Lost In Translation

Sofia Coppola's award-winning Lost in Translation comes to DVD in a wonderful package from Universal Pictures and Focus Features. The film comes in an anamorphic 1.85:1 widescreen picture (a full-screen edition is also available), with full and rich sound options that come in both Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 tracks. Special features on the disc begin with the brilliant "'Lost' on Location" behind-the-scenes documentary. Shot handheld by a small crew during the shoot in Tokyo (including Coppola's husband-at-the-time Spike Jonze), the footage offers a rare inside look at a production that itself seems lost within the same very foreign land as its two main characters. Capturing a few stellar moments between Murray and the crew, the footage is a welcome surprise amidst the hype-driven studio featurettes that too often litter DVDs. Though not quite as solid, the ten-minute conversation with Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola feature does give the viewer a bit more background on the production (which a commentary would have covered if it'd been included), though some will no doubt be looking for more out of the two than an on-the-fly Q & A on a balcony in Rome. Thankfully, the disc isn't done yet, as it continues with the entire clip from Matthew's Best Hit TV show, featuring a hilarious bit with Murray and a box of live eels that needs to be seen to be believed. The music video for Kevin Shields' "City Girl" is also supplied, along with a section of five extended and deleted scenes that serve as a nice complement to the film but offer little else. The original theatrical trailer rounds out the extras on this fine disc.