Stephen Dorff stars in director Sofia Coppolas new drama, Somewhere.
Does it recapture the brilliance of Lost In Translation?
Heres Lukes review…
Somewhereopens with a nice, big metaphor.
Seconds later it reappears, flashes past, then disappears again.
And then again, and again, and again.
Its going round in circles, basically.
Okay, thats a little hokey.
ButSomewheredoesnt do hokey at all after that.
In fact, it doesnt do much of anything at all after that.
Its almost as if shes trying not to try.
LikeLost In Translation,Somewheretells the story of a movie star, Stephen Dorffs Johnny Marco.
Although story might be pushing it.
here isnt much to go on here, just a series of things happening.
Johnny has a drink and smokes a cigarette.
Johnny watches two pole dancers perform for his enjoyment.
Johnny goes to an Italian film festival and sleeps around a bit.
And, most importantly, Johnny spends time with his daughter (Elle Fannings Cleo).
Even dialogue is hard to come by in the films opening fifteen minutes.
Well, nothing except that private pole dancing show.
Not even a movie star routine can shift the film into a higher gear.
Coppola simply lets her camera sit there, a passive observer in a silent world.
AndSomewherefeels like eavesdropping on someones life.
Of course, this isnt just any life.
Its Johnny the Movie Stars life.
Coppola tells the same thing more than once.
This is an existence of simply smiling and moving onto the next thing, wherever that may be.
And, incredibly, he takes a cue out of the Joey fromFriendsschool of acting.
This is as much about reacting as it as acting.
Its in keeping with the films tone.
Because even when Fannings Cleo enters the picture, Coppola refuses to makeSomewherewhat you think it will become.
Somewhereis funnier than it is moving, but like Coppolas camera, it lingers longer than you expect.
That sports car opening is more than just a metaphor too.
You keep thinking somethings going to happen there.
Is the car going to veer off?
Is it going to change direction?
Is it going to do anything other than just go round and round?
No, its not.
Its just going to keep doing what its doing.
Coppolas film is exactly the same.
Rating:
3 out of 5
