4 more reviews

1. ›Film Review: Lost in Translation (2003)@drax935d

   

   Many who don’t like film of Andrei Tarkovsky complain about lack of plot and long scenes when nothing actually happens. Tarkovsky fans usually respond to such complains by claiming that Tarkovsky films have “great atmosphere”. Similar kind of defence can be invoked by fans of Sofia Coppola whenever someone criticises shortcomings of her work, including her most successful film, 2003 drama Lost in Translation.

   Protagonist, played by Bill Murray, is Bob Harris, Hollywood actor who used to be a big international star decades ago but who is now forced to make ends meet by appearing in Japanese whiskey commercials. Bob arrives for the shoot in Tokyo where he would deal with jet lag, language barriers and culture shock. He checks in upscale Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel, where Charlotte (played by Scarlett Johansson), young woman who has graduated from Yale and who stays with her husband John (played by Giovanni Ribisi), celebrity photographer who came to Japan for a shoot. John is completely dedicated to his work and prefers company of his colleagues and old acquaintances to Charlotte, who is left in hotel. Series of chance encounters with Bob leads both of them to realise that they share feeling of alienation from the strange exotic country they found themselves in, as well as from their respective spouses. Their relationship soon develops in genuine friendship and two of them begin to venture out of hotel to Tokyo streets where they experience semi-humorous adventures that involve performances in karaoke bars. Their mutual affection grows and there are hints that the relationship might evolve into something more, but both are aware two major impediments in that direction – their stay in Japan soon coming to an end and huge age gap between two.

   Lost in Translation was the most personal of all films by Sofia Coppola. Previously she had spent number of years living in Japan and became fond of Tokyo’s night life as well as city’s striking aesthetic which she found so modern and alien at the same time. The very idea for screenplay came in Park Hyatt Tokyo - the very same hotel that serves as plot setting - where Coppola was staying while promoting her directorial debut The Virgin Suicides. Much of the script was built around character of Bob Harris, a role specifically created for Bill Murray, actor who, until that time was known almost exclusively for comic roles and whose latest attempt to branch into more serious or dramatic roles, made nearly two decades earlier in The Razor’s Edge, had left much to be desired. Copoola, despite reputation and clout of her family name, had some issues before launching project, but when Murray finally agreed to shoot, her perseverance was rewarded.

   The main such rewards comes from Bill Murray, who delivered one of the strongest, most believable and realistic performances. Some may argue that Murray, by playing Hollywood actor who had seen better days or has to deal with alienation and midlife crisis, might have played himself. Nevertheless, he is very good in his role and benefits a lot from chemistry with Scarlett Johansson, up-and-coming actress who was 17 years during the production, but who nevertheless plays woman slightly older than her with great confidence. Chemistry between two actors is well used in script that tries to explore themes of alienation and generation gap while using formula of doomed love affair very much like the one depicted in David Lean’s classic Brief Encounter. Coppola also adds her own very personal observations about Japan and its complex relationship with the rest of the world. There are attempts of mild humour that made some critics characterise Lost in Translation as romantic comedy. Some of those would later serve as basis for accusations of racial stereotyping and cultural insensitivity.

   The more dangerous issue Coppola had to deal in the world increasingly dominated by “political correctness” is the age gap between the protagonists and possibility that Lost in Translation might be deemed as sexist. Coppola gave a little material to those accusations by opening shot with features young Scarlett Johansson’s posterior clad in underwear. However, she took much more caution in the rest of the film and decided to keep relationship between Bob and Charlotte strictly platonic. Just to make sure, she even added character of hotel’s lounge singer (played by Catherine Lambert), conveniently closer to Bob’s age, with whom the protagonist would have a one night stand. That small detail appears artificially inserted in the story and makes Lost in Translation look too cold and too calculated for what would otherwise be much warmer and authentic story.

   Lost in Translation, nevertheless won plenty of critics and audience, ultimately earning Coppola an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film became Coppola’s biggest hit and in many ways represented new boost for Bill Murray’s career, while elevating Scarlett Johansson into one of the biggest female stars of 21st Century Hollywood.

   RATING: 6/10 (++)

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2. ›MOVIE RWVIEW-Lost in Translation (2003)@filoso1599d

   

   This movie, which barely beat my favorite In America (2002) for Best Original Screenplay,which is also a disappointing title.

   In 2014, I had a roughly similar experience, so this movie is definitely in my top 10. However, at that time, she and I were singles, so it wasn't an affair. However, there is an opinion that the two people depicted in this film are both married, and they were having an affair ( ? ) psychologically in terms of sharing their hearts . However, these should be viewed as comforting each other rather than an affair. You can often see throughout the film how they each protect their own territory based on respect for each other . In the process, we don't push each other too much to protect each area, or hurt the other person's heart with the occasional feeling of affection or love .

   It's also really nice to see the two of them roaming the streets of Tokyo . Even in a foreign country, in Japan, which is so different from the US, it's a dream-like time to have free time just for the two of us without caring about anyone!

   The sense of alienation that I felt when I first came to Seoul for the first time in almost 20 years, ten years ago, is deeply felt through the two characters in this film. The meeting of two people who endure the extreme loneliness in a very ambiguous space called a hotel and a society with a completely different cultural background. Oh, I love this movie so much.

   The last scene is very sad. Even Sofia Coppola, who directed and wrote the film, doesn't know what Bob Harris (Bill Murray) said to Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson). It was improvising for the lead actor, Bill Murray. What kind of conversation did you have? What thoughts and feelings would a 52-year-old man say to a 25-year-old woman? Although the amount of dialogue is very small, there is enough dialogue through the eyes and gestures between the actors.

   There are quite a few famous lines, but here are my picks:

   "Wasn't there anyone else there to lavish you with attention?"

   • End

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3. ›Lost in translation (Película): la soledad y uno de los misterios del cine@cristiancaicedo2182d

   

   Una película dirigida por Sofia Coppola

   Siempre me ha gustado leer y ver cine, pero de un tiempo para acá le he tomado casi igual cariño a la relectura y a ver de nuevo ciertos films. Una vez que se culmina la primera mirada a una obra iteraria o audiovosual, es necesaria una segunda visita para juzgar todo el trabajo sabiendo cómo termina; creo que permite un juicio más detallado. Claro está que no voy a ver dos veces todas las películas, sólo aquellas que me dejen algo especial.

   

   Póster oficial

   Una de esas películas de las cuales tenía un recuerdo amable pero quería ver de nuevo, ya con un ojo más crítico, es Lost in translation, conocida en español como Perdidos en Tokio, una película de 2003, dirigida por Sofia Coppola y protagonizada por Bill Murray y Scarlett Johansson. La cinta cuenta la historia de Bob Harris (Murray), un actor norteamericano famoso pero en declive, que acepta una oferta para ir a Tokio y hacer la campaña publicitaria de un whisky japonés. Bob está atravesando una crisis personal, marital, artística y pasa gran parte del tiempo libre en el bar del hotel. El país del sol naciente le resulta completamente ajeno a Bob, no sólo por el idioma sino también por la cultura, las normas de conducta, los programas de televisión, los espacios que le resultan pequeños (Harris es un hombre muy alto, por encima de la estatura media de los japoneses) y se siente, a toda vista, perdido.

   

   Charlotte

   En el mismo hotel está Charlotte (Johansson), una joven de veintidós años, casada con un fotógrafo que ha ido a Tokio por motivos laborales; ella sólo lo acompaña y pasa el día mirando por la ventana o visitando algunos lugares, normalmente aburrida. Ese país extraño, su esposo trabajando, familiares a quienes habla teléfono, los lugares que visita, todo le da a Charlotte la sensación de estar perdida y más que eso, comienza a darse cuenta de que no sabe qué hacer con su vida, ni si lo que ha hecho ha sido lo correcto, ¿ama a su esposo? ¿por qué se casó con él? ¿los amigos de su marido son realmente el tipo de personas con los que quiere estabecer algún tipo de amistad? Ella no lo verbaliza de esta forma, pero podemos verla sentir estas cosas en su interior.

   

   Bob y Charlotte

   Y una noche, en el bar del hotel, Bob y Charlotte se conocen. Sin necesidad de presentaciones ni intermediarios, ambos entablan un diálogo divertido, cómodo para los dos en cada oportunidad en que se encuentran. A partir de allí, los protagonistas descubren que, en compañía del otro, Tokio no parece tan aburrida ni abrumadora. Van a cenar, salen a caminar, van a un karaoke (una de las secuencias más memorables con Scarlett luciendo esa peluca rosada) y desarrollan una amistad que parece ser algo más cuando tienen una pequeña discusión por intervención de un tercero. Charlotte y Bob están separados por treinta años de edad y dos matrimonios (los suyos), además de tener como enemigo al tiempo, porque él estará en Tokio solamente unos días. Es una historia de amor, sí, de cómo todos queremos ser encontrados y descubrir a una persona que nos haga sentir como se supone que debe sentirse el amor, pero el tema principal de esta gran película se puede obervar en estas escenas:

   

   Fuente

   

   Fuente

   

   Fuente

   Son la soledad y el vacío. Bob y Charlotte comparten esa sensación de que sus vidas son insatisfactorias, sin sentido y aunque se hacen mutua compañía y pasan momentos felices juntos, no desaparece la tristeza porque saben que su relación está condenada desde antes de nacer; es un amor desventurado, contrariado, aunque lo veamos fluir natural y espontáneo, lo que nos hace preguntarnos, ¿qué deberían hacer? ¿intentar ser felices juntos? ¿dejar a sus parejas y Bob su hijo? Ahora bien, la cinta avanza hasta el momento en que Bob deja el hotel y el país.

   

   La despedida

   El final de esta película es uno de mis favoritos. Bob se despide de Charlotte que entra al ascensor del hotel; él se sube al taxi y se dirige al aeropuerto, pero al rato, ve a Charlotte caminar por una calle y se baja del taxi para alcanzarla. Se encuentran, cruzan unas palabras y Bob hace dos cosas: le susurra algo al oído y la besa, por única vez en toda la película. El beso no estaba en el guión, Murray lo improvisó y la reacción de Scarlett es una joya, uno de mis momentos favoritos del film. En cuanto al susurro, ¿qué le dice Bob a Charlotte? No lo sabemos. Claro que en internet van a encontrar múltiples teorías y supuestas versiones de lo que dice Bob, pero ni el mismo Murray lo recuerda, así que es uno de esos misterios fílmicos de la historia y esa era la intención de su directora. Sin embargo, les dejo esta idea: Bob deja a Charlotte en el elevador del hotel y después de que su taxi anduviera un buen rato, la ve entre la multitud, ¿cómo ha llegado tan rápido? Lo que se traduce como ¿está realmente allí, o es sólo producto de su imaginación?

   

   La despedida

   El guión original obtuvo un Oscar, Murray y Johansson obtuvieron premios BAFTA, y Sofia Coppola obtuvo el Premio Cesar a Mejor película extranjera, el Premio Especial National Board of Review y un Globo de Oro. El talento de la hija de Francis Ford Coppola (director de una tal El Padrino) ya se había visto en su ópera prima The Virgin Suicides y aunque sus trabajos posteriores no obtuvieron la misma repercusión, nos regaló la joya que es Lost in Translation y uno de los planos iniciales más recordados en la historia del cine. Antes de ver la cinta, tuve mi incomodidad con la pareja protagonista, pero Murray fue siempre la primera opción de Coppola y de hecho escribió el papel para él; y lo de Johansson es buenísimo también, me gusta mucho más cuando no es la fémina sexy y letal, sino esta mujer natural, de emociones intensas y sonrisa dulce. Si aún no han visto esta película, aprovechen que se encuentra disponible en Netflix, una plataforma plagada de mucho entretenimiento llano, pero en la que es posible conseguir buen cine, si se sabe en dónde buscar.

   Reseñado por @cristiancaicedo

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4. ›Lost In Translation (2003) - Disconnection As Opening@lionsuit2949d

   

   Sofia Coppola delivers a phenomenal movie here. It gets better with each watch.

   

   One great move she makes in the story setup is loading the opening of the film with disconnection, miscommunication, loneliness, etc.

   

   She is establishing a hustle and bustle world where no one has time to truly connect. The audience feels this over and over in gentle and harsh, funny and serious ways.

   

   Regardless, it all leads up to one or two powerful moments.

   

   When Charlotte and Bob make friendly eye contact in the elevator. Shortly later, again, in the bar this is continued. All this disconnection makes these simple moments extremely powerful. We are starving for connection, and when we get it, we want so badly for it to survive.

   

   We feel their loneliness. We want a friend. For them, for us. We are rooting for this friendship, this connection, this person who we can honestly talk to, who we are able to be ourselves with.

   

   Be well. http://www.LionSuit.com

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