Lost in Translation (2003)
Writer/Director: Sofia Coppola Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Bill Murray, Akiko Takeshita, Kazuyoshi Minamimagoe, Kazuko Shibata, Take, Ryuichiro Baba, Akira Yamaguchi A middle-aged actor shooting a whiskey commercial (Bill Murray) and a neglected young wife (Scarlett Johansson), both American, cross paths in a Tokyo hotel. Both exist in a kind of limbo--emotionally distant from their spouses, physically distant from their homes and culture, tired and dissatisfied. A sweet friendship that avoids the traditional movie cliches grows between them. The story may seem meandering and aimless, but that is an accurate reflection of the lives of these characters. Murray plays his role with an easy, understated charm, and Johansson is charming and vulnerable. The authentic representation of Japanese society, augmented by on location filming in Tokyo, is another plus. Writer/director Sofia Coppola has done a terrific job.