Lost in Translation

For most red-blooded Americans, foreign countries are wastelands of oddity and xenophobia, especially Japan. So when American movie star Bob Harris (Bill Murray) visits Tokyo to shoot a commercial and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) accompanies her husband there for a photo shoot, they find themselves a little dumbfounded by the isolation. As their jet-lag-induced insomnia ensues, the two finally meet, by chance, at the hotel bar in the wee hours. From there, they form a relationship that isn’t easily defined, and we’re along for the ride. The long…slow…ride. Shot on location, director Sofia Coppola (ever her father’s daughter) takes her time outlining all of the nuances of Japanese culture with sweeping shots of everything from video arcades to strip clubs. But unless you’re in the mood for a video diary of her trip to Tokyo, we suggest maintaining a safe distance. Bill Murray’s straight-faced sarcasm breaks up the boredom but is far underused, while the rest of the film is a grinding exercise in observation. As far as we’re concerned, what goes on in Tokyo should stay in Tokyo.