Lost in Translation
In this delightful and masterful character study, Bob Harris (Bill Murray) has arrived in Tokyo to shoot a whiskey commercial for $2 million. He's an unhappy and out-of-work actor, bored out of his mind, and alone in a different world. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) has arrived in Tokyo with her husband, a phtographer (Giovanni Ribisi). When he leaves for his photo shoot for a few days, Charlotte is unhappy, bored out of her mind, and left alone in a different world. On one of their many trips to the bar on the hotel rooftop, they meet and instantly develop a rapport with each other. Together, they discover Tokyo and embrace its food and culture while, despite their differences in age and maturity, discovering love for each other.

This is Sofia Coppola's second directed feature (The Virgin Suicides) and it shows that when she has a great idea, she runs with it and is ultimately successful. It's the rest of the movie where it somewhat falls apart. The film is built upon the chemistry of Murray and Johansson and it is strong. Murray, with his roots as a comedian, has always been underappreciated for his recent works, especially Rushmore, as a serious actor. Here, he shows off both of his acting sides to rousing approval. Bob and Charlotte turn out to be very smart and perceptive of their roles in their relationship knowing one is firmly rooted with a family at home and the other is still young and still establishing a direction in life. And even so, they are a perfect match for each other. But when Coppola's attention turns away from this relationship and into their individual lives, she doesn't quite finishes what she starts. Ribisi suddenly disappears in the middle of the film. His friend, a ditzy movie actress played by Anna Faris, shows up but I haven't a clue what she's doing there. And what of that singer? But again, the focus is on the two main characters and that's all you really need to laugh going in only to become so poignant at the end. 3.5 stars