Since we talk about films a lot, wondering about other folks opinions - I watched this and was underwhelmed, perhaps because of mostly great reviews and raised expectations. I loved SJ in Ghost World and Bill Murray in not a few films but was put off by the plot if not the performances. What is the appeal of this to people?
I would mostly agree. I thought the two leads were pretty good but the movie overall...hmm. Coppola likes that dumb shakey camera movement that is all the rage these days. The movie is about discomfort and it does a great job conveying that, but that inherently means it does not make for a pleasant viewing experience, either (and not in the dramatic way of Mystic River, for example). I wouldn't really advise anyone to go out to see it. Not bad, not great.
Personally loved it. Didn't really notice the shaky camera thing at all, though i've noticed it in most of the hip films these days. Maybe rimbaud saw it in a crappy 2nd-rate movie house with a drunk projectionist. I saw it before I'd heard any hype, and I expected almost nothing, so that may account for how much I loved it. It definitely speaks to my preferences in terms of visual styles and even soundtracks. I thought the dialogue was believable, even when it was realistically banal. Copolla has a good eye for humor, even in visual details, if you ask me. The supporting characters are perfectly and archly pitched in this sense. I love the opening scene, which is very sexual, but more about pure intimacy. And that basically sets the table for the film, which is to a large extent about intimacy. How refreshing is it to have a movie NOT end up with the leading man ****** spoiler deleted ****. I mean, finally, right? That's so much more believable to me when he wakes up with ********* spoiler deleted *********.
well I'm with you because it was hype a lot over here in Boston, and while I liked the movie, it wasn't like I was particularly inspired after it or laughed like hell during it. But the movie had SUBSTANCE. which I always like.
Agree with everything here. I thought I was going to hate it--particularly because of the Ghost World comparisons--but I've seen it twice and consider it the best American movie of the year. (The one better film I saw this year was Russian Ark.) The only ending from a recent movie I can think of that's as understated yet effective as LIT's is that of Monster's Ball.
Man, every time she was sitting in the window with Tokyo underneath her (which I did like as a recurring theme, even if it was played out in early American Modernism a la Hopper) the camera would be unsteady as it worked its way around her shoulders. I saw it before I'd heard any hype, and I expected almost nothing, so that may account for how much I loved it. It definitely speaks to my preferences in terms of visual styles and even soundtracks. I thought the dialogue was believable, even when it was realistically banal. Copolla has a good eye for humor, even in visual details, if you ask me. The supporting characters are perfectly and archly pitched in this sense. Dialogue was definitely good...visuals and soundtrack? Well, I didn't love them as much. The vsuals were mostly just - "look at how foreign Tokyo feels." I love the opening scene, which is very sexual, but more about pure intimacy. And that basically sets the table for the film, which is to a large extent about intimacy. How refreshing is it to have a movie NOT end up with the leading man ****** spoiler deleted ****. I mean, finally, right? That's so much more believable to me when he wakes up with ********* spoiler deleted *********. Opening was great and I think the actress pulled a great 23-26 year old performance out of her 19 year old self. As for the ending being refreshing...really? *spoilers* I have seen that on multiple occasions before...especially with the waking up with and subsequent pouting, then make-up. I did his last lines in the movie, though...since we don't hear them. Although the setup was a little lame and not-believable - she was getting on an elevator and he was leaving the hotel. Then he sees her a few blocks away while in the cab...in a mega city like Tokyo? Ugh.
*** big ass spoiler *** rimbaud, I just meant that they didn't screw. Anyway, I had lots of problems with it, but I am usually completely disgusted by so-called art movies in this country and I shred them with criticism. In this case, I just found myself watching and believing the characters as people, at least temporarily, and that almost never happens to me. I'm usually cursing the dialogue or the director or the sound engineer or the lighting chump or...
We should never go to a movie together. That and the fact that I always know what is going to happen and often blurt it out makes my wife sometimes dislike seeing a movie with me.
OMG, I hope you didn't see the Sixth Sense with her, or a series of other movies which I won't mention so I won't spoil them for you just by mentioning them!
Ha - yes, I did. Coincidentally, I we also saw Unbreakable and I ruined that one for her as well. Mystic River was the most recent. I always tell myself I will stop...but then it just comes out in the middle of these movies. Or, I think it is so obvious that she laready knows. Always mistakes...
I saw it. Didn't really understand why it would get a 7 minute standing ovation at Cannes or all the props from critics...but they are critics... Would't recommend it unless you were bored and wanted to get more bored and didn't have to pay. Not a bad movie, just different. Guess I'm just too used to dumbed down movies and sitcoms, so when there's something that's more realistic or different, it seems so uncomfortable.
I laughed so hard that the girl I wen twith gave me pokes. The subject is no laughing matter though. That's why it's a good movie.
I thought I was the odd one out. Maybe I'm watching *too* many movies laterly but it just didn't click for me, either.
It was uncomfortable, but that's because it turned many movie conventions on their head. We're so conditioned to expect three acts, protagonists, antagonists, conflict, action, resolution. When a movie defies that, we're out of our comfort zone. We're not sure what to expect, but that makes the film-going experience a new one. "Lost in Translation" was a really good movie (though not great) and sought to tell a simple story, stripped of the trappings of modern filmmaking. For the most part, it did.
..i think the movie is all about mood.. the setting tokyo and its just being lost and confused about life. and maybe a little bit about acquiring intimate connections with unexpected people.... thats a simple explanation..but thats the conclusion i came to... beautiful movie...
