Lost In Translation

We watched this a few years back, and remember a good film that was a little boring and a little overrated, though with some beautiful moments. Are memories are those of idiots. This is a beautiful film, one of the most important of the decade, a masterpiece, and not far short of the gold standard of perfection.
Now the print is a little old we feel even more isolated, slightly fuzzy, even sometimes slightly surreal in the settings and in the glacial action. The lack of dailogue and, especially early on, the preponderance of care given to shots of the actors faces marks this out as a film of refinement and intelligence. Tokyo is seen as, while of course beautiful, like all cities it can never quite be grasped. The tracking shots over it show as much what CAN'T be thought or said as what can.
The use of the Japanese setting does just about avoid mockery, though needs to be read the right way to do so. The acting is excellent, Johannson's doe eyes being just self-conscious enough not to become annoying.
The film has European cinema elements, the lack of dialogue/ obvious 'action', and the platonic nature of the central relationship. This however remains a Hollywood film, which greatly improves it in this case, for the reason that it sees that what it portrays is not just a connection, but is truly a romance. Often, among the trad. art-house crowd, we would be left wondering why the characters don't even consider romance; here that is tackled, bringing greater intensity and truth to the relationship.
This is an important film because it is the modern view of loneliness, silence, the place in the city, and the blinding, inarticuable, blank clearing of relationships. It is sad and it is uplifting. It is a wondrously good depiction.
Especially the final scenes; some of the finest we have come across in recent cinema. A film we are thoroughly glad we re-watched, and intend on doing so every few years or so.