Modern Art

No, I’m not going to rant about all white paintings or public art. I’m going to rave about the movie “Lost in Translation,” directed by Sophia Coppola. I suppose I could try to argue that this is newsworthy because the film has been re-released in theaters in anticipation of the upcoming Oscars, but I won’t bother. Whether or not it’s news, it is a work of art worth writing about, and of course, worth watching.

Whenever we see a movie, my wife and I will usually spend the drive home, and sometimes the rest of the night, talking about what we liked, what we didn’t, and why. Usually there are at least a few scenes that one or both of us find inconsistent or not credible, moments that jarred us out of the movie experience. On the drive home from Lost in Translation last December, neither of us could think of a single line, a single action, or even a single look on the faces of actors Bill Murray or Scarlett Johansson that was not utterly believable. While watching the movie I felt like I was watching two real people meet, and connect, and develop a relationship. That consistent believability is the first thing about the movie that blew me away.

The second thing was how different the movie was from every other movie I’ve seen in the last few years. No battle scenes. No car chases (though there is one foot chase). No explosions (other than my laughter). It’s not that there’s anything wrong with BIG plot-driven MOVIES about Armageddons of one kind or another. I’m a huge fan of those, too. But when something like Lost in Translation comes along that is not only fantastically real but also totally unexpected, it makes a bigger impact than Hollywood’s biggest meteorite.

Add to the novelty and believability some brilliant understated acting and characters that are sympathetic and interesting and you’ve got quite a package. I suppose the movie’s not for everyone. If you’re expecting the characters to verbalize every thought that’s going through their heads you’ll be disappointed. But then trying to figure out what’s going on inside their heads is part of the fun.

All in all, Lost in Translation struck me as a wonderful work of art. If you’ve seen it, feel free to share your thoughts.