MovieChat Forums > Lost in Translation (2003) Discussion > Something that stood out on the rewatch

Something that stood out on the rewatch


I had not seen this since shortly after it came out.

I had somehow totally forgotten that the Bill Murray character sleeps with the lounge singer. That adds an interesting wrinkle, as it gets Charlotte jealous (I love the little barbs she aims about how they both "grew up in the 1950s") but also tells us in the audience that it is not because of some kind of unswerving fidelity to his wife that he doesn’t try to sleep with Charlotte.

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Never thought of it that way.

At the time, I just took it for easy sex that he knew would have no consequences. And I still see it that way.

But good point that it has nothing to do with his marriage and therefore everything to do with how "real" his relationship with Charlotte had become for them both.

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That's an *excellent* point. I never thought of that, either, even having seen the film a couple of times. This is truly a movie that rewards repeat viewings, and that's a high compliment.

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Agreed, and thanks.

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I always thought he seemed to regret sleeping with the singer. Not sure if it was the act itself or the fact Charlotte found them together.

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I think you’re right.

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It’s the former. You can see his pained expression when he wakes up and realizes what’s happened, BEFORE Charlotte knocks on the door.

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I got the impression that instead of being jealous, she was judging him for cheating on his wife.

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Interesting, it didn't read that way to me but I'm glad to hear different opinions.

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If that were the case I think she would have brought it up, so I think that was less likely.

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Another spin is that he wanted to sleep with Charlotte but resisted, then while drunk, he took his pent up frustrations on the lounge singer.

Either way, with his inhibitions lowered thanks to alcohol, he withered under the lounge singers advances. Might he have done the same if Charlotte aggressively approached him while he was drunk?

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Good points!

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No, not really.

Charlotte was married, and I think he cared about her, and did not want to mess up her life.

He is not a sex crazed teenager anymore, and he is old, so there is little chance of future between them.

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i always sorta thought Bob didn't want to sleep with Charlotte cause it might actually finish her marriage (to John or w/e he was)
whereas the singer was no consequence to either party

idk but fascinating movie overall

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Yeah. Interesting take.

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