Somewhere
By Michael Brown at 8 December, 2010, 5:30 pm
Lifestyles of the rich and the famous, sang pop-punk rockers Good Charlotte, they’re always complaining.
And in Somewhere, the latest effort from director Sophia Coppola, we are presented with a languid moan by a member of Hollywood royalty about how hard life can be for an overpaid, overrated and oversexed movie star.
Actor Johnny Marco (Blade’s Stephen Dorff) drinks, parties and womanises to alleviate bordom between blockbusters, while being only an occassional father to 11-year-old Cleo (Dakota Fanning’s younger sister Elle).
But when Cleo’s mother dumps her on the doorstep of Johnny’s luxury hotel room residence and skips town, he’s forced to try and reconcile the youngster into his vapid world.
If that doesn’t immediately have you reaching for the hankies then don’t worry, that probably just means you live in the real world.
At a time when thousands are facing unemployment and everyone else is tightening their belts it’s not 100 percent clear why the audience should feel sorry for such a privileged playboy.
Yes, Marco is a man isolated by his own success and yes, a father turning his life round and taking his daughter to camp might be relatable – but not when he makes that supposedly emotional journey in a Ferrari and helicopter.
That sense of disconnection only serves to alienate the viewer, and when coupled to some rather inexplicable directing choices – the opening two minute sports car in desert shot and repeated, overly clinical pole dancing scenes stand out – could leave you both bored and slightly angry.
In fairness the warning signs that something might be amiss are there even before you enter the cinema.
When the first three names on your cast list are Stephen Dorff, Jackass’ Chris Pontius and one of the Fannings you know you’re in trouble.
Saying that, if anyone comes out of this with any credit it has to be the miss-cast youngster.
Though she’s 12, playing 11, Elle Fanning seems too old for the role, and someone like Chloe Moretz might have been better suited, but she shows enough promise to suggest she’ll avoid the “lovable poppet” roles which until recently were the staple of her elder sibling.
Undoubtedly Somewhere is, like the director’s previous film Lost in Translation, something of a Marmite affair – and while the critics at Venice clearly loved it, it’s difficult to see that anyone outside of the Hollywood sphere will ever connect with it’s characters enough to really care.
Compared to the usual kiddie fodder that’s in multiplexes at this time of year Somewhere is certainly something different, but at the end of the day that doesn’t necessarily mean your money wouldn’t be better spent on a ticket for Harry Potter.
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Trailer
Like your analysis. I am refinancing my mortgage. There are so many companies and it’s so difficult to decide. I went to reliance first capital because it has an office near my house. I guess many people are doing just that.