LOST IN TRANSLATION [2003] Bill Murray ; Rated 15

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson star in Sofia Coppola's performance master piece. A film that knows its strengths, and expertly plays to them. 'Johansson is of course superb, cementing her status as a respectable and credible young actress, but it's Murray's performance that really stands out. He plays an ageing actor, burnt out and tired, who resides to endorsing a brand of whisky just to keep himself busy. The film is never obvious, which sadly as a result, will probably make it lost on some people. But for those of us who do actually take the time to watch and listen, 'Lost In Translation' will be a joy to take in. It is however the films dependency on finding the right audience that lets it down. To some, in an age of 'in your face throw it at me cinema', Coppola's subtle direction may seem a little too withdrawn to captivate. Essentially though, she does do what any good director should, she captures the movie instead of making it. Which ever way you look at it though, whether you get it or not, no one in their right mind could deny the quality of its lead's acting. If 'Murray doesn't get an Oscar for this, he never will. 'Lost in Translation' is as intelligent as they come, with the script and performances refreshingly the primary driving force behind the film. Admittedly not as good as the pre-release hype, but worth seeing never the less.

3/5