wastefulspace

This is probably one of the most memorable movies I have watched that doesn’t involve cheesy romance, too much violence and gory, happy colors.

Sofia Coppola directed this award winning film in beautiful, colorful Japan with two very misplaced people. In separate worlds, former movie star Bob Harris [Murray] goes to Japan for a 2 Million dollar contract for Suntory (whiskey) taking a break from his boring marriage while the Yale graduate Charlotte [Johansson] comes here with her photographer husband still undecided with what to do with her life. They meet, befriended, and lead to something else.

As my friend f said, she found the movie noisy, yet quiet. I understand what she meant by that. Scenes were mostly visual, the music was very mellow in a sort of dreary way, except for the karaoke scene, which was a fusion of very unfamiliar music that I could only guess is from the 70s/80s.

One familiar song was Alone in Kyoto by Air, which was a perfect accompaniment to Charlotte’s travel to Kyoto and she sees and explores this world. Maybe doing a little soul searching, we wouldn’t know. But she was struck by the traditional wedding of the Japanese, complete with Kimonos for some reason.

I like Charlotte’s role and that I could relate to it in some way, in aspects of relationships and plans for the future and the smoking. And for Mr. Bob Harris, this line set me off in a way that I know this should be my personal mantra.

The more you know who you are and what you want
The less things upset you.

That is one smart, very enlightening, and very helpful dialogue for someone who is trying to find their selves (like me).

To have set it in Japan was pure genius. The language barrier was totally tough to deal as I have studied the Japanese language, grammar is opposite of English grammar. To say, I am eating fish. Would be 私は魚を食べて(I am fish eating). Plus it is a rarity for Americans to know Japanese, Spanish or French might be possible but would be less effective to grasp the whole lost in translation phase. 

The constant switch or L’s and Rs are known as there is no R or L in the Japanese pronunciation but  a mixture of both RA is known as lra with an “L” sound but with an R. Roger Moore could become lroger moorle, The commercial scene was a very obvious language barrier situation. The director explained everything from Bob Harris’ sitting down, the placement of whisky and how he looks and treats the whisky until he toasts about the Suntory time.  All the translator did was “He want you to turn, looking camera. OK?” which made a very confused Bob Harris ask “Is that all he wanted?”

It was funny how Murray’s character responded to the special visit from a certain lady which inspired this review’s title. Domination roles for females are highly present in Japanese culture. If you do not believe me, I suggest you try watching most of their *eherm* naughty stuff for evidence. The act of shyness, then very submissive and then totally disagreeing, almost like rape, was highly evident, and was hilarious to watch in this scene, as Bob Harris tried to entangle himself from this woman who says “No! Stop Mr. Harris! Puris Ret Me Go! (Please let me go!)” but continues to tangle him anyway. They ended up crashing to the floor and hitting one of the lamps which short circuited the whole room’s lights. Amusing, and not in the usual slapstick way.

One qualm I had, or this intrigue was why did Scarlett Johansson’s character keeps being shown prancing around in panties? The opening scene was that and it keeps showing her ass in various times of the movie. Fetish or Foul? I don’t really know, but I wasn’t entertained.

Overall, I would like to recommend this film to anyone who has the intellectual capacity to try and understand and give it a chance. It is filled with dialogue and very little action if you count the chase scene with the angry barmen and the dancing naked ladies. It is as dreary and as full of words like Before Sunset, even how it was film was done was like it was set in the 90s, very dim, very pale colors and almost to the point of dragging, but this was a 2003 movie.

I liked it for the strong roles, the equally great actors who portrayed it, an original story of something different for a change and just about everything.

This entry was posted Sunday, December 7th, 2008 at 12:12 am and is filed under movies. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.