The Film
If one of your main actors lists the movie Jackass on his resume, can it really be that good? And no, we're not even talking about Johnny Knoxville.
Actually Chris "Party Boy" Pontius is really just a blip in Somewhere, but still manages to hold his own against stars Stephen Dorff and Elle Fanning. Really, the acting doesn't seem to be a problem here. It's that Sofia Coppola's Somewhere kind of goes nowhere -- and takes a painfully long time to get there.
Dorff plays worldwide action star Johnny Marco. He seems to have a busy schedule of fast cars, dueling pole dancers, smoking cigarettes, the occasional press conference, and seeing naked chicks hanging around the halls of the Chateau Marmont. However, all of that gets interrupted when his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Fanning) comes for an extended stay.
The connection between father and daughter is truly touching. However, Coppola really asks a lot for very little in return. Every scene drags out on end, usually in silence. Johnny smokes cigarettes, watches strippers, watches Cleo ice skate, gets a plaster mold of his face, and goes swimming. It's a good thing we didn't catch him on laundry day.
With so much time to kill, it's a shame that Johnny isn't fleshed out a bit more. Besides the womanizing, he doesn't seem like such a bad guy. After all, he's good looking and seems to like his kid. However, if his text messages are any type of window into his personality, he could be a serious douche. The problem is that you never really get to make your own assumptions because, in 98 minutes, you don't get to know Johnny all that well.
There really seems to be a story hidden somewhere in Somewhere. It just spends too much of its energy being artsy and not enough on actually telling that story.
Think there's a little more to this movie? Check out Beth McCabe's theatrical review of Somewhere.
The Picture
Coppola has a flare for the dramatic, which does come across nicely here. The intentionally gritty image may bother some viewers, but actually lends to the film's tone and subject matter. Details are inconsistent, which is most noticeable in Dorff's facial hair throughout the movie. Just know that when it's good, you'll see the difference. That said, the black levels are disappointing, but some of the colors do have a nice pop, especially during the trip the Italy.
The Sound
Somewhere is a quiet movie. Many of the scenes feature little to no dialogue. However, when that dialogue does pop up, you'll want to listen up, since the DTS-HD Master Audio pushes it through ever so softly. Just when you start feeling the mellow that is this front-heavy track, the ambient sounds will appear -- and some of them are quite loud. Revving car engines, casinos, and a helicopter will all wake you up in between some of the silent moments. There is also a nice indie soundtrack, which is dominated by the band Phoenix.
The Extras
Indie fans will be bummed to find just one lone piece here. At 17 minutes, this making-of short offers little insight into the film's actual production. It does feature a few monotone interviews sprinkled into scenes from the production. Overall though, the featurette is almost as silent as the movie. It's as if someone left a camera running and they decided to slap it on as an extra.
Final Thoughts
Somewhere walks into familiar territory. However, instead of taking that premise in a unique direction, it pulls up a chair, makes itself a sandwich, and tries to pass the whole thing off as art. Dorff and Fanning do make a winning pair. It's just a shame that this movie is such a loser.
Product Details
Where to Buy:
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Video | |
| Audio | |
| Movie | |
| Extras |
