Lost in Translation

[bdg13disciple]

finally watched it this weekend...

anyone care to remind me why i was supposed to find it so amazing?

peace...
love...
bdg...

[linds]

i feel your pain.  i felt the same way when i saw it.

it was good, but not ABSOLUTELY AMAZING, as i had been hearing for the previous months.  

i think that expectations have a lot to do with it.

[Josh]

Lost in Translation...

-Is one of the most beatufiul and poetic films I've seen since... um... Wings of Desire?
-Is a very moving meditation on meaningful relationships. I was almost moved to tears as I watched Bob and Charlotte and thought about some of my own meaningful friendships. Theirs is my second favorite on-screen friendship, right after Frodo and Sam.
-is beautifully photographed. The movie is worth seeing for the colorful shots of Tokyo alone.
-Features excellent direction from Sofia Copolla, an American director with a real sense of restraint, something I always appreciate.
-has a brilliant performance from Scarlett Johansson.
-has an even better performance from Bill Murray. Anyone who saw Rushmore knew that he could act, but I don't think anyone was surprised by his flawless portrayal of Bob Harris. He was robbed on an Oscar.
-Has a great script that alternates between hilarious and heartbreaking.
-Was probably my favorite film of 2003.

[bdg13disciple]

i don't know...

i just don't see it...

to me Lost In Translation is...

- one of the most inane story lines since The Stranger (Camus)
- a degredation of marriage and meaningful relationships. The guy is on a business trip, considers his marriage to be a series of annoying events and decisions, has a sexual affair, and has a more-detailed (presumably) non-sexual affair.  He finds fulfillment outside of his marriage and the crux of the film is his difficult decision not to write off his marriage and stay in Tokyo with a woman who is married to another guy who is probably cheating on her while he's on a business trip...
- is beautifully photographed.  I can agree with that, but i'd rather browse through a photoblog.
- weakened by a mediocre script that alternates between mildly amusing and slightly engaging.
- yet another grossly overrated project.

I'll also concede that the direction was subtle which was fitting for the film, and that the cast did a solid job, but overall i found myself irritated and disgusted by the end of the movie.  

i'm not trying to be a jerk or cause conflict Josh, but how do you reconcile the blatent disregard for marriage and the glorification of infidelity?

peace...
love...
bdg...

[Josh]

i'm not trying to be a jerk or cause conflict Josh, but how do you reconcile the blatent disregard for marriage and the glorification of infidelity?

I'll be the first to admit that Lost in Translation is not a film about how to have a good marriage.

Bob does sleep with the lounge singer, but I hardly think they glorify it. On the contrary, I think the film portrays it as rash and selfish, and I think that Bob ultimately regrets it.

As for the relationship betwen Bob and Charlotte, it's not a sexual relationship. It's a little flirtatious at times, but I think that meeting Charlotte actually helps Bob's marriage. I think she helps him rediscover a youthful sense of wonder, and he goes back to his marriage equipped to try and make the marriage work.

[bdg13disciple]

that's quaint and all, but i think it's more of you projecting how you want it to turn out...
than what's actually sitting there in the script...

i believe human nature (and Bob's extreme grief over leaving) tell a different story...

peace...
love...
bdg...

[Josh]

Sorry... I must've dozed off during "Bob's extreme grief."

[Jrodder]

I have to admit that I to, "didn't get" this movie. It had elements of a great character movie (where little happens story-wise and all the focus is on the characters), and Bill Murray indeed turned in a spot-on performance...but it still bored me. There was nothing particularly inspiring about their relationship to me. They were two people who felt dazed and lost in a confusing world, and they found some solace in each other's company. Nice idea, but I've seen much more engaging portrayals.

[bloop]

- one of the most inane story lines since The Stranger (Camus)

Boo!  The entire concept of The Stranger is supposed to be wrapped in absurdity.  It's essential that the book be that way.

I'm on Josh's side on this one.  Bob's affair hardly seems fulfilling.

[bdg13disciple]

not fulfilling, no... and i think he's upset about it too...
but i think it's pretty illogical to assume that it spurs him on to go back and work on making his marriage stronger...

sorry Josh, you missed the drawn-out goodbyes and "i don't want to go home"/"stay here with me" exchanges?

let's say for your sake that your scenario plays out...
Bob goes home, determined to improve his defunct marriage...
that's still a crappy message being sent...
"well, my marriage is getting boring, so it's time to find a younger, more-exciting girl to spend time with and enjoy being with...  surely THAT will light the fires again."

and i actually enjoyed reading 'The Stranger" bloop...

peace...
love...
bdg...

 

[Josh]

sorry Josh, you missed the drawn-out goodbyes and "i don't want to go home"/"stay here with me" exchanges?

Um... are you sure we're talking about the same Lost in Translation here?

I've seen it three or four times and don't remember anything like that. Bloop... linds... bethany... am I losing my mind here?

let's say for your sake that your scenario plays out...
Bob goes home, determined to improve his defunct marriage...
that's still a crappy message being sent...
"well, my marriage is getting boring, so it's time to find a younger, more-exciting girl to spend time with and enjoy being with... surely THAT will light the fires again."

I think the story boils down to something as simple as this: Friendships are important. Meaningful relationships are important. Even when you're married, friendship with other people is still important.
 

[beautifulmess]

I just watched this movie recently and the thing I got out of it is that sometimes, just when we need it most, God brings people into our lives that show us things we never would have seen before, people that somehow make things better just for the while that they're in our lives. I think that was the case with Bob and Charlotte.  

[Josh]

I just watched this movie recently and the thing I got out of it is that sometimes, just when we need it most, God brings people into our lives that show us things we never would have seen before, people that somehow make things better just for the while that they're in our lives. I think that was the case with Bob and Charlotte.

Yes.

[worldofcm]

I haven't seen the flick.  Probably won't now, cause I tend to enjoy the same movies as TRu.