MovieChat Forums > Lost in Translation (2003) Discussion > Anna Faris is how rest of the world sees...

Anna Faris is how rest of the world sees americans.

posted 9 years ago by Obeylovesmovies
20 replies | jump to latest

I think that was the directors intention to show americans what they look like to the rest of the world. She is a complete stereotype of a superficial, loud, fake, arrogant, shallow, uneducated american girl. That is exactly what the rest of the world pictures in their head when they think of americans. Of course not everybody in america is like her , it was clearly a caricatyre, but sadly not that far away from the truth.

Digital makes the perfect art, but 0's and 1's don't break my heart.

[–] chilone 9 years ago

That is exactly what the rest of the world pictures in their head when they think of Americans.

Wow! Who knew that you were the spokesperson for the rest of the world?!?!?

I don't love her.. She kicked me in the face!!

[–] WhenGreyjoysCry 9 years ago

Exactly. And the sentiment varies by country, region, and individual and covers the spectrum from adoration to loathing. There is no single prevailing opinion on America, or Americans.

[–] CapnKaos 9 years ago

Actually it was supposed to be a caricature of Cameron Diaz.

The rest of what you wrote there doesn't seem to apply to Americans in general at least not where LIT is concerned.

[–] Obeylovesmovies 9 years ago

Well Cameron Diaz is american so... But like i said not everybody in america is like her. There are some smart americans as well. Usually they are musicians and artists who have seen the rest of the world and realized how twisted american culture actually is. They have been outside of the box sort of speak.

Digital makes the perfect art, but 0's and 1's don't break my heart.

[–] CapnKaos 9 years ago

Yes and Cameron Diaz is also a woman as is Anna Faris. Do you mean to tell me that all foreigners will automatically think that every American woman acts the same way because of them? It's a good thing that there aren't any other American women in that film or others that portray American women in a better light... oh wait... there is.

You miss the point of the character in trying to fit her into a larger narrative. She's a ditzy & bubbly blonde that we've all known and met at some point in our lives. Popular consensus, and even Cameron Diaz herself, see her as a large middle finger to Ms Diaz. Sophia denies this but who's to say who she's actually based on.

But to go from that to, "this is how all foreigners see Americans" I think you haven't met many foreigners in your time.

[–] CromeRose 8 years ago

They have been outside of the box sort of speak.

It's 'so to speak' not 'sort of speak' - and judging from your opening post and your above quoted reply to someone else, you, quite obviously, have never been 'outside of the box' - oh, and by the way, the correct phrase for that is 'outside the box'. Anna Faris does a great caricature of Cameron Diaz in this movie (and Diaz is a caricature in and of herself) - which is to say that Faris plays the perfect ham actress, which is what Diaz actually is, and yes, there are a lot of women like this in America, and also a lot of dick dudes like Ribisi plays in the movie. But there are also a lot of women in America that are like Scarlett's character in the movie too, so why not mention that? But I know you focused on the Faris character because she's bubbly and ditzy and just really catches the eye. There are tons of Japanese people who are so like the ones portrayed in this movie, especially that zany TV show host, but that's not all Japanese, just like the Faris character is not all Americans or American women. For you to say that 'the rest of the world' thinks this, well, let me quote another character from another movie:
Well that's just silly. Do you know the rest of the world?

[–] holchie 9 years ago

If you think the "rest of the world" thinks that is what Americans (with a capital A) are really like, you are ignorant of "the rest of the world." I wouldn't try to speak for the "rest of the world," actually, because that is a rather big responsibility, wouldn't you say? I actually know, in person, some people from "the rest of the world," and they are somewhat intelligent, and I'm pretty darned sure that they know that one personality in a movie does not depict the entire population of America. If you are correct, and pardon me if you are, then you are saying "the rest of the world" are naïve, uninformed, prejudiced and ignorant. How not nice of you.

[–] rachaelov 9 years ago

Nah, its true; its how many people think of Americans - as narcissistic and shallow, all about surface while thinking they are deep. Having been to the US many times, its not difficult to find these people everywhere, and they are very very American, and very visible. While they are a stereotype, of course, as is this woman in the film, they do exist in their millions, and are projected as cool (watch CSI Miami/Sex in the City or something). As representatives of America and American culture - they are not of course like most Americans - but they seem to be held up as an aspiration, and so unfortunately they do represent Americans to a degree in peoples minds around the world.

[–] eambuckeye 9 years ago

I haven't found that to be true, at all. Of course, I have only traveled Asia, but have met many fellow travellers from Holland, Germany, Morocco, Australia, and Switzerland, to name a few, and none seemed to hold that opinion. I think you gove non Americans too little credit, they seem to be intelligent to the point of not giving much consideration to stereotypes.

Formerly Briongloid, member since 2004

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] cbfan41 8 years ago

All depends when and where you are. I found Americans are better believed in Asian countries then they are in Europe where they just trash the place. I agree though I tried to stay away from my fellow countrymen when I traveled abroad. Then again I kind of avoid my fellow countrymen at home too. My wife and I have a wonderful circle of family and friends that are a positive influence on our children and the community we live in is pretty "normal". But really we try to venture outside of our little circle/community. People are just bleeping crazy now. I mean have you seen our two presidential candidates. I mean...really?!?!? WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[–] nocakeforyou 9 years ago

So much salt in this thread, lol... I'm American and I agree with you. Half the people I see around me are just like her. That's why I seek out the more valuable people to be friends with.

[–] psmithyyyyy 9 years ago

I can believe this lol, she was so vapid in this movie and they couldnt have picked a better actress to portay such a person. Look at faris' other roles, she IS that blonde bimbo you see in movies.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] theater_dreamer 9 years ago

It's caricature, just an fyi. 

I agree with the basic thought process behind your post, but I'll take it a step further. Anna's "Kelly" character, coupled with John's other friends, are an indictment of what America has become as a whole. It's not just how foreigners see us, it's indicative of where we are going as a society. As a culture, we have become, for lack of a better term, "dumbed down". We're increasingly infatuated with reality television. Our social skills are worsening because we spend in an inordinate amount of time with our noses buried in our smart phones, or tablets. I would wager that Americans today read fewer books now than ever before. When I look at how our language is dying, I cringe. And look at the Republican nominee for the Presidency; forget the growing frustration that many Americans have with out elected officials. That, at least, is understandable. That so many people have decided to respond to this unrest by supporting a misogynistic, xenophobic megalomaniac...is frightening beyond words. That's not meant to infer that all Americans are like these people. But an increasing portion of our population are ignorant; they spend their days (and nights) engaged in the kind of banal interplay we see in the bar.

I loved Lost in Translation the first time I saw it. My fondness for the film has only grown over time, with subsequent viewings.

Never for the sake of peace and quiet deny your convictions-Dag Hammarskjold

[–] jjmn 8 years ago

What a load of BS.

[–] JukeBox-Bill 8 years ago

I always thought that the character of Ana Faris was introduced as a an opposite of Charlotte (the intellectual type)and to emphasise the mismatch between Charlotte and her husband. Her husband seemed to like Kelly (Ana Faris) and the dude (which was as shallow as Kelly) at the table in the bar when they discussed the anorexia problem of Kelly.

Nothing to do with the portration of Americans to the rest of the world. I'm Dutch and when I was on holidays in the U.S. I met both very shallow and very intellectual people, just like everywhere else.

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