Lost in Translation (2003)
Loneliness personified.
Presentation:
Shot on Zeiss Superspeeds, the film looks soft and desaturated. It's a very moody look, which really captures the culture shock of the Americans in a foreign land. Bill Murray really sticks out like a sore thumb among the sea of Japanese workers and Scarlett Johansson really feels unhappy and sells depression. Loneliness personified, the vibe is really well crafted and has likely influenced a whole generation afterwards as many films emulate this same feeling: Past Lives, Garden State, Her. It's influence has no bounds because loneliness and the seeking of comfort is universal. Unless you don't know what I'm talking about, in which case good for you.
Conclusion:
You either get this film and it speaks to your soul, or you don't and you find it completely boring. I am in a strange predicament where I understand it deeply, but still found it unmoving. Everyone's loneliness is different, this one is a more social estrangement. This film is still relevant today, but is it something you'd want to watch again? I'm not certain the magic is still relatable in today's electronic age.
Recommendations
Level 0 of the liminal basement.