Rating: 
Summary: good acting and cinematography, thin plot and cliched dialog
Review: this was an enjoyable film though i wish it had another screenwriter. there were some painfully sophmoric lines in the movie. but she really captured the dislocation of these people in Tokyo
Rating:
Summary: Hilarious, brutual and touching
Review: This film is Bill Murray's finest performance yet (coming in a close second: his run as the depressed middle aged husband/dad/businessman in "Rushmore"). Murray plays an aging 70s movie star who is flown to Japan to star in a series of commericals and ad campaigns for a Japanese whiskey. His path intersects with that of Scarlett Johnson, who plays a lonely wife that is in Tokyo with her photographer boyfriend (Giovanni Ribisi) who leaves her alone all day then takes off completely for a few days while he is off shooting a rock band somewhere. The beauty of this film is the way that Tokyo is portrayed by the director, Sofia Coppola, as well as the Murray and Johnson's reactions to the very foreign and seemingly bizarre world of Japan. The film is funny is subtle ways: facial reactions, snippy comments from Murray, body language. But the most beautiful part of the film is the way that Murray and Johnson find each other, and common ground, in a very surreal environment. There is always underlying sexual tension, but that is the point and not the point at the same time. At the end of the film, I was left wondering how often a person meets other people at inconvenient or strange times in both their lives and how those seemingly missed connections affect the rest of both people's lives, as well as the eternal question of "what if?"
Rating: 
Summary: Mainstream Film-goers Beware
Review: If you enjoy mainstream films that are still rehashing plots from twenty years ago, then I thought that I would spare you the time and money of seeing this film. It never ceases to amaze me that people who should know that they won't like this kind of film still go to see it, then turn around and complain and write ten-word reviews about how horrible it was. Please, if you are someone who can't sit for ten seconds and watch a scene involving no dialogue--just don't go see it! Are you a Sandler fan who went to see Punch Drunk Love and hated it? Then don't see this film. It's as simple as that.
With that said, I would like to praise this film as the best I've seen yet this year. I have been craving a substantial film with Bill Murray in the lead for a long time, and this film certainly delivers. Murray is at his career best, which just makes me more anxious for the next Wes Anderson project. Murray seems to have perfected the existential angst-ridden mid-lifer, and he adds his uncomparable comedic touch to hilarious ends. Definitely worthwhile to TRUE film lovers.
Rating:
Summary: Not Your Typical Bill Murray Flick
Review: First I wondered why it was rated R. After seeing the film, I still wonder. There's precious little sex, only a little nudity, and no drugs or violence. But don't be put off by the bogus MPAA rating... this film is excellent. It's a complicate story of two people, generations apart, meeting in a very strange city. But what makes it such a great film is its so real. Bill Murray is superb, for the first time playing someone other than his SNL-character. The man has real acting chops, and he shows them here. Its the strange nature of the friendship that his character develops with a younger girl that makes the film so good. No, they don't sleep together. But when Bill does 'slip' and beds down with another woman, he's embarassed and his younger friend is hurt. The ending is wonderful and takes a long time to sink in. But its worth seeing a couple of times to appreciate the nuance of the sound, the lighting and the effortless dialogue. Great movie... but hardly worthy of the R rating.
Rating:
Summary: Puts modern cinematic dreck into perspective
Review: Every once in a while a movie comes along that reminds you that the film industry isn't completely insane. "Lost in Translation" is one of them. It's the performance of a lifetime for Bill Murray; Scarlett Johansson ably stars opposite him in a performance she should be very proud of; and the screenplay, direction, cinematography, and soundtrack selection are superlative. I won't go into the details, since other reviewers have already done so, and better than I could, but I will say that this is the best movie I've seen in years, Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola both deserve Oscars (whether they will get them is another story), and that it's good to know real *films* are still being made. It's easy to forget that, given the quality of what studios pass off as movies these days. All too often we're treated to very self-conscious performances, with dialogue delivered and scenes shot for the tittilation of the audience. Here, Coppola (and her actors) pull off the remarkable feat of making it seem like there is no acting, no performance as such: you're simply there, along for the ride, just observing. This is such a rare occurrence that many people feel cheated, that there was no story, that "nothing happened"--this couldn't be farther from the truth, although it is true that nobody gets shot, nothing gets blown up, nobody's ripping their clothes off. Don't be put off, though. It's not your "typical art-house intellectual film." It's a wonderful, bittersweet story of love, friendship, alienation, heartbreak. Neither a drama nor a comedy nor a romance, it combines elements of all three into a movie you don't want to miss. All that, and it features one of the best-performed and affecting endings I've ever seen on film. Like Peppermint Patty, "Lost in Translation" is a "rare gem." Treat yourself, and demonstrate to the industry that Americans actually do like an intelligent, well-crafted movie once in a while.
Rating:
Summary: Not for the average movie goer
Review: This movie is not for everyone. It is slow, nothing much ever happens in it to be perfectly honest, but it's message comes across loud and clear and is beatifully conveyed. To be perfectly honest I didn't recomend this movie to my friends, I told them they probably wouldn't like it, it's not their kind of movie, you have to be able to see the beauty in the message of lonliness that is slowly revealed throughout the movie. I loved this movie and will buy it when it comes out on dvd and the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because I felt the pairing of Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson was a bit disturbing. Both of them did a wonderful job and Sofia Copola was wise in keeping their relationship more plutonic than sexual (even though you can feel their attraction for one another). If you like what you've read from all the good reviews of the movie then I'd say go out and see it, otherwise I'd say rent it when it comes out on dvd or go see something else.
Rating:
Summary: Best movie I've seen all year
Review: Simply beautiful. I'm at a loss for words to adequately describe this film. It's something that you must experience -- words alone can't do it justice. Lost in Translation is an intelligent film that requires audience participation and self-reflection to really appreciate its true value and meaning. Break out of the daze the latest Hollywood action/thriller/comedy/drama has left you in, watch this movie, exercise your brain and soul, and bite into a film with substance. Not everyone's going to "get it" but for those who do, this film is absolutely wonderful, full of meaning, comfort, and beauty.
Rating:
Summary: Nice getaway from the mainstream...
Review: Although there were some slow moments and seconds (of what seemed forever) of blank shots where the character would just be sitting down and staring out a window, I still enjoyed this film. It was nice to see Bill Murray on the big screen once again. His scenes with the Japanese were hilarious, and the lost and confused looks on his face were priceless. Scarlett Johansson is such a great actress compared to other young (and even older) actresses these days. The two play Americans, both in somewhat troubled marriages, and both sleepless in Japan who meet up one night (and the nights after) and establish a close, intimate relationship, minus the sex--so are they having an affair? Don't know. It shows how two people can be so close yet not have sex involved to make the "relationship" work. However, the ending is pretty sad. Murray and Johansson make a good on screen team and their actions toward each other seem so natural. "Lost In Translation" is a movie that you can relate to if you have travelled to a foreign country where everything around you was totally different from your usual lifestyle. I'd recommend this movie if you want to get away from those high budget movies that aren't even doing that well anyway, but don't expect too much cuz there are a couple parts where you will be "lost in translation"... But hey, maybe that's the purpose?
Rating: 
Summary: You know, Bill Murray's face has no good side?
Review: That was the biggest revelation I got from this movie last night. When Murray's up on the big screen, you can see that here at least is someone in show biz who hasn't gone in for plastic surgery. Once one of his biggest early fans, I've missed a lot of Bill Murray's movies ever since losing my mind during the abyssmal "Quick Change" over ten years back. Interesting to revisit him after so much time has elapsed. He's certainly the best thing in the movie. He has lots of sight gags and reaction shots to culture clash events that keep popping up as he goes to Tokyo on business to shoot some whiskey ads for $2 million. His character, movie star Bob Harris, is having trouble sleeping, so perhaps that's what makes him think about his current life in a somewhat negative vein. He encounters in the hotel bar a years younger out-of-place housewife named Charlotte, played by Scarlett Johannson. The two find common ground in being two fish out of water, and spend the next week hanging out when they can. So, I've said I liked Bill Murray again, after more years than I can count on my toes. What didn't grab me? 1. Gratuitous opening shot of the backside of a reclining woman with see-through panties. The title of "Lost in Translation" comes on slowly over the undies. Where does this go? Nowhere, it's just to show you a butt through her underwear. Then we fade to the next scene. I'm surprised that this came from a woman director. 2. The Murray character eventually has a one-night stand with a cocktail lounge singer after an unpleasant call to his wife. One of the points the filmmaker wants to make is that Murray and Johannson can be friends without becoming lovers. So while these particular people can be friends without being lovers, this must be most unusual for a man, because if you give a man a week away from his wife, he'll fall into a bed with some woman, even if it's not the woman he likes best on his trip. Some message ultimately. 3. Not really enough "going on" in this movie. There must be thousands of shots of one or the other of them looking out a window at Tokyo or walking down a hallway. Enough already! Note to Sofia Coppola: there's more to "writing" a screenplay than just walking and staring! How's about some dialogue that advances the storyline to somewhere? One final litmus test for this movie is that when the credits started to roll, I got up immediately. That usually never happens. But I was just so tired of sitting there that I just had to get out. In the end, Bill Murray was not enough to garner this film more than three stars.
Rating:
Summary: Murray shines in a superbly unusual movie
Review: For the past few years, I have been concerned that Bill Murray, who has long been one of my favorite performers, had been relegated by Hollywood exclusively to supporting parts. After a string of wonderful box office films in the eighties and very early nineties, Murray had settled into playing largely supporting parts in a variety of smaller films, with Wes Anderson's RUSHMORE a major exception. This film, however, is a return to leading man status for Murray, and he makes the most of a great part. Murray plays American movie star Bob Harris, in Tokyo to make print and television ads for a Japanese brand of whiskey for $2 million. We are simultaneously introduced to Charlotte, the young, intellectual, pretty, and profoundly disoriented wife of John, a freelance show business photographer in Japan to do a series of photo shoots. Both are alienated from everything around them, unhappy in their marriages, unable to connect to the culture around them, and sleepless. One night both of them go to the bar rather than lay in bed awake, and they instantly click on some level. They spend the rest of their time together in Tokyo together (Charlotte's husband is out on an extended shoot), and they each discover in the other someone they enjoy, can confide in, and trust. Is it a love affair? A deep friendship? The beauty of the film is that we don't know. But we do get to witness two people, one famous and one unknown, one middle-aged and the other very young, connect on a very deep level. Sofia Coppola has quickly established herself as a first rate director. Luckily, having a father who owns his own studio should guarantee that she is able to continue making films. Luckily, her talent as a director keeps this from being sheer nepotism. I liked THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, but her success with LOST IN TRANSLATION shows that that film wasn't a fluke. This is the best film featuring Tokyo that I have ever seen made by a non-native of Tokyo. There is, of course, a wealth of great Japanese films featuring Tokyo, but these are all insider films, viewing Tokyo as they know it. It is, for them, home. But this film shows Tokyo as it appears from the outside, as it would appear to folks like me if they were to go there for the first time. The film has one of the best, most satisfying, and completely ambiguous endings I have ever seen in any film. The beautiful thing is that no one knows how it ends. I'll not give any more away by saying more except to say that I don't think we, the viewers, are supposed to know how it ends. Very beautifully done. As far as the future goes for Bill Murray, he already is committed to do the voice for feline Garfield in the movie of the same name (as unwilling as I will be to see that one, it will probably be a big success at the box office) and will star in Wes Anderson's next film. After this film and those, I think Murray will be back in a big way.
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