Sofia Coppolla�s debut The Virgin Suicides was a sumptuous delight: moody, wistful, touching and wonderfully scored. It�s now been four years, but if her output is to be this consistently rewarding then here�s to another four.
Bill Murray plays Bob Harris, an American actor visiting Tokyo to be paid vast amounts of money to endorse a whiskey. Evidently he is a disillusioned man, uninspired by his work, his marriage, his life. Holed up in his hotel room, underwhelmed by one of the world�s most vibrant and vivacious cities, he only makes it out to record his advertisements or frequent the hotel bar. It is here that he meets fellow lonely soul, Charlotte (Johansson); a recent graduate, also at a crossroads, in the city due to her fashion photographer boyfriend, who spends most of his time on shoots or with the fashionista she has virtually no patience for. She too spends her time devoid of purpose, wandering aimlessly, fascinated by the alien surroundings but always on the margins. The two embark on an immediately intense friendship, channelling their frustrations through each other, discovering the city, having fun, and mutually dissecting their own situations. As they become closer, their friendship begins to possess an element of dependency, with deeper undercurrents.
Lost in Translation is a truly great film. It is funny, affecting and imbued with a beautiful sense of melancholy. Johansson and Murray do a superb job at playing these characters; lost yet not without hope. Their dynamic is stirring, full of well-delivered dialogue and humour. There are some great Bill Murray moments too, notably in the hotel gym and at his various photo-shoots, attempting to communicate through translators. Johansson meanwhile is truly stunning.
Coppolla directs with the same eye-catching prettiness as she did on her debut. Sure it is easy to make a visually striking film in such a place as Tokyo but it is the way she incorporates her characters into this that is so pleasing; out of place and insignificant. Once again she hits the mark with the score too, with some beautiful ambient electronica from the likes of Squarepusher, and with ex-My Bloody Valentine mainman Kevin Shields providing some lovely incidentals. Like The Virgin Suicides the ending is inevitable yet here is more ambiguous and is truly memorable. |
