My friends gave mixed reviews of "Lost in Translation". People either loved it or thought it was boring.
I fall firmly into the "loved it" camp.
Like Garden State the director and actors transcribed feelings I've had but couldn't necessarily articulate to the big screen.
The feeling of being someplace and feeling "lost" or being out of sync with everything around you was so intense in this movie. It's a feeling I've had on more than one occasion.
Bill Murray was so sweet and sad and funny. At my best I hope I'm like that.
The faxes and telephone calls he has with his wife felt a little too familiar to me. I promise that I've similar conversations, when I was traveling on business. This is not because I am hanging out with Scarlett Johansson, mind you. It's just that sometimes when you're off on a business trip days and nights get turned upside down. The things you do, the people you're with, it all ends up feeling like you've driven off the edge of your map, hiked off trail and a curtain of fog is rolling through your mind. Then in the middle of all that, you call home. You love the person on the line, but know she is on a very different track, picking out carpeting for your den, and you are just not in sync. I've felt it, I've lived it.
The scene that sticks with me is where they are both staring up at the ceiling and Scarlett saying "Does it get any easier." The "No. Yes ..." answer was so truthful and in some way encapsulated the entire movie for me.
I finally understand why all the awards and critical acclaim were lauded on the movie.
