Review of Somewhere (2010) by Andy S — 06 Apr 2012

Sofia has made a film that contain no narrative what-so-ever. Call it a reality film if you will.. that's not a documentary, but also in no way a narrative. Now.. how do you make it interesting? The point of this film is that it lacks narrative, that it lacks any appeal, that it lacks a soul. We watch as an empty movie star celebrity (with Brad Pitt type popularity) realizes that his life is worthless. Who can he trust? Who can he have a real relationship with? Sure all the freebies that go with celebrity are amazing, mostly the free tail wherever and whenever he wants it, but it still leaves him empty. Once he must participate in his daughters life (who he does not live with normally) he finally sees a spark of something that makes him begin to realize his life might not be so great.

Sofia does a magnificent job of creating Johnny Marco's empty existence. This guy is literally trapped in his celebrity. We feel his prison. With a very slow pace and take that go on past the comfortable "time limit" Sofia uses the film mechanics to further connect the viewer to Johnny's separation from the world. While it works against a typical movie going experience (some people will be very bored) it works wonderfully for the purpose of the film. This is a "mood" film, if you will. Maybe even an experience of being there moment that propels the main character to an eventual rejection of it.