Lost...

[anna]

at work til late on tuesday, hadn't spent a night in with my man for what seemed like eternity, but cupboards were bear so had to make a trip to the video shop via the supermarket... one hour, eight bags and a fair amount of cash later we eventually made it to blockbuster (starving hungry by this time, especially as we'd treated ourselves to the most amazing looking "taste the difference" Jamie Oliver stakes) we parked on double yellows as we promised our bellies that we'd make a choice quickly... (now for the shocking bit) together we walked into the shop, with absolutely no prior discussion, walked straight to the new releases section, picked up the very first DVD that caught our eye, both agreed on it straight-off, paid walked out again, and drove home!!! i cooked our stakes (with an array of fresh veg sortéd in butter and fresh garlic) while andy wired up our brand new DVD player (actually had it for about three weeks now, but continued to use the PS2 to watch movies until now!) ohhhh the meal was worth waiting for mmmmmm. andy finally tuned the (also new) TV to the scart channel while I made pop corn (lights dimmed, surround sound) we finally cuddled up to watch our movie… then it ended, couldn’t quite believe it… not so much disappointed as a tad confused…

…what was all the fuss about?  :huh:

~ lost (of bournemouth)
 

[unknownperson]

perhaps part of the problem was that it had been out so long and everyone had talked so much. I think part of what made it so nice when we saw it was that we had hear almost nothing about it. It was suprising. By the time you see it it has been talked about. Also, I think some people just did not like it. My sister for instance.
I loved it... but then, I like a lot of bad films. Like Clueless.

[Nathan]

I don't know, but this is becoming one of my favourite movies ever.

[anna]

yes, the British summer time is doing it's usual piss-it-down-with-rain thing, so it was back to the video shop again last night. determined not to let our disappointment of 48 hrs earlier spoil the potential of another great night in, we decided spread the risk by inviting two (albeit American - only joking with ya, but they were American) friends to join us in the choosing (and subsequent viewing) of the evenings movie. we met at blockbuster, and all four of us were immediately given new optimism of the pending decision in our united agreement the Lost in Translation was a very disappointing film. that said, we were not so hasty this time and deliberated for very many minutes (almost deciding on School of Rock, had half of us not seen it the week before - me not being one of those, so must watch it sometime soon) then one of our state-side chums had a flash of inspiration... what was the name of the British comedy he'd seen a trailer for a few months back...? it looked really funny....? "that's it... Blackball! we've got to get this guys" we were quickly convinced by the cover-synopsis: "In the world of spectator sports, there are of course the all time greats: Football, Rugby, Tennis, Golf and… Lawn Bowls...? In the sleepy seaside town of Torquay...blah, blah..." and even more so by Mel Smith's name on the director's chair and a cast including Paul Kaye (Dennis Pennis fame) and Johnny Vegas. Absolutely hilarious, you must watch this film... i don't know how i've managed not to hear anything about it til now!


nathan, that reminds me, it was you that hyped up LinT so much... one of your favourite movies ever? Please enlighten me...
 

[Nathan]

who were your two american friends?


I seem to remember lots of people on the forum agreeing that they really liked LIT.
It keeps growing for me. I saw it on an airplane and I think it is the only movie I've ever watched on a plane that I liked... that is a good start there!
I thought it was really really funny, Bill Murray was amazing. I love the calm and peace of it, and the sense that most of it happens in one night (a la American Graffiti).
I think the relationships in it are amazing, including Scarlet Jo's w/ Husband and Bill Murray with wife on the phone.
The music is amazing and the aesthetic of the whole movie is beautiful, plus it captures that feeling of displacement so well.
Just one of those films that really hits the bulls-eye on every level and you just keep liking it more because you realize it is so good in all of those ways: story, characters, music, style, cinematography, humour, drama, pacing, editing, etc.

Really amazing.

[crazyjane]

Full agreement here, Nathan. Lost in Translation made me positively yearn for travel and that feeling of being someplace that isn't your own - I wanted to go immeditately and be disorientedly western in Tokyo. I loved the not knowing at the end. I loved that it was funny, sad and optimistic and realistic at the same time. I love the scene where Scarlett Johansson's foot just touches Bill Murray's leg when they fall asleep together, and I positively adored Bill Murray's "More Than This" Karaoke!

In short: VERY NICE.
 

[anna]

who were your two american friends?

I just notice this line in your post...

Daniel and his friend who's name escapes me (I did know at the time, but it was a couple of weeks ago now) who's from Newhaven but is living in Staines (just west of London... home of Ali G - no relevance, but information all the same)
 

[Nathan]

word to the Staines massive, aaiiight.

[Annie]

I feel like I am ease dropping on conversations that took place years ago, but I still want to listen and at times add a few comments of my own. First, and I should have said this on my first post two posts ago...I cannot spell! So, I appologize now for all the words that are going to be horribly mispelled in every one of the postings to come.
LIT...It has been quite the toppic at school. Ideas vary about the film.. "Who was is really about?" "What was it about?" "Were they having an affair!!!!?".
This is what I think...the movie begins and ends with a her...a girl who is in a quarter life crisis (I can relate already!) who meets a man in a mid-life crisis. They are reflections of each other.
I loved the movie! And to agree with nathan, it keeps growing on me. I loved the scene when she is on the phone with her friend, trying to find someone to connect with and her friend doesn't have time. It sorta brings a new meaning into what it means to be known...sometimes strangers understand you more than the people you've known forever.
I like it because it's real. You don't get to hear what he whispers to her at the end of the film, you don't really know if they were in a romantic relationship (although I don't think that's what it was about and why it was vague), and you don't get that climax and resolve like so many other blockbuster hits.
My nephew talked me into seeing the Exorcist today...remind me to cover my ears when I am in his presence again!...so, in light of that movie, I am ready to sing the praises of LIT!  

[Iris]

I'm also a huge fan of Lost in Translation. Saw it with Seth and China and all 3 of us loved it. I loved that there were moments that had us laughing out loud (the "lick my stockings" part and the club with the strippers) as well as moments that were much more thought provoking. I thought it was one of the most beautifully filmed movies I'd seen in awhile.  

[Sophie]

From a filmo point of view, i loved LIT (sorry to muscle in on the conversation!)
To echo James King's opinion on radio 1, LIT as well as The Virgin Suicides is all about atmosphere rather than principally about plot.  It's been criticised for it's stereotypical, western view of Japanese culture, but I think it is simply making a point.  If you notice in the lift scene where Murray towers over the Japanese business men, it's him that's 'lost' and out of place not them.  Is it really a bad thing if the point of parody is a nation's politeness?  As one of my collegues stated at its release 'One of the most perfect films I've seen'.  I wouldn't perhaps go that far but I loved it nonetheless.  From a person writing about romance films I found the ending refreshing and beautiful.  Sweet nothings should be kept private, not for millions of gawping eyes to see the other side of the screen. It's films like this that help the film industry realise that a film can be successful without sex and over the top big buget effects.  I am in no way a film prude (I nearly did a PhD in Porn afterall) I just think this film offered a rare glimpse at the complexities of human relationships (in the words of Harry Burns in When Harry Met Sally) "without the sex part getting in the way."  Yey Sophia Coppola!
If you liked the film I reccommend you watch Before Sunrise and Before Sunset with Ethan Hawke and Julia Delphy.  Both wonderfully romantic with a similar ethos (also great tracking shots if you're interested in that sort of thing).  Almost Woody Allen in it's conversational style but extremely accessable despite of this.  A male friend suggested I watch them so they are NOT chick flicks.  If you haven't already done so, check them out.
Film lecture over. Sx    

[Sophie]

Just been informed that I'm teaching on LIT next term.  it's a tough life!  

[Nathan]

That sounds like a lecture worth coming to Nottingham for.

PS... Soph, they're linking to this site and they've got the song posted on the Speed Dating official website.
 

[anna]

who's they?

[anna]

all becomes clear... surely this deserves it's own topic

Nathan, so for how long have you been checking the christian connection website waiting for the fame? (hee, hee)