Movie Review: Somewhere

Elle Fanning in Somewhere. Photo / Supplied

Rating: 3.5/5
Verdict: Lost in Los Angeles.

Languid, melancholic, and perceptive, writer and director Sofia Coppola draws on her own experiences of movie-making and celebrity in this well-observed portrait of Hollywood's rich, famous, and lost.

The themes and tone of Somewhere are similar to Coppola's award-winning Lost in Translation, but this time the setting is Los Angeles, and it's a father/daughter relationship that helps burnt-out actor Johnny Marco (Dorff) reconnect with himself and the world around him.

Set in the trendy Chateau Marmont hotel on Sunset Boulevard, Somewhere is filled with the crazy kind of Hollywood antics that could be mistaken for urban myths - sex constantly on offer, pole dancing twins, uppers and downers and luxury junkets. It might sound like a cliche, but in Coppola's hands it has an air of authenticity, as if she's seen it for real.

The handheld (steady by the way, not jerky) fly-on-the wall approach manages to be both intimate and detached, and along with the wry humour is what makes this all feel plausible. Johnny lives the high life, but between shooting films it's not a fast life, and Coppola is happy to let the pace of the film reflect this. Though there is an exciting press trip to Italy and parties to attend, there are also plenty of simple scenes emphasising Johnny's boredom as he fritters the days away beside the pool, or cruises the streets in his Ferrari.

But what makes this film believable - the deadpan acting and realness of the filming - also makes it a frustrating watch. Not a lot of this action actually leads anywhere, so while it highlights the emptiness of Johnny's life and the absurdities of celebrity, it also borders on indulgence.

We can also see from a long way out where the answer to his identity crisis will come from, his 11-year-old daughter Cleo, played by Dakota Fanning's younger sister, the equally talented Elle. Mature, intelligent and seemingly normal, Cleo becomes her dad's hotel buddy after her mum, who is separated from Johnny, unexpectedly drops her off for an indefinite period of time.

Dorff and Fanning work well together, and their budding relationship brings a whimsy and sweetness which adds a much-needed emotional heartbeat. With minimal camera movement and dialogue, Somewhere does require patience, but it also comes with the Coppola "cool", a sense of style, fashion and music that keeps you interested.

LOWDOWN
Cast: Elle Fanning, Stephen Dorff
Director: Sofia Coppola
Running time: 98 mins
Rating: M (Sex scenes/offensive language)

-TimeOut