Lost in Translation Response

The Film Lost In Translation directed by Sophia Coppola is a love story between two people staying in Tokyo, Bob Harris played by Bill Murray, and Charlotte played by Scarlett Johansson. The film follows Bob and Charlotte individually into the city and strength their need to create a relationship with each other. To face their their fears and insecurities and to communicate.

The Karaoke scene is a turning point in the movie, in which Bob and Charlotte hint that they feel a connection. They use the songs they choose to define who they are for the other and what they want. It is the point at which Bob realizes that Charlotte is his dream of an uncomplicated future, this is proven to the audience by shots of a large smile across Bob’s face as he watches Charlotte perform a song in a frosted pink wig.

I found the director's choice quite interesting, the setting in Tokyo, one of the worlds largest international cities. It is is interesting concerning the relationship that develops between Bob and Charlotte. Lost In Translation is as much a love story as it is an exploration of tourism.

Overall, this film is a tragedy for Bob Harris, and not as much for Charlotte, in that they are both in isolated marriages, and find a more perfect relationship with each other. The age gap between the two of them and their temporary circumstances result in them eventually not being able to be together, either as friends or lovers.

Lost in Translation

Lost in Translation is a comedy-drama written and directed by Sophia Coppola and many movie critics have called this movie possibly the best of year (2003) and a modern masterpiece. I myself was very surprised as what this movie really was. As the movie started out, I thought it would be a love story between Bob Harris (an aging American action movie star, arrives in Tokyo to film an advertisement who is going through a midlife crisis) and Charlotte (a young college graduate, who gets left behind in her hotel room by her husband, John, a celebrity photographer on assignment in Tokyo), but that's not what it was at all, which is what I think made this movie unique - it was not the cliche and predictable romance movie.

This film told the story of Bob Harris (Bill Murray), an American movie star that comes to Tokyo to film a whiskey commercial for which he will be paid $2 million. Staying in the same Tokyo hotel is Charlotte (Scarlett Johanssen), a newlywed tagging along with her rock photographer husband, John (a typically awkward Giovanni Ribisi). Along the way, Charlotte and Bob run into each other and begin a 'brief encounter' that profoundly affects them both. The two meet at a hotel in Tokyo Japan and develop a strange yet intimate relationship throughout out the film. I expected their relationship to turn into romance, but it was more a friendship throughout the film. It began as a comedy of culture clash, Harris sarcastic and confused at the Japanese when entering his hotel, and even more befuddled in a hilarious scene where he shoots the whiskey commercial (and one later during a photo shoot). Coppola delivers Bob into her movie with the impression that it'll be all about him (he has plenty of great scenes, even at just the beginning), but Charlotte enters the story, and we're never quite the same. Scarlett Johanssen plays Charlotte with just the right amount of emotion that her initially morose and soul-searching character doesn't seem silly. Bob, on the other hand, seems to have it made, but Murray lets a current of loneliness run across that memorable face that seems to hint at something more. He gets comical faxes from his wife about bookshelves and carpet samples, but he gives off the impression that he's come to the point where he doesn't even care anymore. Bob is certainly alone for a time in Tokyo, but Murray gives off the impression that things at home aren't too hot either. It is evident that Lost in Translation represents the confusion between the main characters with the way Bob and Charlotte felt towards each other and what each want to do with their lives. 

Lost In Translation

Lost in Translation did a perfect job of bringing together all aspects of life in a blend of different genres. As it began, I thought it would be a love story, but that's not what it was at all. It brought together and man and women of completely different lives. Scarlett Johansson plays a young, fairly newly married, girl who is unemployed and is in Japan for her husbands job. Bill Murray plays Bob, a mediocre actor, married with kids, who is going through a middle life crisis. Whats really cool about the movie is that they are both completely different people at completely different times in their lives, but they relate to each other. Both characters have doubt about the paths they have created for themselves. They both stay up all night thinking about life and trying to figure out their next move. I think whats special about the movie is that it shows that no matter what race, gender, or age we can all relate to each other. At least, that's what I got out of the movie. Even though you may feel lonely in the world they may be someone going through the same thing as you right down the hall. It was nice to watch a movie with a serious message, but had a splash of humor every once in a while. It is clear that Lost in Translation represents the confusion that happens throughout the movie between the Japanese people and the main characters. But, there is a lot that is lost in translation. The way the characters feel towards each other, the meaning behind their relationship, and what they each want to do with their lives. To be honest, even the end outcome was a little lost in translation.

Lost in Translation Blog: Haber

Lost In Translation is one of a kind film starring Bill Murray as the lonesome burned out actor, Bob Harris, and Scarlett Johansson as miserable newly wed Charlotte. The two meet at a hotel in Tokyo Japan and develop a strange yet intimate relationship throughout out the film. This movie is one of Sophia Coppola's greatest works. The movie really makes you think outside the box especially the whisper exchanged from Bills character to Scarlets at the very end of the film. An aspect of the film that caught my eye was scene shooting in which Coppola shot in order to capture the intimacy between the two characters. One scene that stands out among others is the shot of Murray and Johansson on the bed together so close but not touching. The shot is from a birds eye view straight above the bed. Much like the above chandler shot in Taxi Driver. The scene showed the characters relationship with out them even touching that how powerful that shot was, they were shot with a certain connection to each other the viewer felt between the characters. Even if that connection was not established yet in the movie it became obvious the viewers that these two characters really had a strong attraction to each other. The scene is important to the movie all together because it adds to the awkwardness of the their relationship with one another. Murray is way older then she is, they are both married, Murray has kids, it simply can not be done. But the audience can still see the spark between them though out the film and especially on this birds eye view shot.

The Coen Brothers' Films

No Country for Old Men is an old-fashioned 2007 American western thriller directed, written, and edited by Joel and Ethan Coen (the Coen Brothers). It is based on the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name.  Fargo is a 1996 American crime-black comedy, also written, produced, edited, and directed by the Coen brothers 12 years before No Country for Old Men was released.  

 

I found that the main criminals in both films are extremely similar. In No Country for Old men Anthon Chirgurh was a criminal/hit man, and in Fargo Carl and Gaear are both criminals.  The plots of both films are crime/thriller. Both films had very disturbing murders – in No Country for Old Men, the movie started off Anton Chigurh murdered an innocent man driving his car with a captive bolt pistol. In Fargo, Gaear kills Carl with an axe then feeds his body into a wood chipper. The protagonists in both films are very similar as well; both Sheriff Ed Tom Bell from No Country for Old Men and Marge Gunderson from Fargo have very similar jobs with both working in law enforcement. I also noticed that films have very similar settings with both being very rural – Fargo was filmed in the snowy plains of Minnesota and No Country for Old Men was primarily filmed in the deserted desert in Texas. It was interesting to see the Coens chose settings that are very different but similar at the same time.

In my opinion, I found Fargo slightly more interesting than No Country for Old Men because I feel as though the comic relief in the old fold town accents the characters portrayed, particularly Marge’s made movie more engaging.

No Country of Old Men vs. Fargo

No Country for Old Men an old fashioned thriller with fascinating story telling. It only makes sense that this film comes from Joel and Ethan Coen, the filmmakers who brought Fargo twelve years ago before. No Country For Old Men is not only an adaptation of Fargo, but also a remake. 

The characters in both films are almost exactly the same. In Fargo, Gaear and Carl are two criminals and in No Country for Old Men Anton Chirgurh is also a criminal (a hitman). The plots are very similar too, in Fargo, Jerry Lundegaard tries to find a way to pay off his debt and in No Country for Old Men Llewelyn Moss steals a satchel full of money. The protagonists are also similar, both Marge Gunderson from Fargo and Sheriff Ed Tom Bell from No Country for Old Men are both work in law enforcement. Through the crimes they investigate they both realize how society is not only immoral, but there also is a downfall of civilization. 

I also noticed that in both movies there is a character who exhibits a sociopathic nature. In Fargo it is the one guy who never talks and in No Country for Old Men it is the serial killer.

After watching No Country for Old Men and Fargo, there were many similarities that the two films have shown to be very interesting. Both films were filmed in rural lands where, in Fargo, there was the snowy plains of Minnesota and, in No Country for Old Men, the desolate desert in Texas. It was interesting to see the Coen brothers take part in the two films because they were able to make the scenes seem so folksy.

The films were also made to include violent within the two films which came out of nowhere and also where they stem from unresolved issues. The two films were also similar by including a similar protagonist which included Sheriff Ed Tom Bell and Police Chief Marge Gunderson. It included that both the sheriff and the police chief observing the heinous crimes that were happening in their towns. The two protagonists are also similar because of they like to talk about society and the morals that people have; they both finish the crimes that happen and realize that this happens way too often.

In my opinion, I thought that No Country for Old Men was a little bit more interesting than Fargo, it seemed like No Country for Old Men was a remake of Fargo because it had much more detail in the plot and also more action than what happened in Fargo including some of the innocent killings.