Lost in Translation (2003)

Director: Sofia Coppola
Writer: Sofia Coppola
Cast: Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson, Giovanni Ribisi, Anna Farris
Genre: Drama, Romance

Lost in Translation is written and directed by Sofia Coppola, and she had Murray in mind the entire time she wrote. At least that's what she's said, even stating the movie would never have been made if Murray turned it down. Who can blame her? Murray is a perfect cast for the part, and few if any others could have pulled it off. He got the right balance between funny, likable and deep, and it's what's needed to be convincing for the part.


Johansson's hype might have started of earlier, but this was the movie that launched her into another league. She's fantastic in this role, managing to give depth to the character without so many words. Her beauty have never been up for discussion, but after finally watching this movie I know understand the fuzz about her talent a lot better.


Following her full length debut (The Virgin Suicides) four years earlier, Sofia Coppola delivers an extremely deep movie springing from relationships, touching on several key aspects of life. Set at a familiar set of an unfamiliar hotel, our leading roles are lost on so many levels. It's quite extraordinary how Coppola at such an early stage of her career manages to deliver such a profound movie.


There's not a lot of action going on, and not even a lot of dialogue. This is more about atmosphere, human emotions and expressions and a movie that will keep you as awake as the leading characters find them self at the Park Hyatt Tokyo. One of those rare movies were all the fuzz is well deserved, were descriptions will never truly manage to give justice and were Hollywood for once does so well the kind of movie we're more used to see coming out of Europe. Highly recommended!