2. Lost In Translation (2003)
To be a westerner lost in Tokyo, without a real purpose is a scary thought. The world around you is alienating, and through the dizzying lights, and bizarre cultural differences you feel lost. In Sofia Coppola's bittersweet drama Lost in Translation (2003) she delves deeply into the concept of western and eastern cultures being so different, so far from each other both in distance and meaning. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an aging actor paid to promote Suntory Whiskey, as he struggles to cope with the bizarre and isolating world around him. He, and recent college graduate Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) begin to form a connection after they both find themselves distant and in dire need of some familiar company. At it's base Lost in Translation is a romance story, but it's the use of Tokyo as this looming non-narrative character that differentiates it as a fantastic piece of cinema. Visually the film is very natural, and contrasts all of the sublime sights and sounds of busy inner-city Tokyo, to the nature and tranquility of some of it's more secluded spots. Visually it's a very complex and vivid piece of cinema, but it also harbors some intriguing debates about it's more subtle motifs. Bob drifts through his work, pretending to vaguely understand what his directors tell him from the clearly inept translation, and muffled engrish. He goes to take a shower, only to find the showerhead far too high for his height. He struggles to work the treadmill, and has no idea what his courtesy hooker is saying when she attempts to seduce him. Beyond this base level of cultural clashes, Japan stands as this new-agey contemporary world that's somewhat a critique of modernity, marriage and monogamy, and seemingly false promises of money and fame. In it's meaning, aesthetics, visuals, and script Lost in Translation is a fantastic film. However, one immortal classic barely surpasses it as the best Hollywood film set in Japan.