ViewGuide

Created Nov 04, 2011 10:15AM PST • Edited Nov 04, 2011 10:17AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   In the atmospheric film Somewhere, Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is a successful actor, living a lifestyle of self-indulgence, replete with hard drinking, parties, hookers, and fast cars. When his 11 year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) begins to visit him, he searches for a way to balance his life-style with caring for his child, leading to a soul-searching introspection that may forever change his values.

   Sophia Coppola wrote and directed this moody piece, telling an oft-told tale of celebrity excess through a minimalist use of traditional plot devices. While slow and methodical, the movie does posses an alluring quality that makes you want to see it through to its conclusion. Utilizing the famous Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood as the main set, only heightens the sense of excesses that Marco lives daily. Famous for its dizzying array of celebrity parties and deaths, as well as for its beautiful architecture, the Marmont is a perfect setting for a film about the balance of excess and love.

   While not quite on the same level as Lost in Translation, Coppola has managed to make an intriguing film that rewards viewers with rich cinematic imagery and a understated exposition on values. Ok, but not enough zip to elevate it to anything better.

4. Acting

   OK 2.5

5. Male Stars OK 2.5

   Dorff is oddly likeable in the film, doing a good job of portraying a man who has everything, but is still missing something.

6. Female Stars Good 3.0

   Elle Fanning gives a solid performance as the tween who is used to the life of luxury, but is also seeking her father’s love. Her high mark for me comes from her believable ice-skating performance in the film, in a poignant moment when her father seems oblivious to the natural beauty in front of him.

7. Female Costars Barely OK 2.0

   A bevy of women play small roles in Marco’s life, including twin exotic dancers, various movie starlets and women form his past. None of them really factor much into the story, nor do they have developed characters.

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

   Chris Pontius seems to play a lesser version of the person he is on Jackass, portraying the friend who is along for the party-ride.

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction OK 2.5

    Sophia Coppola enjoys using non-traditional cinema pacing, and instead relies of the environment the characters are in to help tell the story and create the mood. It’s not for everyone’s liking, and certainly takes some getting used to for those who prefer the straight-ahead, traditional Hollywood stories. But for those who can enjoy what she is trying to accomplish, it’s rewarding to some degree.

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

    Again, the use of prolonged shots, coupled with minimalist dialogue at times can be discouraging for some.

13. Music OK 2.5

14. Visuals Good 3.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.9

17. Sex Erotic 2.6

    Some mild nudity, along with prolonged scenes of twins doing pole dancing.

18. Violence Gentle 1.0

19. Rudeness Salty 2.1

    Not over-the-top, but there are some cases of swearing. This wouldn’t be a movie kids “get” anyway.

21. Reality

    Natural 1.0

22. Circumstantial Natural 1.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0