All future posts under The Cinemaddict Bucket List shall now be my humbling experience. You see, I’m usually the guy who watches great movies that no one has seen, full of low budgets and random plots. Though I do not do it as often anymore, some reviews for these films are within some of the older posts of Mutually Awkward (though the lack of these reviews will definitely change with Cinemaddicts existing). But this is going to be a different. The Cinemaddict Bucket List will be about my journey in watching movies that everyone has seen except me. Movies that I frequently get scolded at for not watching. Like The Matrix or Fight Club or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Saving Private Ryan. It will also be about popular movies that I’ve always wanted to see, but have never gotten around to watching. Like Before Sunrise. Or the movie I recently watched for the purpose of this post.
In light of my first trip to Tokyo, I felt the urge to finally watch Sofia Coppola‘s Lost in Translation, starring Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson.
In this film, Bill Murray plays Bob Harris, a formerly popular actor who has been reduced to being featured in commercial advertisements in Japan. WIth a failing marriage waiting for him in the states, he seems to find Tokyo unbearable until he meets Johansson’s Charlotte, the young wife of a workaholic photographer and someone who doesn’t really have any direction in life. After a few conversations and chance meetings in the hotel they are both staying in, they decide to wander the city together and take in the many culture clashes that occur as two Americans in Tokyo.
Not only did I relate to several scenes in the movie from just being in Japan myself recently, but in terms of stumbling across the ways of different countries and being in a completely new environment, I also related to this movie from my living in Hong Kong for these past five months. One scene in particular that comes to mind is when Charlotte takes a solo train ride to Kyoto.
That scene in the video above hits one of the feelings of being an outsider in a foreign country on the spot. But it isn’t always like that. Sometimes the different ways of people doing things can just be plain funny. But for the most part, it is usually interesting to see different perspectives of living life. And the film indeed showcases that as Bob and Charlotte dive into Tokyo together and get into several hilarious situations. One of the gems from these scenes include a light chase scene where Bob, Charlotte, and some people they have been partying with are chased through the city by an angry bartender with a BB gun. Another great scene from their adventures also include the obligatory night in an asian city of going for karaoke.
As the film progresses, Bob and Charlotte’s friendship grows stronger and closer. And it isn’t done in the usual romantic comedy way. In fact, their relationship is one of the most unique relationships I have ever seen develop from this genre of film. With both of them living unhappy lives in their own respective worlds, their meeting helps them save each other from depression and find a way to enjoy Japan with each other’s company. But as any solo traveler knows, when you meet someone whom you grow attached to while on a trip, there is a dreaded sense of longing when you know the day is coming when you must leave. And this is something that Bob and Charlotte tackle when Bob’s commercial shooting ends. I won’t spoil it, but the way this is handled in this in the film works extremely well.
As far as acting, Bill Murray is great and hilarious as always. Even while playing a semi-depressed man, is lines and quips rule the movie. Scarlett Johansson leads at his side wonderfully as well. Especially since she was 17 years old at the time of this movies creation and acting a part of a 25-year-old. Her maturity was completely believable and had me fooled until I actually read about the film’s production story.
Filmmaking-wise, I’m not sure if Tokyo’s portrayal in the movie is correct in the terms of someone from Japan, but I felt it captured exactly how it feels through the eyes of an American. From the people to the famous sights to even just the neon lights of the city, Sofia Coppola’s directing was completely on point in representing Tokyo.
In the end, this is a must see movie and since it is already on several of my friend’s all time favorites, it is nice to finally cross this off my bucket list. Most people would watch it just because of Bill Murray’s awesomeness. Or because they love Japan or films about traveling. But most of all, I’d say it is worth watching because it is an especially great film concerning stories about unlikely bonds between people.
Final score: 9 out of 10.
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