“Lost In Translation” is a very interesting film that perfectly manages to capture that feeling you get whenever you step out of your comfort zone. Sofia Coppola (“Somewhere”) shows that she is a much better director than actress (anybody else remember her performance in “Godfather Part III”?).

“Lost In Translation” shows how a faded film star, called Bob (Bill Murray “Groundhog Day”, “Caddyshack”), and a neglected young woman by the name of Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson “Iron Man 2”) find themselves united as they struggle to cope with the cultural differences and language barrier whilst staying in Japan. As their misadventures continue, their friendship grows stronger.

I think Bill Murray is very funny playing what is essentially an exaggerated version of himself. The scene where he is trying to follow a director’s instructions for whiskey advert is genius. Scarlett Johansson is also really good. The two have a lot of chemistry. The characters make small talk in a bar in one scene and find themselves singing the hearts out in a karaoke competition in another and you can see the chemistry maintained throughout the picture. Both do a wonderful job conveying the feelings of both confusion and frustration you feel when you go abroad and try to interact with the unfamiliar population and surroundings.

This film may seem a little isolating and I can see a lot of people not liking its style but I think many others will relate to what you see here. The performances are incredibly strong and the film has some clever scenes here and there. The film is a touching romantic story and it feels grounded in reality so that you can really believe the events that unfold. The film is strange in that if it were not for the subject matter, this might be a bad film.