Lost in Translation

THE FLICK: “Lost in Translation” is a film that finds itself – that’s coincidentally about finding yourself. It’s aimless, free form style (along with the spacey-tunes by ex-“My Bloody Valentine” guitarist Kevin Shields) is a perfect match for the improvisational talents of Bill Murray who stars as Bob Harris, an American actor filming a commercial in Tokyo. Scarlett Johansson is Charlotte, the bored wife of a workaholic photographer in Japan on business. Their chance meetings strike up a friendship and an unspoken connection that allows director Sofia Coppola’s film to take on a playful air of innocence despite the drastic age difference between the two leads. Never quite a comedy – although Murray is given free reign to be himself – the film is brilliantly adept at never saying more than it has too. Coppola explores her own artistic sensibilities as Bob and Charlotte explore the city, drifting through an endless barrage of neon lights and late-night parties. “Lost in Translation” develops along with its characters, making you feel their pain, joy, and jealousy all the more intensely. That it does this so effortlessly is a tribute to Coppola and her deceptively simple script, which takes on some of the bigger themes of life, love and marriage without talking them to death. THE FEATURES: Also playing fast-and-loose is the “Lost on Location” documentary about the making of the film. A 30-minute video piece shot by a variety of tag-alongs (including director Spike Jonze), it avoids the typical talking head stuff and captures the action as it happens: Murray joking around in Japanese, the crew out-shooting a typhoon, and Coppola directing her Japanese cast via a translator. There’s also 10-minutes of deleted scenes, a music video from Kevin Shields, and a 10-minute conversation with Coppola and Murray on a Rome rooftop. FINAL SCORE: Finally, an independent-type film with some subtlety. The fact that “Lost in Translation” is never quite sure where it’s headed itself makes the journey all the more interesting. Murray adds some jokes, but the real pleasure of the movie is its genuine platonic love for its characters.