I'm so sick of hearing this

Yeah, man. I'm with you.

I think the reason people keep reiterating that statement is because of factors extraneous to the film itself. They are actually annoyed by the trends in Hollywood which stop actress' careers after they hit their mid-thirties, but allow actors to play romantic leads into their twilight years. These people are right: there's a lot of sexism in Hollywood. On a systemic basis, it's an issue that should be dealt with and will, hopefully, change.

But, on an individual level, there's nothing wrong with telling the story of a May-December romance. Lost in Translation showed us an amazing connection and shining bond between two people in unusual circumstances. Harold and Maude is a rare role reversal of the same old-young paring.

People who complain are probably really angry or irked by "the system", and have allowed their judgement of Lost in Translation to be affected by that (external) reality.

Brilliant post OP, I completely agree.

x

I totally agree with you. Age has very little to do with a successful relationship and a sense of humour is sometimes more of a virtue than good looks. You can find your soulmate in the strangest of places.

I feel this way as well. This movie shows a relationship that most people will never experience. You can see they were even confused by what they shared. It is not a relationship about lust. They are both at such different times in their lives, but are both feeling unfulfilled. Both starting out in new territories. It is beautiful that being in Tokyo at this one specific time they can open up to each other. They grow and learn and grow from each other, and know they will never find this kind of relationship again. That is what makes the end so sweet. They know all of this and they let it go.

Re "2)," I don't.

This is just how shallow and stupid people are now. It's completely predictable that twits would be out here saying this ("50-year-old ugly guy, etc."). To paraphrase from the New Testament, "The shallow and stupid we always have with us."

They connected on a deeper level

That can happen with any person of any age in the strangest most unexpected place.

Well I guess so. However, they could have picked a better actor than acne faced Bill Murray. As well as someone who can really act and not some hipster icon.