Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wasn't Sure, But Now I Am


*** 02.18.0 – Lost in Translation... 2003... Director Sofia Coppola

First off let me tell you, I lived in Japan twice and love the culture so this film, set in Tokyo brought back a lot of memories. (I however lived in Nagoya and Takarazuka)

Director Sofia Coppola does a great job of giving you a sense of loneliness all throughout the film and it touches something inside... it did then and it still does today. Bill Murray is perfectly cast and Scarlett Johannson equally. Together they are dynamite in the film and worth seeing.

However, after talking to another director friend of mine who thinks Coppola's "Virgin Suicide," is much better. The director may have a point. They also said that Sofia shouldn't have won the Academy Award for best original screenplay for "Lost in Translation," but because the Academy doesn't have any balls and didn't give it to her for best director... which she was also up for, they had to give her something. Now I tend to believe the Academy DOES do "Make-up" Oscars for oversights or wanting to give something to someone just for their effort, but when I looked at who else she was up for in the writing category, she probably did deserve to win out of the other nominees. But having watched the film again, I'm not so sure the script was the star here, it was cute, but not great, the film overall is much better than the script... kind of the sum is better than it's parts.

As for the DVD, there is a partial documentary on the making of the film, which I wished they had followed through to the end with. (It stops after about the 3rd week) It's hand held as if your buddy was shooting it and a nice alternative to the fancy studio made behind-the-scenes info docs. There are also a couple of other little features and interviews that are nice.

I watched this film, sipping on Francis Ford Coppola's champagne named after her daughter, Sofia and it was the perfect combination for how I was feeling on a rainy day... get yourself a glass and enjoy.

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