Lost in Translation

Tags

2000's, Bill Murray, Drama, Giovanni Ribisi, Lost in Translation, Scarlett Johansson, Sofia Coppola

Film Title

Lost in Translation

Director

Sofia Coppola

Starring

• Bill Murray as Bob Harris
• Scarlett Johansson as Charlotte
• Giovanni Ribisi as John

A bittersweet and moving drama, etched with comedy and pathos from Sofia Coppola, Lost in Translation makes for a beautifully crafted and thought-provoking movie of alienation and connection. Featuring two beautifully subtle and captivating performances from Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation is a movie to treasure for its quiet and engaging impact.

Bob Harris is a middle-aged, washed-up actor who has journeyed to Tokyo, Japan to shoot a whiskey commercial. Completely alienated as he doesn’t understand the language and blue because of his directionless existence( that includes estrangement from his wife and kids), Bob is lost in a sea of uncertainty and slowly drowning. Meanwhile, a young woman named Charlotte, fresh out of Yale and newly married, is also in Tokyo and the same hotel. She too feels ignored and questioning of herself, as her inattentive photographer husband John seems to care more about his career than her. Charlotte is left to her own devices, yet can’t shake the instability and indecision of her life. Both jet lagged and struggling with insomnia, Bob and Charlotte meet one night in the hotel bar. Despite them being different in more ways than one, they begin to forge a friendship that opens their eyes to something more positive and worthwhile. Through their encounters, both of the humorous and heartfelt variety, and the deep bond that they form, Bob and Charlotte are able to face the challenges of life and consider that it actually be something wonderful if they look closer.

Sofia Coppola strikingly yet subtly directs and writes this wonderful movie, capturing an honesty and heartfelt story of two unlikely soul mates finding solace in each other’s company. Her rendering of their existences as troubled and searching is nicely complimented by a good dose of humour. It straddles the line between comedy and drama, without sacrificing any of the poignant or bittersweet angles of the tale. Coppola displays a quiet confidence and her measured approach with both her directing and script is notably transfixing. Loneliness and a feeling of not belonging are heightened by the culture shock of the Japanese setting and the visuals of large buildings that dwarf Bob and Charlotte. And talking of visuals, they are simply sublime and have real substance in framing the central duo as isolated and fish out of water. The lighting scheme, gold hues and often a certain blue, highlights both the melancholia of their situations and the often nighttime confessions that each shares along the way of their bond. A certain shimmer is found in the cinematography too, hinting at their may be a chance of hope for both the listless souls in Lost in Translation. And the way that Japan is used is gorgeous, utilizing the beauty and scope of the country to its advantage. Crucially and one of the instruments that really made me appreciate Lost in Translation, was that although an emotional feeling is generated between Bob and Charlotte, it doesn’t lead to a love affair. So many Hollywood films go for the obvious and expected when you have a film about two people unintentionally connecting, thankfully Lost in Translation doesn’t fall into that trap. An atmospheric and ambient soundtrack is the ideal companion to the film, soaking it in a layer of hope, escape and pathos.

The acting in Lost in Translation is a definite high point of an already impressive movie. Bill Murray turns in a restrained yet subtly expressive portrayal of tired loneliness and the want to experience something. Moving from deadpan comedy to sensitive depth, Murray is at some of his best as the sympathetic Bob, searching for something hopeful to come along. All it takes is just the slightest movement of his eyes and face, and you know all there is to know about the character, down to the fact that Murray plays him so stunningly. Equally as good is Scarlett Johansson, who despite only being 17 at the time of filming, contributed a mature and exquisitely subtle performance. Finding nuance, humour and melancholy in Charlotte, Johansson holds her own and is mesmerising to watch. What makes their portrayals so beautiful is the little moments of quietly suggesting thoughts and dreams, achieved with the most simple yet meaningful ways. The two boast a believable rapport with each other, discovering a platonic yet still caring need for the companionship to combat the alienation of their respective lives. Giovanni Ribisi, who previously narrated The Virgin Suicides, appears as Charlotte’s busy husband, whose hipster attitude and blatant lack of concern have you seeing why she wants to find something close to connection.

Evocative, soulful and charming, Lost in Translation is a triumph for both Sofia Coppola and main actors, Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson. Together, they create a touching film about unexpectedly finding someone to relate too and escaping from the pressures of life while facing up to some of them.

Charlie’s Angels

Tags

2000's, Action, Bill Murray, Cameron Diaz, Charlie's Angels, Comedy, Crispin Glover, Drew Barrymore, Kelly Lynch, Lucy Liu, Luke Wilson, Matt LeBlanc, McG, Sam Rockwell, Tim Curry

Film Title

Charlie’s Angels

Director

McG

Starring

• Cameron Diaz as Natalie
• Drew Barrymore as Dylan
• Lucy Liu as Alex
• Bill Murray as Bosley
• Sam Rockwell as Eric Knox
• Kelly Lynch as Vivian Wood
• Tim Curry as Roger Corwin
• Crispin Glover as The Thin Man
• Matt LeBlanc as Jason
• Luke Wilson as Pete

Based on the hit 70’s show of the same name, Charlie’s Angels is not the kind of movie you go to watch for deep, introspective lessons. It’s all about the action, silliness and sexiness of which it provides a slick and entertaining package.

The Angels of the title are goofy Natalie, sarcastic Dylan and knowledgeable Alex; three beautiful and strong women who work as private investigators for the unseen Charlie. He communicates with them via voice messages and agency handler Bosley. Getting out of scrapes and risking life and limb is what they’re good at, as well as doing it with some serious style and kick ass moves. Their latest case involves rescuing electronics millionaire Eric Knox, then finding his valuable software. The software is state of the art voice recognition that uses phones as its main communications base. If it were to fall into the wrong hands, it could be used to end basic privacy through the usage of satellites and put tens of thousands in mortal danger. The main suspect appears to be a rival businessman by the name of Roger Corwin, whose known to be very ruthless when it comes to getting his hands on the much moneymaking thing. Cue much action, chases and sexy outfits and it’s another day at the races for the Angels. But something more sinister may in fact be right under their noses and ready to strike.

From the get go, director McG, who used to be a prominent stylist of music videos, lets us know that this film is one to just sit back and bask in with his brash use of colour and tongue in cheek humour. He isn’t trying to be intellectual in the slightest and that very approach makes Charlie’s Angels a big guilty pleasure. It’s a pastiche and ode to glamour of the past( the original theme tune and voice of Charlie remains the same) and modern technology that bathes in its own craziness. I mean how can any of the film be taken seriously when you have these ladies defying gravity with their karate moves and changing clothing at lightning speed, in between disposing of bad guys? And yet, that is where the fun lies, in the sheer implausibility and fantasy of it all. None of this is rooted in the real world and doesn’t try to be; it just wants you to have a blast on the action score and comedy and not aspire for anything else. With colourful splashes of quick editing and slow motion for sensual purposes, the film whizzes along at such a rapid rate that you don’t have to think about a single thing, just being thrilled and excited is the response that will most likely garner. Watching the sexy trio move from one outrageous situation to the next is fun enough in itself as they kick serious ass and showcase bountiful sex appeal. Laughs and naughtiness go hand in hand( watch as Alex dresses up dominatrix style to infiltrate a corporate facility and causes every male worker to be her slave.) High energy and a prominent soundtrack ensure that Charlie’s Angels is a kinetic ride that doesn’t require brain power, yet wants you to just surrender to its frequently goofy content.

The gorgeous trio of Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore and Lucy Liu contribute significant fun and sexy prowess to match. It helps that they look like they’re having a really fun time playing the glamorous crime fighters, who get to raid the dress up box frequently and dispatch sassy one liners. That enthusiasm( from Diaz’s ditsy but sometimes very resourceful Natalie, Barrymore’s sassy, attitude heavy Dylan and Liu’s sophisticated and poised brainiac Alex ) is the key to the enjoyment of Charlie’s Angels as they sell the silliness all the way. Bill Murray is hilarious as the occasionally bumbling and sardonic Bosley, with his knack for humour in high supply and an utter delight to watch. Sam Rockwell is pretty eye-catching as the man supposedly in trouble, who might be quite different from the geeky persona he projects. Kelly Lynch is much the same as his partner who just know is dodgy from the moment she appears. Tim Curry does what he can with his ludicrous material and is quite amusing, while Crispin Glover is ideally unusual and freaky as an assassin known as The Thin Man. Matt LeBlanc and Luke Wilson on the other hand, come off as rather superfluous when playing two unsuspecting boyfriends of two of the Angels. Considering the cheesy script, the cast is mostly competent, particularly the sexy Angels.

It’s scattershot at best and virtually devoid of any real plot, but Charlie’s Angels delivers the fun and sassy goods, bolstered by the energy of the three women at the front of it. Defiantly ridiculous and outrageous, it’s best enjoyed as cheesy fodder and sexy fun.

The Jungle Book

Tags

2010's, Adventure, Ben Kingsley, Bill Murray, Christopher Walken, Giancarlo Esposito, Idris Elba, Jon Favreau, Lupita Nyong'o, Neel Sethi, Scarlett Johansson, The Jungle Book

Film Title

The Jungle Book

Director

Jon Favreau

Starring

• Neel Sethi as Mowgli
• Ben Kingsley as Bagheera
• Bill Murray as Baloo
• Idris Elba as Shere Khan
• Lupita Nyong’o as Raksha
• Giancarlo Esposito as Akela
• Scarlett Johansson as Kaa
• Christopher Walken as King Louie

When I was first informed that they were doing another version of The Jungle Book, combining live action with CGI, I’ll admit to being a bit skeptical over how successful it would turn out. I’m happy to report however that this interpretation from Disney is a triumph in almost every department, while adding some new touches to the adventure tale. Trust me, you’ll be blown away by this version of the beloved story.

Mowgli is an orphaned man cub, who is raised by a pack of wolves deep in the Indian jungle. He was brought there by the panther Bagheera, who watches out for the young and wild boy. While the wolves treat him as family, the leader of the pack Akela, disapproves of the boy using tricks considered human and wants him to be more like a wolf. Raksha, a female wolf acts as a strong mother figure for Mowgli and considers him her son. Yet as Mowgli grows older, the threats to him become more pronounced. The main one is the reappearance of the evil tiger Shere Khan, who strikes fear in the heart of all the other animals. Having been burned by humans in the past, Shere Khan has a deep hatred for man and seeing Mowgli vows to kill him. Fearing for the safety of young Mowgli, Akela has Bagheera take him back to a man village where it is hoped he will be safe from Shere Khan. Mowgli doesn’t want to leave, but sees that the danger posed to him is great. Yet getting to that village is no easy task as Mowgli and Bagheera become separated and he must fend for himself. Thankfully he encounters Baloo, a lazy but lovable bear who he quickly forms a bond with. Yet there is peril to be found in the jungle in many forms and with Shere Khan attempting to draw him out, it comes down to Mowgli to discover where his place in life is.

Jon Favreau directs with a sure hand, crafting The Jungle Book as an entertaining yet heartfelt production of massive scope. The CGI is quite simply breathtaking and awe-inspiring, worthy of every ounce of praise that has been aimed at it. Nary a frame of The Jungle Book is wasted due to the precision of the direction and the sheer majesty of everything going on. Everything in this Disney production looks so life-like, you could almost touch it and taste it with your senses in every shot. The jungle comes alive on the screen, resplendent with dangers and adventures for young Mowgli, as well as the audience too.  In a different move, the darkness quota is significantly raised like never before. This gives The Jungle Book that something else that balances being a fun adventure with some genuine moments of danger. Moments that signify this shift are plentiful; from the large snake Kaa revealing the past of Mowgli while reeling him in to a large and menacing Orangutan-resembling ape King Louie, who wishes to harness the power of fire. And the biggest one is having Shere Khan as a ferocious beast who was scarred by man and looks frightening from the very moment he appears. I must say this new direction of making things darker really impressed me because it infuses the film with probably the darkest presentation of the source material yet doesn’t forget the atmosphere of fun that children and adults alike can enjoy. The coming of age elements are brought out with deeply riveting and soulful results as Mowgli attempts to find his place. An excellent music score highlights the thrilling adventures and soul of The Jungle Book. It was also a blast hearing some of the songs from the 1967 animated version, but done in other ways to distinguish it and not make the film a remake.

Newcomer Neel Sethi, as the only physical performer in the film, is naturally convincing as the curious and rebellious Mowgli. Considering that he would have been acting against nothing, he marvellously conveys a big load of emotions and reactions that never ring false for a second. The voice cast for the animals that inhabit the jungle are expertly employed and add their own inflections to their parts. I have always found Ben Kingsley as an actor to have something of a stately presence and this feeling of authority is reflected in his voicing of Bagheera, which emanates with wisdom and firmness. The amusing and always joyful Bill Murray is inspired as the honey-guzzling Baloo, who provides the comic moments of the film with a dash of classic Murray sarcasm. A real standout among the voices is Idris Elba as the evil Shere Khan. His booming, resonant voice utilized to maximum effect that makes the creature genuinely scary and filled with rage. Reverberating whenever he shows us, Elba’s voice is a clear winner. The assured and nurturing inflections from Lupita Nyong’o as the motherly Raksha pull out the emotional centre of the story and go a long way to creating moving results. Giancarlo Esposito has the required feelings of strength and leadership in voicing the head wolf of Akela, while the seductive voice of Scarlett Johansson colours the segment with her as Kaa the snake with a hypnotic impact. Christopher Walken’s distinctive voice is put to excellent use as the gigantic King Louie, with him sounding like something of a dodgy deal maker in the gangster mode and a menacing force. As strange as that combination sounds, it works wonderfully for this creation.

Imaginative, lushly directed and filled with something for everyone, The Jungle Book is a wonderful film in every way. Whether it’s the visuals, cast or the story, every department pulls tether to breathe fresh life into the well-known story and put a new stamp on it. I can’t think of a movie of late that has left me so thrilled and excited to talk about.

Wild Things

Tags

1990's, Bill Murray, Denise Richards, Erotic Thriller, John McNaughton, Kevin Bacon, Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell, Theresa Russell, Thriller, Wild Things

Film Title

Wild Things

Director

John McNaughton

Starring

• Matt Dillon as Sam Lombardo
• Kevin Bacon as Detective Ray Duquette
• Neve Campbell as Suzie Toller
• Denise Richards as Kelly Van Ryan
• Theresa Russell as Sandra Van Ryan
• Bill Murray as Ken Bowden

Trashy, flashy, yet deliciously twisted and entertaining, Wild Things is not exactly going to go down as one of the best thrillers in the genre. But with twists a plenty and curve balls throwing you at every turn, it’s impossible not to be caught up in this sordid and deceptive film even if it is a hell of a guilty pleasure.

Sam Lombardo is a handsome and popular high school counselor trying to climb to the social elite of the paradise that is Blue Bay, Florida. He is lusted after by most women in town who wouldn’t mind a piece of him. One such girl is the bitchy but buxom Kelly Van Ryan, who has her advances rebuffed when she attempts to seduce him after washing his car for a fundraiser. Events take an unexpected turn when Kelly accuses Sam of rape. The once respected counselor’s life is torn to shreds by the accusations as they head to court. And to make matters worse, another student in the form of trailer trash punk Suzie Toller also accuses him of rape. Yet when the case arrives in courts, the real fireworks go off. What initially appears to be an open shut case becomes ever more complicated as Suzie reveals that the girls were lying to get back at Lombardo for dating Kelly’s harridan of a mother Sandra. With the case then apparently settled, everyone tries to go about their lives again. But Inspector Ray Duquette who was assigned to the case when the accusations were made is not so convinced that the case is over and smelling a rat, digs deeper into the sordid case. What he discovers is that no one is what they seem as beautiful but fatal women, multiple motives and double crosses collide in a steamy and seriously twisted game.

Straight off the bat, director John McNaughton gives us simultaneous shots of the murky Everglades and bikini-clad lovelies, to ensnare us into this world of money, lust and suspicion. And McNaughton is not above exploiting the body and pleasures of the flesh for the audience’s desire. I mean some of these scenes play out like something from an adult movie, tinged with a twisty plot thrown in. We have Kelly slinking out of a pool in a tight blue swimsuit, slowly combing her hair and patting herself down in slow motion. A vicious catfight between Suzie and Kelly that leads to a passionate kiss. And not forgetting the infamous menage a trois between Sam, Kelly and Suzie. For all its sleaziness and sometimes ridiculousness, Wild Things is actually quite a deceptive film that does leave you guessing who is telling the truth in a web of lies and lust, that is strangely reminiscent of Noir. It appears that from Wild Things that for all the alligators and snakes that populate the swamps, no creatures are as slimy as those in this movie. The horn and percussive drenched score further brings an erotic and dangerous pulse to the movie.

Considering the sometimes laughable B-movie dialogue on show, the actors at least look like they’re having a blast playing such dangerous and unpredictable characters. Matt Dillon has that smug grin that is called into question by accusations. Yet for all the seemingly pleas, Dillon makes Sam a character who you really aren’t sure whether to root for or hate. Kevin Bacon, who in my opinion can always be relied up to deliver, is great here as the inspector obsessed with busting open the unusual case and getting more than he bargained for. Neve Campbell plays it deceptively cool as the morally complex Suzie, who by turns vulnerable, lonely, strange and very elusive. Denise Richards is never going to go down as a great actress but she is suitably sexy and catty as the blue-blooded sexpot whose accusations set in motion the strange and unpredictable case. Theresa Russell is loose and unrestrained as Kelly’s mother who is prone to fits of rage and diva like antics. But it’s Bill Murray in a small role who has the most fun. As the ambulance-chasing, low-rent lawyer of Sam, Murray has a blast playing this quick-witted and slightly scheming guy.

Sleazy, erotic and dark-hearted, Wild Things is pure guilty pleasure, with a few neat twists thrown in for good measure.