Lost in Translation: A review

[isaacmacdonald]

It opened #10 in the box office, but in truth it pwned the rest of the weekly offerings. Here's my take on it:

While the fusion of comedy and drama is not exactly standard fare for contemporary cinema, it's far from avant garde. All to often though the combination is a concious one. It is the contrast that creates the flavor of the film.

Lost in translation is an entirely different animal. In this film, comedy and drama exist simultaneously. Even the scenes that are obviously meant to be laughed at (eg: the awkward prostitute) are weighed down by this sort of existential presense that pervades Murray's smiles and conversations. It's not the barren amorality of "way of the gun", or the extreme postmodernism of "natural born killers". It's a finely crafted dialectic of hope and loneliness that seems to naturally occur in response to the alienting surroundings of Tokyo. Ultimately the simultaneity of comedy and drama gives us both Murray's finest performance, and one of the most subtlely balanced romances ever shown on screen.

 

[PatboyX]

i cant wait to see it. i love everyone in it and the writer/director. i didnt read your review for fear of any sort of spoiler... but...eh...i thought id throw my 1/2 cent in on the film.

 

[new2AMD]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald
It opened #10 in the box office, but in truth it pwned the rest of the weekly offerings. Here's my take on it:

While the fusion of comedy and drama is not exactly standard fare for contemporary cinema, it's far from avant garde. All to often though the combination is a concious one. It is the contrast that creates the flavor of the film.

Lost in translation is an entirely different animal. In this film, comedy and drama exist simultaneously. Even the scenes that are obviously meant to be laughed at (eg: the awkward prostitute) are weighed down by this sort of existential presense that pervades Murray's smiles and conversations. It's not the barren amorality of "way of the gun", or the extreme postmodernism of "natural born killers". It's a finely crafted dialectic of hope and loneliness that seems to naturally occur in response to the alienting surroundings of Tokyo. Ultimately the simultaneity of comedy and drama gives us both Murray's finest performance, and one of the most subtlely balanced romances ever shown on screen.

So did you like it?




Can I borrow your dictionary?

 

[isaacmacdonald]

yes I liked it.

I'm actively looking for a used OED, but until I can find one on the cheap, I use The Ghetto Dict

 

[Spoooon]

Would it be worth driving 45 miles to see?

Maybe that and some other movie.

 

[waylman]

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Would it be worth driving 45 miles to see?

Maybe that and some other movie.

45 miles? no...but, it was a very good film. The soundtrack is also excellent. By the way, where was that review copied and pasted from?

 

[iwearnosox]

I found it to be a charming, refreshing feel good sleeper for the post summer blues. Bill Murray's Hijinx provides a comic twist to a sublime infusion of drama, depth and character. The portrayal of Tokyo as a settlement for the meek and weak minded transcends the obvious, that these are merely misguided souls. The migration of the film from comedy to drama isn't lost in translation for this ATOT viewer!

(Ok, I haven't seen it...)

 

[0roo0roo]

great actresses and actor performance. she's damn cute.

that being said, the movies meaning was lost in translation to me. and the japanese portrayal was heavy handed.

 

[Spoooon]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: Spoooon
Would it be worth driving 45 miles to see?

Maybe that and some other movie.

45 miles? no...but, it was a very good film. The soundtrack is also excellent. By the way, where was that review copied and pasted from?

Not even if I saw another movie while I was there?

That sucks. It's not playing anywhere close to where I live.

 

[RossMAN]

I hope to see this before it leaves the Portland theatres.

 

[waylman]

rossman, have you seen mystic river? Lost in Translation is great, but Mystic River blows it out of the water.

 

[NakaNaka]

I saw it a while ago. Loved it. At first, you realize how slow it is compared to most movies, but it is a great film, a good mix of comedy and drama, and a very touching point. I loved how it was not typical Hollywood. I can't wait to buy it the day it comes out on DVD.

 

[isaacmacdonald]

Originally posted by: waylman
rossman, have you seen mystic river? Lost in Translation is great, but Mystic River blows it out of the water.

disagree.

of course the novelty of LIT's mix of comedy and drama was really what made it for me. Having seen ridiculous numbers of films in my lifetime, novelty might be a touch more important to me than the average viewer.

mystic river was of course excellent (I love eastwood behind the camera), but to me it didn't "blow it out of the water".

 

[waylman]

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: waylman
rossman, have you seen mystic river? Lost in Translation is great, but Mystic River blows it out of the water.

disagree.

of course the novelty of LIT's mix of comedy and drama was really what made it for me. Having seen ridiculous numbers of films in my lifetime, novelty might be a touch more important to me than the average viewer.

mystic river was of course excellent (I love eastwood behind the camera), but to me it didn't "blow it out of the water".

Perhaps I should re-phrase.....im a huge sean penn fan and the performance he gave in mystic river, IMO, blew all performances in Translation away. I would agree that Mystic River didn't blow it out of the water as a film....just Penn's performance.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: waylman
rossman, have you seen mystic river? Lost in Translation is great, but Mystic River blows it out of the water.

Nope that's also on my short list of films to see.

 

[BigSmooth]

Just saw this yesterday and I enjoyed it. It's an unusual film... the plot wanders to some extent, so there is not really a normal conflict->climax->resolution structure. Great performances by the lead actors, which was crucial since one or both of them are in 100% of the scenes. There are like three secondary characters and a few tertiary characters, but the focus is on the leads all the time and they pull it off well. The lighter moments were my favorites.

My girlfriend didn't like it much but she never likes "weird" movies.

 

[FeathersMcGraw]

I would think the opening shot alone would entice ATOT members to flock to see Lost in Translation in droves.

Enormously sweet, charming film, although the (appropriately) slow pacing makes it a poor film for those with short attention spans.

 

[xospec1alk]

i think the pace wasn't necessarily slow. it helped to convey the loneliness issues felt by both the characters. i didn't feel it was slow because it set up the story somewhat. and i thought that the tension felt in the movie between the characters were excellent. they both know that there can't be much more to their friendship. if it was a typical hollywood movie, you'd find them in bed together. bleh.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Just saw this yesterday and I enjoyed it. It's an unusual film... the plot wanders to some extent, so there is not really a normal conflict->climax->resolution structure. Great performances by the lead actors, which was crucial since one or both of them are in 100% of the scenes. There are like three secondary characters and a few tertiary characters, but the focus is on the leads all the time and they pull it off well. The lighter moments were my favorites.

My girlfriend didn't like it much but she never likes "weird" movies.

Which theatre?

 

[xospec1alk]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: isaacmacdonald

Originally posted by: waylman
rossman, have you seen mystic river? Lost in Translation is great, but Mystic River blows it out of the water.

disagree.

of course the novelty of LIT's mix of comedy and drama was really what made it for me. Having seen ridiculous numbers of films in my lifetime, novelty might be a touch more important to me than the average viewer.

mystic river was of course excellent (I love eastwood behind the camera), but to me it didn't "blow it out of the water".

Perhaps I should re-phrase.....im a huge sean penn fan and the performance he gave in mystic river, IMO, blew all performances in Translation away. I would agree that Mystic River didn't blow it out of the water as a film....just Penn's performance.

i haven't seen penn in mystic river, but i caught his new movie 21 grams on friday, and his performance, as well as the performance of naomi watts and benicio del toro was awesome. i would have to say 21 grams is the best movie of the year.

 

[BigSmooth]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: BigSmooth
Just saw this yesterday and I enjoyed it. It's an unusual film... the plot wanders to some extent, so there is not really a normal conflict->climax->resolution structure. Great performances by the lead actors, which was crucial since one or both of them are in 100% of the scenes. There are like three secondary characters and a few tertiary characters, but the focus is on the leads all the time and they pull it off well. The lighter moments were my favorites.

My girlfriend didn't like it much but she never likes "weird" movies.

Which theatre?

Pioneer Place.