written by Vinoo
Language : English
Director : Sophia Coppola
There is no ‘man meets woman, and jumps into bed in a jiffy like that is the only reason they met’ scenes like oft happens in English films. Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is a movie star, and father of two from his 25-years of marriage, who is in Japan on an ad-shoot assignment. He is an actor well past his prime and featuring in ads just for the buck. Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) is the newly wed, bored wife of a fashion photographer. She is trying to discover herself. The two American’s are in a totally new country, Japan, and situations bring them together. They start spending time together and gradually begin wanting to spend time together. They engage in long conversations about life and just about everything and in each other they find a rare comfort that has been missing in their lives. A really bored Bob says ‘I will be at the bar for the next week’ when Charlotte asks him where she can find him. Also the scene where he is in a shoot where the director hands out instructions in Japanese is quite hilarious. As also the scene where his wife sends him option of colours for the furniture saying she prefers burgundy. ‘Which is burgundy?’ he asks. Bob and Charlotte share moments that have an unusual warmth and poignancy to it. Once the two of them are done with their stay in Tokyo they realize the relationship has to come to an end. Bill Murray as Bob Harris is hilarious right through and Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte is brilliant. Very very apt casting indeed. To me Bill Murray is just the guy he plays. Bill Murray can almost walk out of bed and fit into this role he has almost perfected over the years. ‘Groundhog day’, ‘Broken flowers’ comes to mind. And I am a sucker for these conversation films. Also loved the mood right through. I would call this movie a very mature version of ‘Before sunrise’ and ‘Before sunset’. Bob whispering something in Charlotte’s ears (not audible to us) is a lovely touch on where their relationship is / could be headed.
This film is not about lust. It is about true love and emotional need and togetherness. Don’t miss this one. Will make you take a fresh look at life even if the answer to some of life’s questions is lost in translation.
I remember liking Sofia Coppola’s ‘The virgin suicides’ from IFFK. Kirsten Dunst in one of her best roles. Haven’t watched ‘Marie Antoinette’ though.
Also watched Milos Forman’s ‘Loves of a blonde’ nice, Michael Caccoyannis’ ‘Stella’ brilliant, and Alan J Pakula’s ‘Sophie’s Choice’ a little too long but ok watch. Went on a Tarantino trip and watched ‘Reservoir dogs’, ‘Pulp fiction, ‘Jackie Brown’, ‘Kill Bill 1 & 2’, ‘Four rooms’ and the terrible ‘Death Proof’ all over again. Also watched ‘Inglourious Basterds’ Tarantino’s tribute to film? More Cocaine, Foot massage, Ezekiel 25:17, Madonna movie references, the Ennio Morricone tribute, more ‘nigga’ talk which he always gets away with, more poetic shootouts and the by now familiar Tarantino screenplay. Brad Pitt and his accent is irritating (reminds me of him from Guy Ritchie’s ‘Snatch’) but Christoph Waltz is quite a find, else the movie didn’t do for me what his other movies did but it sure is brilliant in parts. The similarities to ‘The Dirty Dozen’ doesn’t take away from the film though. One critic referred to ‘Inglourious Basterds’ (wonder what’s with the misspelling) as ‘turning Jews into Nazis’.
Maybe the title of the film is from trying to answer ‘What is life?’. Apparently the title is drawn from various points including how much is lost even when you translate something from one language to another.
I quote from the film (Courtesy : IMDB) :
Director [in Japanese, to the interpreter]: The translation is very important, O.K.? The translation.
Interpreter [in Japanese, to the director]: Yes, of course. I understand.
Director [in Japanese, to Bob]: Mr. Bob. You are sitting quietly in your study. And then there is a bottle of Suntory whisky on top of the table. You understand, right? With wholehearted feeling, slowly, look at the camera, tenderly, and as if you are meeting old friends, say the words. As if you are Bogie in Casablanca, saying, “Here’s looking at you, kid,” — Suntory time!
Interpreter [In English, to Bob]: He wants you to turn, look in camera. O.K.?
Bob: Is that all he said?
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