Lost in Translation (Widescreen) (US)

The film is of two completely different worlds colliding. In one world is Bill Murray`s character, Bob Harris, a movie star lowered to doing whiskey commercials for Japanese television. Bob is an older middle-aged man who has reached a point in his life where nothing seems to matter anymore. His career appears to be that of a "has-been," and his marriage and children are not making any admirable points with him, either. In the other world, and in the same hotel building, we have a very young Charlotte, (Scarlett Johansson). Charlotte is a young lass married to a young photographer, John (Giovanni Ribisi). The husband is constantly wrapped-up in his work in Tokyo, and he is the obvious fault for many dull moments for Charlotte. She finds herself disillusioned with her marriage, her life, her hopes, and basically everything that all of us have thought about at one time or another.

Some moments in the story poke subtle fun at the Japanese culture. Obviously, there are funny moments dealing with Karaoke, Sushi, overall size, and the ever-so-apparent language barrier. I can only assume it was meant to be more humorous.

I can only recommend "Lost in Translation" to someone who is prepared for a serious drama, mixed with very subtle comedy. It is a film that can be warm, but in the end is a bit odd, cold, empty, and somewhat sad. I think the film does acquit itself well.