Lost in Translation

OCTOBER 8, 2003

It's now been nearly a week since I've seen this film. It was getting an A- when I left the theater, then a B+ after talking to my roommate, and now an A again after talking to my friend Stevie. I'll explain.

When I left the theater I knew that it was a very good movie. The photography was brilliant, the relationships were very realistic, and Bill Murray was Bill Murray. Still, it seemed like it was either tryng too hard to be different or just trying too hard. Also, the narrative structure is a clear homage to the French New Wave, and I thought that lessened its originality. Despite all that I recognized all its brilliant points and knew it was a cut above the average picture.

Then I spoke to my roommate, Louis. He talked to me about how he didn't think it had the originality or spark of Virgin Suicides, which I initially agreed with. There is something very unique about that film that this movie doesn't have. So, I dropped the grade a bit.

Then, while talking to Stevie, I thought about the movie as a whole without comparing it to other directors or to Sofia's other film and I realized that it really is a brilliant film. Every movie is derivative in some way and I would much rather have someone sampling the French New Wave than Bruckheimerian cinema. And so, I can wholeheartedly, unabashedly give this film a solid A as it is in the highest class of films I have seen in my days.

Oh, and the movie is funny without trying to hard, which is always a wonderful thing.

Posted in Film at 6:02 pm.