GearBits

'Lost in Translation' Subtle and Penetrating

Lost in Translation is a film for the serious movie-goer. It asks you to be patient and, in turn, rewards you with subtlety and insights that might otherwise be completely indistinguishable in a more plot-oriented film.

This movie, which was both written and directed Sofia Coppola, stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Both are impeccable in their parts, and the mind draws a blank when searching for ways in which the acting could have been improved.

Fans of Bill Murray's more offbeat recent works, such as Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums, will find Lost in Translation a tad less funny and a bit more thoughtful. But don't let that confuse you -- this is still very much a comedy. Most of the laughs are from Murray's expertly nuanced, and often subdued, reactions.

The reviews of Lost in Translation have generally been quite favorable so far. As a reviewer from the Toronto Sun wrote,

"A superbly crafted movie, with knowing dialogue, fine performances and characters that you grow to care deeply for."

My rating: 9 out of 10. RottenTomatoes.com has it at 94% (Fresh) and IMDB viewers ranked it an 8.2 out of 10 (both as of me posting this entry).