unique. Humans suffering in a depression or a funk will naturally feel down on themselves and feel sorry for themselves. Its narcissistic to deny a vibrant city with millions of people, but in a way this compounds their situation.

Thats just my perception having watched the film approx 10 times and having been in a situation with a woman like this before. Not tryign to pick on any points to bash them but I think I perceived some elements differently.

FruitLover · 14-09-2010 10:16AM

take everything wrote: »

And i just wondered if the culture shock thing was overplayed. The fact they couldn't find something/someone to cheer themselves up in such an exciting city. Their aloofness from everyone around them kinda grated after a while.

Bear in mind that neither of the main characters actually wanted to be there. Scarlett's character got dragged along with her boyfriend's work, and Bill's character was probably as much interested in escaping his home life as doing an advertisement gig.

christeb · 18-09-2010 04:29PM

Re-watched it this week after seeing this thread, I may have seen it in the cinema when it was out (and didn't care much for it then).
Loved it. I loved the characters, Bill's dryness, Scarlett's innocence and the sense of total displacement felt. The ambiguity makes the film, and the end is perfect, as the OP rightly says.
A small slice of cinematic perfection.

Psychedelic · 22-10-2010 12:23PM

Watched this last night after reading the OP, really liked it. The ending is just lovely. I hate the way in most films the man and woman would see each other for the first time and 2 minutes later they are having sex and madly in love with each other. So it was very refreshing to see this type of film, where their relationship builds slowly and subtly, and it was great that they didn't get together at the end.

My initial interpretation of the ending was that they would never see each other again but it probably makes more sense that they would meet up. Not that it matters either way in my opinion, it's better that we don't know what he said, all that matters was that moment and the smiles on their faces as they walk away and the feeling you get from that.

Klingon Hamlet · 12-12-2010 03:11PM

Dunno what to think of it. On the one hand Bill Murray was really fun to watch but also a bit sad. There were some really funny moments and I felt as lost as the characters. On the other hand I thought Johannsen wasn't all that likeable (intentionally?), and I felt like the characters spent more time moping and shrugging than actually doing anything about their lives...maybe the end of the film said things were gonna change for the better, but I'm just not sure.

There's been a lot of films lately that aim to focus on the mundane and mediocre. That highlight people's faults and vanities, and yes it makes them more believable, but sometimes I think it ruins the very point of cinema: escapism. I wanted to see more of the weirdness of Japan through Americanised eyes, and immerse myself. But these characters and their paper-thin plot tended to drag me away to their dull hotel rooms, where they looked longingly off toward a home they apparently didn't want to return to, but they didn't want to stay where they were either.

Maybe the points I'm making (if I am making any at all) would be the very reasons people like this movie. I just wanted more story, more humour, and less self-pity.

krudler · 12-12-2010 03:26PM

I thought it was overrated when I first saw it in the cinema, I've watched it dozens of times since and its one of my favourite movies. Charlotte is kind of a gowl to begin with but by the end its sad to see them leave each other. Its one of those movies that gets funnier the more you watch it, especially the hospital scene, watch the two women sitting behind Murray when hes talking to the old man (is it a man? I've never been sure) and they're breaking their holes laughing at them.

nervous_twitch · 12-12-2010 05:53PM

Klingon Hamlet wrote: »

Maybe the points I'm making (if I am making any at all) would be the very reasons people like this movie. I just wanted more story, more humour, and less self-pity.

I think you're right in saying that the barely-there story and just the general tone of the movie is exactly what endears people to it. Coppola seems to be carving a niche in this kind of film-making; stories anchored in reality, capturing the particulars of those moments we all experience. In this way, I think Lost in Translation unfolds in the way that life might - nothing much happens, humour arises but its not constant or consistent and yeah, its pretty bleak at times.. but its perfectly executed. Whether or not you think that makes for a good film is a matter of opinion really. I caught her latest, Somewhere, and its very similar - the pace even slower perhaps, but I really enjoyed it.

I've noticed in general that films are being prized more for their 'reality' - real characters, real dialogue in real situations. The escapism you mention isn't really a prerequisite anymore I don't think.

Sad Professor · 12-12-2010 06:37PM

As I've said many before, it's one of my favourite films. I find Coppola's style of directing incredibly refreshing.

For example, LiT contains so many scenes of the characters by themselves, moseying around, or just sitting alone. I never feel like I really know a character in a film unless we get a sense of what they are like as an individual. It's extraordinary how many films don't contain a single scene of the main character alone for more than a few seconds. Quite often in films characters are depicted and defined almost entirely by interactions with other people.

The great thing about Coppola is that she doesn't rely on dialogue to tell you everything. So much of the film is unspoken. Murray and Johannsen's interactions are incredibly inarticulate compared to, lets say, the long conversations between Hawke and Delphy in Before Sunrise. They are dissatisfied with their lives but they don't really know why. So many of their conversations are awkward, they aren't really sure what to say. Even at the end they don't know how to say goodbye.

Lost in Translation really rings true to me in way that, for example, Before Sunrise doesn't. That film is a pretty good example of romantic escapism, which I guess has its own appeal, but I much prefer how Coppola treats her characters like real people.

Lost in Translation

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