Somewhere

After venturing through a series of alternative and thought provoking films such as The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola once again turns to a story of hidden depth that challenges conventional notions of cinema and presents Hollywood itself in a new light.

Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is a famous Hollywood movie star who abundantly takes advantage of all that his luxurious life can afford, from hired pole dancers to endless supplies of drugs. Even so, Johnny finds himself questioning the foundations of his superficial existence as he increasingly tries to attain meaning within his life. Helping and hindering matters is his eleven-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning), whose presence both calms Johnny and emphasizes his lack of direction. As father and daughter spend their days together in the whirlwind of Hollywood, Johnny questions the true purpose of life itself.

Coppola’s realist directing style will often make you forget you’re watching a fictitious story as opposed to a documentary film. Nevertheless, those who venture to the cinema unafraid of a challenge will be rewarded. Coppola is a master at bringing out the comic subtleties of life that we often miss on a daily basis, and invites us to laugh at the ridiculousness of the Hollywood lifestyle we all envy. Stephen Dorff’s performance adds to this satire perfectly; a rare example of interiority nowadays, his downcast manner and nuanced gestures speak volumes, complimenting the film’s minimal dialogue.

Overall this unconventional film offers a bittersweet portrayal of the Hollywood lifestyle often deemed glamorous and alluring, inviting us to ask ourselves the same questions that plague Johnny. Somewhere is an example of that type of film that is becoming far too rare nowadays: one that allows you to pause, and reflect.

Ana Pereira de Souza