Review: Somewhere

Somewhere
Dir. Sofia Coppola
Year: 2010
Aus Rating: M
Running Time: 97mins

What can one make of Sofia Coppola and Somewhere? Many will criticise her for yet again making a wistful movie about rich and privileged folk, just like Marie Antoinette and Lost in Translation before, filled with beautiful people who have a penchant for staring out of windows as breezy indie pop wails on the soundtrack. And while it can’t be denied that Somewhere (Coppola’s fourth film) is similar in structure to Lost in Translation; there is a striking patience within it and a modern poeticism about it that allows it to cast its own unique beguiling spell.

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I simply adored this movie. I need to see it again, but right now it sits just below Lost in Translation as my favourite Coppola, but could easily rise. It has an even more bittersweet quality to it than Translation. So my delicate and beautifully help moments. How about that face mask scene? Or the long pan out of Dorff and Fanning beside the pool? Or those final shots of the car? That opening sequence, too, is one of the most - and I use this word in the review - patient ones I can recall of recent films. All but daring people to decide straight away whether they're going to stick with it for not bother.

I mentioned during my Design of a Decade series of decade round-ups that Sofia's "soundtracks have become events in themselves", and Somewhere is a really interesting one. Less floaty indie pop and more mainstream flare. Where else could you ever expect to hear Gwen Stefani's lush "Cool" (with those silky smooth "coo-coo" parts) next to Phoenix's brilliant paean "Love Like the Sunset Part II" next to Bryan Ferry's "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" next to Amerie's "1 Thing"? Excellent stuff yet again, although perhaps not as far-reaching. And, really, points do get deducted for having The Police on there. For shame, Sofia! For shame... A-

Somewhere Stephen Dorff is Lounging in His Jocks Just For Me

I had the good fortune to catch Sofia Coppola's Somewhere last week and while a review will be coming some time closer to its local release date (Boxing Day if I am recalling correctly), I was definitely a fan. There are plenty of moments within the film, lensed very dreamily by Harris Savides, where Stephen Dorff, playing movie star Johnny Marco, struts around with his shirt off and they're all very nice. There is, however, one scene where, while obviously still ripped, I noticed Dorff's character shows the strain of age with a growing beer gut (it's still sexy, what can I say).

I say "Dorff's character" because it's quite obvious that Dorff himself has absolutely no such issues. In fact, if this photo shoot from VMan magazine says anything it's that he puts many of his younger acting brothers to shame. It's almost disconcerting to see these picture and realise how much work must go into it. Hopefully once Somewhere gets seen by more people Dorff will have less free time to spend at the gym? Please?

"Oh, hi there. I didn't see you there. Let me casually put some clothes on... or not."

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Somewhere...There's a Place for Us

Do you think that the West Side Story song "Somewhere" was a lead off point for the title of Sofia Coppola's new film, Somewhere. Since the film is about a wayward movie star and the daughter he didn't know he had who discover each other at the Chateau Marmont in Hollywood the case could definitely be made that that lyric of "Somewhere, there's a place for us" could directly relate to this movie. Their life revolves around the hotel, as if it's a place just for them.

I really shouldn't ask that sort of stuff since nobody has seen the movie and I could be going in the entirely wrong direction with it.

Nevertheless, the poster for Somewhere has just been released and I like it as I do every poster for a Sofia Coppola film. She always fills her posters with beguiling plays of light (The Virgin Suicides), interesting juxtapositions (Lost in Translation) or big bold colours (Marie Antoinette). The poster for Somewhere feels like a mash-up of all three with its bright colours, creative framing and its wonderful sunny vibe. Take a look.


You know, I am constantly banging on and on about these movie posters that have all of this big space on a canvas and can't think of anything to put on it except for white nothingness. This poster could have very easily fallen into that camp, having Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning on their sunbathing chairs in the corner surrounded by nothing but empty white space, the title in the middle and 80% of the design would be of nothing. That's not a movie poster to me - although there are circumstances where it does work - it just strikes me as boring and a bit lazy.

This poster isn't exactly all that creative, but I appreciate that they actually used the entire space of their poster and filled it with an image that not only represents the film, but allows audiences a bit of mystery and is something that will capture the eye due to its colourful nature. It almost looks like a picture you might see in a fashion editorial, which certainly makes sense since Sofia's film is about an empty Hollywood actor who lives at the Chateau Marmont, which, from all the stories we've heard about it lately, seems to be the epicentre of brainless Hollywood hipsters.

I love that the Chateau is being treated as the third star of the film. Very much like how New York City was always the fifth star of Sex and the City. I am loving how it rises up in the background like an imposing, but disarmingly sunny, figure behind all of that beautiful plant life. There's just something so entrancing about this poster. It definitely makes me want to investigate the movie, and there's not much more I can ask for.