Lost in Translation

Release Date: September 19, 2003
Limited release

You can't hear it but his alarm clock is playing I Got You, Babe.

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Bill Murray is an excellent comic actor who has found a great deal of success in both flat-out slapstick and more literate flair. But like most clowns, Murray longs to be known as a serious dramatic actor, much as, ironically, many serious actors long to be known as clowns. Seems the old saw that the grass is always greener applies to acting, too. And so despite having found absolutely no success whatsoever in drama, Bill Murray continues to try, try again, and Lost in Translation is his latest effort along those lines.

Murray portrays a washed-up TV star who has traveled to Japan to shoot a whiskey commercial. While there, he meets a younger woman, the wife of a photograph, and the two spend a weekend together, soul-searching and seeking enlightenment. One also assumes there is a May-December romance, although this is not spelled out in so many words.

Lost in Translation is set for a limited release beginning September 19, 2003. If it follows the pattern of Murray's other serious efforts, it will likely hang around a while on the art-house circuit; it will attract critical attention, with some praising its genius and others railing against how boring it is; and will eventually find a home of sorts on video, where it could attract a bit of a cult following, à la Rushmore, or fade into obscurity, à la The Razor's Edge. And with any luck, Murray will return to his forte, comedy, until the "serious actor" bug bites him again. (Stephanie Star Smith/BOP)


September 7, 2003
Since screening at the Venice Film Festival (where Scarlett Johansson nabbed an acting award for her performance), the buzz on Lost in Translation just keeps getting better and better. Word is that Sophia Coppola has succeeded in making a tender, funny movie about the ways in which people can become lost in, and alienated from their lives, only without all the Chuck Palahniuk-esque poseur rage. And happily, it sounds like the Murray/Johansson relationship is more nuanced than the standard "over the hill guy scores with hot young love interest" bit that we've seen so many times before. (Jennifer Turnock/BOP)




Vital statistics for Lost in Translation
Main Cast Bill Murray, Scarlett Johansson
Supporting Cast Anna Faris, Giovanni Ribisi
Director Sofia Coppola
Screenwriter Sofia Coppola
Distributor Focus Features
Trailer Click Here for Trailer
Official Site http://www.focusfeatures.com/
Rating R
Running Time 102 minutes
Screen Count 23
Awards
  • Venice Film Festival Upstream Prize for Best Actress- Scarlett Johansson

Awards page for Lost in Translation
Talent in red has entry in The Big Picture



Comparison films for Lost in Translation
Title
Date
Opening
Adjusted Opening
Screens
PSA
Adj PSA
Total BO
Adjusted Total
Mult
Majestic, The 12/21/014.90 5.22 2361 2077.00 2132.1 27.80 29.67 5.61
Rushmore 2/19/992.80 3.33 764 3665.00 4184.4 17.10 20.37 3.63
Virgin Suicides, The 5/12/000.60 0.67 270 2222.00 2391.0 4.78 5.34 6.15


     


 
 

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