Lost In Translation

Story

Like a good dream, Sofia Coppola's Lost in Translation envelops you with an aura of fantastic light, moody sound, head-turning love, and a feeling of déjà vu, even though you've probably never been to this neon-fused version of Tokyo. Certainly Bob Harris has not. The 50-ish actor has signed on for big money shooting whiskey ads instead of doing something good for his career or his long-distance family. Jetlagged, helplessly lost with his Japanese-speaking director, and out of sync with the metropolis, Harris (Bill Murray, never better) befriends the married but lovelorn 25-year-old Charlotte (played with heaps of poise by 18-year-old Scarlett Johansson). Even before her photographer husband all but abandons her, she is adrift like Harris but in a total entrapment of youth. How Charlotte and Bill discover their soul mates will be cherished for years to come. Written and directed by Coppola (The Virgin Suicides), the film is far more atmospheric than plot-driven: we whiz through Tokyo parties, karaoke bars, and odd nightlife, always ending up in the impossibly posh hotel where the two are staying. The wisps of bittersweet loneliness of Bill and Charlotte are handled smartly and romantically, but unlike modern studio films, this isn't a May-November fling film. Surely and steadily, the film ends on a much-talked-about grace note, which may burn some, yet awards film lovers who "always had Paris" with another cinematic destination of the heart. --Doug Thomas

DVD Features

• Available Subtitles: Spanish, French
  
• Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (DTS), French (Dolby Digital 5.1)
  
• A conversation with director Sofia Coppola and actor Bill Murray
  
• "Lost on Location" - behind-the-scenes featurette including exclusive footage shot by the filmmakers
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• "Matthew's Best Hit TV" - an extended version of the Japanese TV show
  
• Music video
  
• Trailers

Cast

Scarlett Johansson	Charlotte
Bill Murray	Bob Harris
Akiko Takeshita	Ms. Kawasaki
Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe	Press Agent
Kazuko Shibata	Press Agent
Take	Press Agent
Ryuichiro Baba	Concierge
Akira Yamaguchi	Bellboy
Catherine Lambert	Jazz Singer
François du Bois	Sausalito Piano (as Francois du Bois)
Tim Leffman	Saulsalito Guitar
Gregory Pekar	American Businessman #1
Richar Allen	American Businessman #2
Giovanni Ribisi	John
Diamond Yukai	Commercial Director (as Yutaka Tadokoro)
Anna Faris	Kelly
Asuka Shimuzu	Kelly's Translator
Georg O.P. Eschert	German Hotel Guest
Mark Willms	Carl West
Lisle Wilkerson	Sexy Businesswoman
Nancy Steiner	Lydia Harris (voice) (uncredited)