Week 7

Lost in Translation is a film about two strangers who meet and form a bond... aka fall in love. The two, Charlotte and Bob, meet in Tokyo. Charlotte is a newlywed traveling with her husband for his job and Bob is an actor filming a commercial. Reading the description of the film makes it sound extremely cliche and it really was. I found the trailer to lack any sort of editing and effort to make the story more interesting, I believe I could make a better trailer myself. I didn't feel too engaged with the story and I honestly wasn't too excited to watch it. Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson are two very well-known actors, but this movie is far from being their best. 

Sofia Coppola is known for other movies such as The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette. Her father was also a filmmaker, who was the director of several 80s classics. She has a pretty good reputation in regard to her movies. She also has key characteristics that make her movies her own. Since I am unfamiliar with her other movies, I had to use Shanee Edwards's article to give me some insight on what makes Coppola an auteur director. 

One signature "move" that Coppola has in her films is using wide shots that make the characters small. In the closing scene in Lost in Translation, there is a wide shot of Bob and Charlotte embracing each other in the middle of the sidewalk. Surrounding them is Tokyo carrying on with its business, while the two are seen frozen in time. Another Coppola signature is that she often uses her images to capture emotions rather than words. Another example of this from Lost in Translation was the scene where Charlotte is seen exploring the venue of the press conference her husband is working at. She does not talk much throughout this portion of the movie, but her emotions are expressed through the way she reacts to what she is seeing. What also seems to be a trend within Coppola's films is the young women who are struggling with their relationships. Though recently married, Charlotte isn't sure about her future. On The Rocks is about a married woman living in New York City who is insecure in her marriage and a little suspicious that her husband is having an affair-- the accusation brought on by her father. 

One thing about Coppola's movies is that they are centered around relationships-- whether that be romantic, friendships, father/daughter, etc. Her films are essentially the main character having complicated feelings of some sort, meeting someone new or reuniting with people from their past OR growing with the people they're surrounded with, and ultimately finding the best version of themselves. I'll have to admit, On The Rocks sounds much more interesting than Lost in Translation, and it is arguably similar to it. Plus, Bill Murray finds himself present. 

Although I'm not a fan of Lost in Translation, I do believe Coppola has other work that is great. I've never seen her other films, so I am in no way trying to discredit her. I just dislike cliche cheesy movies and am not afraid to bash them.