Somewhere
- Title: Somewhere
- IMDB: link
Slow-paced, and deeply personal, writer/director Sofia Coppola‘s latest project isn’t for everyone, but it suits me fine. This semi-autobiographical, intimate look at a young daughter’s relationship to her celebrity father opens with fifteen minutes (of the films 96 minute running time) without any dialogue. American audiences may well struggle with the very old school European style of storytelling, but if you have the patience Somewhere has much to share.
Stephen Dorff stars as Hollywood star Johnny Marco. Johnny’s life consists mainly of making movies, attending press conferences, living out of a hotel (the Chateau Marmont, where much of the film was shot), paying strippers (Kristina and Karissa Shannon) to perform in his home, hosting parties, sleeping with a variety of sexy strangers, and spending time with his pre-teen daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning). Every detail of Johnny’s professional life is planned by an unseen voice over the phone (Amanda Anka) telling him when and where he’s needed, and his personal life consists mostly of waiting for his next set of instructions.
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For a historical perspective almost every choice is head-scratching. Kirsten Dunst in the lead role? A supporting cast featuring the likes of Rip Torn, Molly Shannon, and modern pop music? Many thought Marie Antoinette was going to be a disaster. Well, let me tell you a little secret for those of you thinking Sofia Coppola was ready to stumble with her third film. Not only does Marie Antoinette not fail, but Coppola produces one of the most original films of the year, in fact of our time. Is it a traditional historical perspective? No, it’s something much more interesting, that defies all expectations, and leaves us wondering if Kirsten Dunst might actually have given the best performance in films this year.
