SOMEWHERE B+
USA (97 mi) 2010 d: Sofia
Coppola Somewhere
Movie Trailer Official (HD)
Feeling very much like an autobiographical work, this quirky
expressionistic portrait of aimless characters drifting through the
superficiality and ennui of the ultra rich resonates with the director, whose
millionaire parents had separation issues during the middle of her childhood
sending her into an emotional free for all. From being cast as Candy
Darling in I SHOT ANDY WARHOL (1996), Stephen Dorff shows up here as Johnny
Marco, a man who supposedly has everything money can buy, but hasn’t a clue how
to find love. Instead he lives in an upscale luxury hotel, Chateau
Marmont of West Hollywood, and pays pole dancers to entertain him whenever he’s
bored, or drops into the rooms of seductive single women who give him that look
of availability and interest. Driving a late model Ferrari, he is
accustomed to getting what he wants. When we get a glimpse behind the
veneer, however, we discover his life is really empty and rather
pathetic.
When his 11-year old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) drops by,
they play video games together or sit around the pool while the soundtrack
plays The
Strokes - I'll Try Anything Once (3:18) that includes an underwater
sequence where they pretend to have a tea party, or swim in the pool in their
own private suite, but he barely knows her, not even realizing she’s been
taking ice-skating lessons for the past three years, seen skating beautifully
to Gwen Stefani’s “Cool,” becoming a graceful and attractive young woman.
This reminded me of the opening of John Cassavetes’ Love
Streams (1984), where Cassavetes was sleeping with an entire household of
call girls while regularly drinking multiple bottles of champagne every day,
leading a life of alcoholism and debauchery, taking responsibility for no one,
not even himself, none of which brings him anywhere close to being in
love. For the most part, this is the theme of the film, as Johnny is a
self-indulgent movie star who lives the part of a playboy with women throwing
themselves at him, and these short term flings constitute his life. While
not exactly flamboyant, it’s indulgent as hell, leaving gaping holes where his
reality should be.
Cleo, however, is adorable the way she skips from room to
room, fixes him breakfast in the mornings, twirls around performing ballet
swirls, and is generally a smart, well adjusted girl who’s also used to having
everything handed to her and getting whatever she wants. She’s sweet
natured and fun to be around, but she falls apart when her mom inexplicably
dumps her on Johnny’s doorstep and never indicates when or if she’s coming
back. So he takes her to Italy with him for a press junket promoting a
movie, where they fly first class and get transported by a police escorted stretch
limousine while receiving luxury accommodations in the finest hotels.
You’d think this would be the life, any kid’s dream, but this so much resembles
the sheltered life that she’s used to that it quickly gets tiring, almost
immediately retreating back home. When Johnny takes her in a helicopter
ride after a night playing craps in Las Vegas where they meet a waiting taxicab
to take her to summer camp, it borders on the ridiculous. Some kids just
have all the advantages.
Largely a plotless melancholic mood piece that is a breakout
role for Elle Fanning, it’s like her coming out party, as her fresh energy
really carries the film. While many will call this a trifle, not really
about anything, reality light, or we should have such problems, but Coppola has
a deft hand interspersing small moments of realism with her own sense of
experimentation and pitch perfect Indie music that really does feel unique, as
her use of music is simply outstanding. The film is pretty much what we
see in the two-minute trailer sequence, which is remarkably inventive and
features the best songs from the film. The ensemble acting is genuine,
with Chris Pontius as Johnny’s lifelong friend really standing out, feeling
very much like improvised scenes, while the measured camerawork by Harris
Savides creates an intimate warmth with each character, but the icing on the
cake remains the exquisitely chosen musical selections and the original music
by Phoenix, where over the end credits we hear Love like
a sunset part II by Phoenix Music Video (1:57) and smoke
gets in your eyes,bryan ferry (3:04), unique takes on familiar
themes.
I couldn't agree more on your take here...I was wondering at times why I was bothering being a part of the whole thing only to have Ms. Fanning dance through or add some twist unexpectedly to make it worthwhile to stay. Good start for a fresh talent.
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