SOMEWHERE

In this rather aimless and at times seemingly empty movie the only thing that redeems itself in Sofia Coppola’s fourth self-indulgent feature film is the Chateau Marmont.  This infamous West Hollywood Hotel has had a stud-studded clientele over its 80 years with the likes of Vivien Leigh, Greta Garbo, Montgomery Clift residing there; Judy Garland sang there, James Dean auditioned there and Helmut Newton (& John Belushi) died there.  Now it is less glamour and more clamor as C List celebrities such as the likes of Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton inhabit the place. 

In ‘Somewhere’ the Chateau is the home to a highly successful, but totally bored, movie star Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) who’s life is seemingly going around in pointless circles (Ms Coppola has him driving his Porsche around in a circuit for an insufferable amount of time to ensure we get the point).  Even the blonde twin pole dancers who give him a private show in his Suite won’t impregnate his lethargy.

And then his ex-wife drops off their 11 year daughter Cleo (Ellie Fanning, Dakota’s younger sister) for Johnny to take care off whilst she ups sticks and disappears from their lives.  Johnny doesn’t change his routines, the most of which are dictated to him by a series of PR girls who manage his life, and he just tags Cleo along regardless of how suitable they may be for a young child.  It’s her presence in his life that makes Johnny realize how very unhappy he is with his life, and that he simply must change, even if that means leaving the safety of the four walls of his Château M suite.

There is not much to the story beyond that.  Miss Copolla’s Johnny is very depressed and they way that she ensures she gets this through to us is use and excessive amount overly long single shots with very little dialogue that leave us feeling equally depressed as Johnny.

The young Ms Fanning puts in a great performance even though there is no real chemistry between her and her father. Stephen Doff was a very convincing depressed man.  Beyond that, the movie did make me want to actually now stay/visit the Château for myself.  That and avoid Ms Coppola’s future movies. ‘Lost Translation’ was interesting but I have the sneaking suspicion that was her peak, and I certainly do not share the exaggerated opinions of the many critics who think she is the best thing since sliced bread!  Far from it.