Lost in Translation

This very sweet and unforced film about falling in platonic love perhaps could not have been written and directed without living through a similar experience. Lost in Translation is harmoniously fluid, without a single cliché of the romance genre, with an atypical and yet pleasantly well-coordinated couple, sincere dialogue and a minimalist conclusion with a stronger emotional impact than even the great romantic classics offer. “The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you”. (04/06/2021)

I was very curious to see how Sofia Coppola fared and I was looking forward to her top work so far. And I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. The film beautifully depicts the contrast between the usual, to which our heroes have been accustomed all their lives, and the exotic Japanese jungle, where their lonely souls seem far removed from their awkward and tormented bodies. Bill Murray is terrific, utterly convincing and charming as the bored movie star, and I have to say that he probably deserved the Oscar more than Sean Penn did for Mystic River. Even Scarlett Johansson, in one of her first big roles, proved that she’s not just a pretty face, but an extremely talented actress, and that she’s a more than capable co-star for the great Murray. It is the two of them, and the perfect chemistry between them, that greatly contribute to the flawless direction and make Lost in Translation one of the most enjoyable films ever made on a similar subject. There wasn't much missing, and even I was swept away to a full review. (22/10/2012)

There are not many cases when I empathized so much with the feelings of the heroes. Feelings of emptiness, loneliness, sadness, fear, warmth, and love. Bill Murray's mournful gaze has imprinted on me forever, as well as Scarlett Johansson's gentle face. Beauty that, when in the right mood, equals an absolute experience. (27/10/2005)

A very nice story. Amazing acting (Bill Murray gives the performance of his life). If your mood was hovering around freezing point before seeing Lost in Translation, afterward you’ll be at pleasant room temperature. It’s the kind of movie that puts you in a good mood and makes for a better day. You’ll probably also have a sudden urge to fly to Tokyo to play a round of golf. At least I did. ;-) (09/10/2007)

Yes, this movie is not bad in my opinion... However, it is by no means as good as the enthusiastic applause of critics and some viewers would suggest. Lost in Translation arrived at the right time with a style that was in demand. Viewers and especially critics were simply tired of high-budget productions packed with digital special effects and action and longed for a more civil, cultured expression. It is not a comedy in the true sense of the word, there are few purely humorous situations, and if they do appear, they are the ones that bring a smile to the lips, certainly not laughter. Much more than that, it is an unfulfilled love story between unequal partners without a real perspective. The film's strengths lie in the performances of the main pair and the script, which draws on knowledge of the film industry and Japanese culture. On the other hand, I have seen much stronger films on a similar theme and did not find anything exceptional in this film. Some scenes are so drawn out that they can even be boring... It gets a weak 4 stars from me and an overall impression of 70%. (13/08/2007)