Review of Somewhere (2010) by Spencer S — 16 Dec 2011

Sofia Coppola has this impressive depth regarding lifelessness and the emptiness in her films. Much of this film does nothing revolutionary or new, but is still a beatific example of mirroring fame and the consequences.

That said, it didn't always work. A lot of this feels like a badly drawn copy of Lost in Translation. Both deals with the nothingness of fame, a girl changes everything they previously thought, and both have the airiness of a home movie.

Every scene between our main character and his daughter (Fanning) feel unrehearsed, sincere, and maybe even extemporaneous. Dotting the same scenes of solitude and bright flash bulbs that Translation honed so perfectly, was a lot of cameos.

This includes a strangely long set of scenes with Chris Pontius, I think playing himself, and a quick shot of Benicio Del Toro. It also features Michelle Monaghan, Eliza Coupe from Happy Endings, and Ellie Kemper of The Office.

Everyone kind of feels misplaced and awkward in accordance with this film, and besides the two stars everyone else feels queer. Stephen Dorff, who is apparently famous, gives a great performance. There isn't very much of a plot, and what does happen has no motivation at all.

Elle Fanning, who again portrays the daughter, just kind of shows up in the last hour of the film, and what she gives isn't all too spectacular. The scenes where Dorff is trying to reconnect with Fanning by giving her gifts, playing with her in the pool, and letting her follow him around to see what fame really buys you was pleasant enough.

I'm not sure whether this is supposed to show us a contrast between his life with her opposed to alone, or if this film is about them reconnecting and never losing what you hold most dear. There wasn't much to discern from this, like Translation, but at least that ended on a note of hope and mystery.

This one is abrupt and that last scene, which is supposed to be full of existential meaning, feels hollow and contrived. It's a beautiful film, as long as there aren't people around to ruin it.