Somewhere
Reviewed by James Cheetham
As an avid fan of Lost in Translation, I knew I was going to love this film. And while I can’t quite decide whether Somewhere topped it, I know that I definitely developed a deep fascination with it.
Sofia Coppola’s latest is rife in a quiet brilliant beauty that instils every single frame with a certain elegance. Whether this is an elegance of innocence, hope, self-destruction or sleaze, it spills from the screens as the camera slowly crawls through the life of fictional A-list celebrity Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) and his 11 year-old visiting daughter (Elle Fanning).
The two central performances are tone perfect. Dorff creates a living crack that allows you to peak into the downside of a hedonistic-led life, and Elle Fanning juxtaposes his performance with a shy confidence that hides a pre-pubescent tirade of emotions and hormones soon to come.
Coppola sticks to what she knows and doesn’t try to develop a different style just for the sake of it. Somewhere has the same meandering essence that Lost in Translation was soaked in, but it works for the development of the characters and the slow moving plot, resulting in a strong sense of alignment between the characters and the viewer . This is put to good use within the moments of drama, and while not frequent, when they happen they become wonderfully intimate and hypnotic moments that showcase the talents of Coppola.
If you like your films slow-moving yet immensely satisfying, Somewhere is a must-see. An accomplished piece of cinema that calls for further viewings and satiates a hunger within cinephiles such as myself who will find themselves calling for further Sofia Coppola films to be brought into creation.
5/5
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