Genres

Visitors Review

tomgillespie2002 2012-05-25 00:01:59

A tad pretentious

Perhaps a comment on celebrity culture, and particularly the intangiblegloss as presented by celebrity gossip magazines and television shows,Sofia Coppola has produced a sombre, sparse and vapid portrait of amovie star, Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff), focusing initially on hisvacuous life of parties, women and strange and sycophantic encounterswith the media and empty women who probably make a career out ofshagging celebrities. The only problem with the character initially isthat he is blissfully unaware at how empty his life truly is. That isuntil his ex-wife informs him that she has to go away, and has to leavetheir daughter, Clio (Elle Fanning), in the responsibility of him.The films early scenes function is to present Marco in almost exclusiveisolation. He is visited by women, including twins who seem to visithim for a pole-dancing act. He is constantly framed alone, in regularprotracted shots: in one he is left seated upright withPlaster-of-Paris covering his head (he is having a cast made for amovie role), the camera slowly pans in, his breathing (through noseonly) becoming the only audio, as it increases in intensity.The time spent with his daughter becomes a clearly revolutionary eventin the mans life, and he becomes increasingly dependant on the company.This is not in any way the best that Coppola has produced in her (sofar) good directing career. The fact that she grew up with a famousfather more than likely gives this film some realism. However, it seemsto me to be a bit pretentious. Are we really supposed to care aboutthis guy? Perhaps the Coppola woman should try living a regular life,and perhaps produce a film that doesn't centre on privilege.www.the-wrath-of-blog.blogspot.com

Christopher Null 2012-05-24 07:21:03

Somewhere is intrigued by the fantasy life of Hollywood but is ultimately compelled by how that fantasy reacts with the reality of common life

Josh Larsen 2012-05-24 07:12:42

Coppola manages to capture the unique bond - the precious, platonic romance - that can exist between girls and their dads.

Harry T. Yung 2012-05-23 20:02:13

Another King of California?

"Somewhere", Venice Golden Lion winner, may not be first and foremost afather-and-daughter movie like "King of California". Thefather-and-daughter relationship here is as smooth as the surface of abreezeless lake, harmonious from beginning to end. Rather than beingtempestuous itself, this relationship serve as an anchor in thetempestuous inner sea (although this may not be apparent on thesurface) of Hollywood star Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff).Two early scenes establish clearly what the movie is all about. Beforethe opening credit, one of the main characters of the movie, a blackFerrari, is seen to be making endless circles in an empty desertspeedway, with the driver subsequently revealed as Johnny. "Loneliness"is thereby written full length across the screen (not literally).Another one shows Johnny in a hotel room recovering from a minoraccident, with a cast on his left forearm and wrist, staring at acouple of exotic dancers performing at the end of his bed (perhapscomplementary from the hotel) . You can't find a more deadpan,expressionless face. "Absurdity" is the word that jumps out from thescreen."Somewhere" is very much a piece of sister-work of "Lost intranslation" from Sofia Coppola. Both display a lost soul in a hotel,interacting with a multitude of people but failing to relate in anymeaningful way to any. Johnny in this movie has practically nomeaningful dialogue to speak of (Coppola's script purportedly has only48 pages). The messages here are delivered visually rather thanverbally. Some movies are event-driven, others character-driven."Somewhere" is more like "nothing-driven". We see Johnny, the envy ofmillions for his fame and fortune, in his banal (fame and fortunenotwithstanding) existence between filming, in the celebrated ChâteauMarmont Hotel. Nothing seems to interest him as he drags through hisdays like a nice little boy dutifully following the guidance of his PRpeople. Oh yes, on his own time, there is the almost mandatory sexualpursuits and encounters but he is, sadly, neither really excited norinterested. In a sense, you can call this movie character-driven butnot exactly a character that makes your heart skip a beat.On being event-driven, there is, after all, one event: the unexpectedarrival of his 11-year-old daughter. Cleo (Elle Fanning) is introducedearly on in the movie, on one of her regular (maybe just one day)visits with her father. The estranged mother who brings her appears tobe on friendly terms with Johnny and he returns her dutifully in theevening. While father and daughter get on nicely and affectionately,the visit is brief (a trip to a skating rink where Johnny just sit andwatch) and we see that Johnny does not seem to be aware that Cleo hasbeen having figure skating lessons for 3 years. The real "event" occurswhen Cleo's mother experiences some unspecified marital problems andhas to go away for an undetermined period of time, leaving the care ofher in Johnny's hand. We then get to see how much father and daughterenjoy each other's company as he takes her everywhere, including filmopenings in Italy. As mentioned, the relationship between them isharmonious and loving throughout, a joy and heart-warming to watch.Only when they say goodbye (she is going to a summer camp uncertain ifmother will be home when she returns) that she cried and complains alittle that he never spends enough time with her. While minimalist, theremorse he shows is quietly heart-wrenching. Coppola's casting of Dorff, a long-time acquaintance, is perceptive.Dorff, who once had been compared to the likes of Brad Pitt, has nevergot close to his potentials. While he is nowhere near the status ofJohnny in the movie by any stretch of imagination, the sense of beinglost is similar. His performance vindicates her choice. Elle Fanning cannot be praised enough. "Maybe even better than Dakota"is all that needs to be said. Watch for one particular scene startingwith her having breakfast alone then joined by a woman who has justspent the night with Johnny. Then Johnny joins them. Watch Fanning'seyes in this sequence and you'll see.While most of the movie reflects Sophia Coppola's personal experience,this is not in any way her autobiography. Indeed, having ice-cream ofevery flavour sent to their room in room-service is purportedlysomething from real life. But the huge difference is that unlike JohnnyMarco in the movie, nobody can accuse Francis Ford Coppola of notspending enough time with his daughter. The audience also benefits,from having this exquisite second-generation director.

aneckels 2012-05-21 20:32:00

Sofia Coppola is cold, detached and boring

This movie puts you definitely to sleep. It's like a collection ofshort home videos without a plot, without a real beginning and ending.You cannot possibly write spoilers, because there are no turningpoints, nothing really happens. The characters don't evolve, don'tchange in any way. It seems at the end that something has switchedinside the main character, but it is so obvious and trivial that itcomes at no surprise. Maybe you should watch the movie in reverse toappreciate something more, to get it more interesting. But it isdefinitely NOT interesting. You don't give a damn about the peopleinvolved, about their problems and ordeals. Maybe it's because of theacting, so cold and distant. There is almost no script, it's like adocumentary about episodes in the life of a dumb Hollywood actor, andpretty girls wanting to f**k him everywhere, random encounters withother undefined life forms. His relationships with the world, even withhis wife and daughter are sketched and stereotyped. I think Coppolatried to make an art film a la Truffaut, but ended up with adisconnected bunch of scenes to be edited in some way in order to fillthe time required for a motion picture release. I don't understand howsuch a talented director could end up with such a wreck. I hope shewill recover soon and regain some strength.

Willie Waffle 2012-05-21 10:13:01

You need to pay attention and work a little more than you do during most movies (if you want to be lazy, check out Yogi Bear).

Simon Miraudo 2012-05-19 01:38:23

We often easily overlook a sweet, unassuming and simple film such as this. Coppola, Dorff and Fanning have given us a beautiful gift; 98 minutes of love, real and true.

davish_wulf-1 2012-05-18 18:13:32

Trip to boredom

2 stars for this movie, one for Stephen Dorff, other for Elle Fanning(great acting).I really don't know what school of movie-making Coppola followed, thisis simply boring cinema.Same formula as in Lost in Translation, yet this fails to compete withthat mediocre title. Famous guy is fed up with a shallow life, stays awhile with his neglected daughter, traveling abroad and realizes howempty his life is....A simple story deserves a stronger movie to hold on its own... movielacks direction, momentum and dynamism to capture the audienceattention.Leaving a camera just hanging there in boring scenes just doesn'twork... at least choose the right angles and try to capture the wholescene (stripper's scene hint hint) Watch a few Hitchcock moviesSophia... learn how a master used just one camera, one apartment andmade a jewel out of a simple story ("the Rope") Next

Robert B. Livingston 2012-05-18 10:59:44

This portrayal of tabloid territory reveals subtle, but smothering conflict

I began watching this film knowing nothing about it and with noexpectations. I was pleasantly surprised at the end that this is a filmby Sofia Coppola. Her talent seems to be growing.I was uncomfortable in the beginning of the film which began to revealtidbits in the life of a celebrity actor. Was the slow pace of the filma critical part of the building story, or an easy way to cheat atmaking an "art" film? We are treated to watching the actor, JohnnyMarco, lap his expensive sports car around a track-- and a bit later webecome voyeurs to scenes of him disinterestedly indulging childishfantasies in his apartment (at the Château Marmont Hotel where JohnBelushi died in real life).Oh no! I thought initially. This is going to be a film about sleazyHollywood and Marco will be a caricatured decadent like we expectsomeone like Charlie Sheen to be.Thankfully, Marco (perfectly played by Stephen Dorff, an actor who I'dnever heard of, but who I will make note of henceforth) is not sosimple. He is a red-blooded American guy (with a tattoo that says "Madein the USA") who is attracted to the entertainers that throw themselvesat him, but who also politely claps and goes along, with what I supposeis (a theme echoed in a song later) his disoriented way of "playing thegame." Without being overly obvious, the film describes how theenvironment Marco lives in conspires to embalm him as thoroughly as thegob of plastic used to model a mask in one scene. One discovers quicklythat Marco's life, which dabbles in requisite hedonism, is mostlytedious and empty-- filled with many missed opportunities to connect toothers in a real, alive, and human way.Marco shows himself as a decent character, really, who never goes outof his way to harm himself or anyone. But he is checkmated: by thesounds of his Ferrari, or the helicopter he flies in, and by theinterlopers and requirements of his public persona. There are no humanvillains in this story either. Instead, the film leisurely deconstructsa world in which people play certain roles-- dependent upon culturalnotions about money and fame.The arrival of Marco's daughter Cleo (well played by Elle Fanning)promises a respite from the anomie of his alienated life. She herselfis full of talent and life, but in a subdued, not hyperbolic, way (sheloves to cook, for example). Still it is difficult for father anddaughter to have true intimacy with each other-- the few moments theyget are filled with pedestrian diversions. It comes as a surprise thatthe little girl is as disoriented as her father by the places, events,and people that surround them.There were many moments in this film which could have easily veered offinto clichés-- but thankfully did not. I am so glad that the actornever snorted cocaine, or threw up, or had an angry outburst, forexample. Such junk is regular fare in movies today, and are trite anduninteresting. The movie ended at the right time and on the right notefor this story.Some viewers might need more action, to see more, or need to guess whathappens after the ending. I don't think this is necessary: the filmcompletes a circle of the actor's alienation. The movie is adescription of details... a diary happening to somebody "somewhere".This film was interesting because it exposed what real life might befor a living person with fame and celebrity. Mostly, it seems. it isfilled with appointments, commitments, and images to honor, but alsoinvitations to sloth and living an unexamined life.Except for its easy access to money, such a life may not be so verydifferent from most other peoples' lives. The demands of Capitalism seeto it that social intercourse is kept superficial, despite our naturalhuman instincts needing more. We can find ourselves floating alone in aswimming pool, as consequential as a dead leaf.Marco's life is smoothed over by professionals, but it is suffocating.We see that his daughter is being sent "Somewhere"-- to camp? Or to afuture life not so unlike his own? No wonder her, and then his, heartsbreak. There is no doubt of their love and pride for each other.I am giving this movie 9 stars because it looks undeservedly underratedelsewhere at this time. This film is a poem not an epic. We learnlittle about Marco's working life (we get a glimpse when he tellsanother actor that he never studied; it seems he is simply a natural).This film will reward viewers who give it a chance by not giving upwatching in the first scenes. Dorff and Fanning enlist our sympathy fortheir characters through their understated but convincing acting. It isalso interesting to get a different, and perhaps a more factual,picture of "tabloid territory" than other films offer elsewhere.

ritera1 2012-05-18 01:27:06

Oh Dear Gawd!

Opinion is always relative. Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry.But I believe this is distinctively and markedly bad. I've seen badmovies. Rarely are they bad AND painful. And movies that question thefilmmakers common sense.If you're going to be esoteric and subjective, at least make itinteresting. Do something entertaining. Insightful. At least make anattempt at such.But there was about 10 minutes of story in the first 1.5 hours of thisslow piece of crap. Then the actual story finally began about 10minutes from the end.For those who will brush this off and want to go to this will betreated to a series of very slow and boring scenes of a supposed moviestar and his boring life. No insight into this character and no attemptto do such. How do you possibly make the prospect of being a movie starwho beds several very beautiful women an unattractive prospect? Youdon't even know if you like or hate this guy. He's just a guy.Forget story. Forget perspective. Forget a payoff. It takes forever tobegin and then quickly ends. Endless and dull scenes.Cut. Cut! CUUUUUTTTTT!

Robbie Collin 2012-05-17 07:21:14

Perfectly skewers the Hollywood airhead lifestyle.

Brian Tallerico 2012-05-16 16:40:17

A minimalist mood piece and that mood is the melancholy that comes with the realization that you've accomplished very little of real significance and your daily routine is nothing more than varying cycles of self-fulfillment.

Katey Rich 2012-05-13 05:13:51

Somewhere is a movie for the Sofia Coppola faithful, the ones willing to look through what might seem like myopia to the truth that lies beneath.

Rafer Guzman 2012-05-12 08:37:26

It seems impossible that this heavy-handed, self-serious movie comes from writer-director Sofia Coppola.

vitaleralphlouis 2012-05-12 10:15:30

Boring, pointless, stupid. Whatever!

Sophia Coppola has made one of the most boring films in years,willfully dull, often resorting to replay in order to stretch a 20minute movie into 90 minutes.Stephen Dorff sleepwalks through the role of an airhead (described inthe film as an a--hole) supposedly a high-paid actor who lives at theChâteau Marmott where John Belushi killed himself with drugs a fewyears ago. Dorff mostly flops on his bed and drinks beer, has money tohire twin poll-dancers for a private (boring) dance. He mostly doesnothing until his 13 year old part- time daughter shows up. Then theydo not-much of anything together.The daughter is played by Elle Fanning. Now that Dakota is getting onin years (18 and counting) it's nice to see her kid sister in a movie.BUT...but...poor Elle has nothing to do, per the listless script' andunlike other teens, she's allowed no personality.Not to give the story away, but nothing happens. Dorff takes his kid toVegas and shoots dice. I forgot is they won (as it's been 30 minutessince we saw the movie.) There is very much pointless repetition inthis nothing of a movie. If you believe the empty-heads who gavepositive reviews of this dud, that will be your problem.Poor Elle. At least she has the leading role in the new Spielbergmovie. That should be good.

Joe Morgenstern 2012-05-11 18:40:16

The movie stands on its own terms as a slow-burning drama of life in a Hollywood purgatory where you can not only check out but leave.

circulati 2012-05-09 09:40:23

Failed to draw me in

Very slow movie. But despite the slowness, it fails to create anatmosphere. The various scenes just seem disconnected and random andmaybe that was the point, to suggest that his life is disconnected andrandom, but it just didn't make for a compelling viewing.The thing with movies, is that the audience needs either to relate tothe character (and few people can relate to a Hollywood star), or justfeel for the character (and in this case you need more info as to whatis going in his/her mind and soul). Maybe it was the acting, maybe itwas the script, but until the phone conversation he has towards the endof the movie, I had no idea as to what the hell he was thinking offeeling about his life.I don't know about this one. The theme is pretty much the same as in"Lost in Translation" -- the loneliness of a movie star-- but I thoughtthe characters were sketchy and some scenes just went on for too longafter their message was already clear.

Gary Thompson 2012-05-09 06:26:08

It's about doing things together. The simple act of cooking, eating, lounging, hanging out.

andrewandybruce 2012-05-08 06:36:23

50/50

I don't quite know whether I thought this movie was amazing, or utterlydreadful. Sofia Ford Coppola is a bit of a mixed bag for me. I lovedLost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides, but have found the rest ofher films decidedly average. Somewhere is one of the most frustratinglypretentious films I have ever seen, but it is populated by a trulycaptivating performance from Stephen Dorff. His central character isunlikeable and does not drive the 'narrative' (said loosely) whichbreaks most movie making conventions. However Dorff is so watchable inthis and somehow, sympathetic. The film feels a little flabby and atighter edit would still have been thought provoking and beautiful, aswell as perhaps a little less frustrating. One real bone of contentionwas as to whether Dorff's Johnny Marco has actually learnt anything atthe end. In a normal narrative, Marco would have started out as aterrible, selfish father, who over the course of the film while he isforced to look after his daughter, they form a bond and he realisesthat she is the most important thing in his life, therefore making asacrifice at the end for her happiness. This 'kinda, maybe' happens,although Marco isn't a particularly bad Dad to begin with, so neverreally has a massive leap to make. The end films too understated. Iwanted to see Marco race off and reclaim his daughter after making thatcommitment to her and moving out of the Hotel to lay down roots.Instead though. He abandons his car, which is clearly a metaphoricgesture and implies what i would have like to have seen, but I justwanted that bigger reward as a payoff. Still, I saw this film about 6months ago and Im still thinking about it, which can only be a goodthing, right??

2012-05-07 20:15:20

Style: 10, Character: 0

I really liked Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation & Marie Antoinette; but beyond the impeccable blend of art, music, and atmosphere that is evident in all of Sofia Coppola's films, Somewhere has nothing (but Elle Fanning) going for it. Existential crisis has never been represented in quite so mundane a fashion. Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) just can't muster the energy to live a life mainly because he's reached middle-age without ever really learning anything about life, let alone how to live. He has no experience of the world (except the Hollywood experience) and he hasn't imagination enough to imagine an alternative existence to the one that's been handed to him. Without someone (a wife, a director, an agent) telling him what to do, he does nothing. This is probably what life feels like to someone who has never read a book, only scripts. There is one very funny scene involving twin-sister hookers in tennis outfits doing a dance routine on stripper poles, but this happens fairly early on. The rest of the ride is pretty dull. Elle Fanning as Cleo, the daughter, makes the film watchable, and makes Johhny's life somewhat more tolerable, but she's not given much to do either (except play Wii, cook, and swim). She's basically there as a symbol of innocence and/or enthusiasm lost. But really Johnny Marco isn't really lost, he appears as if he's just never really found anything that interests him. He's a cipher. Even to himself. The soundtrack is a tremendous asset but as good as the music is, its not really serving any purpose. Indie film, indie music....it all just seems kind of redundant.I guess you could say that this is a political film if you read this character as an indictment of Hollywood, America, the west....that's quite possible...but its also equally possible that this is Sofia Coppola's version of cool.