Lost In Translation
There were great expectations for this film, based on trailers (totally misleading) and awards / buzz, but nothing prepared me for one of the most boring movies I’ve seen. The film obviously has a lot of intelligent and creative people behind it, but left me totally cold.
Indeed, Murray and Johanson are excellent and the direction and photography are beautiful and well developed, but none of them can supply the complete and total lack of any plot. There are plenty of long shots of the skyscrapers of Tokyo and places, often feels more like a promotion of tourism in a Hollywood movie, leaving the audience feeling Copola really just do not know what * a * a movie theater so devoid of any plot to drive the address. And more importantly, the fundamental relationship between Murray and Johanson felt totally false and had little chemistry between them making the spot really just feel strangely empty.
What was the movie trying to say? I do not think Copola knew.
All the supporting characters are two dimensional, and even stereotypes, and none of the wefts actually lead to anything. This is not a film about cultural differences in reality, does not lead to anyone “who are” or even “lost”, just feels like a self indulgence Copola.
Avoid, unless you run out of paint drying!