simon-101-575629

24 May 2012

Well made buts lacks conviction and ends up boring

This movie portrays how there can be real emptiness in a world that isalso so full of opportunities. Beautifully made but there is no plotdirection in the 2nd half of the movie. I think the viewer understandsthe point before half way through the movie. Then our experiencebecomes a shared trial with Dorfs character. His life seems difficultto get through and the viewers lot is to make it to the end of themovie. By the finish of the movie I had lost empathy or connection withthe characters and I was happy for it to end.If Coppola's intention wasto bring the viewer into the same depressed world as Dorf's character,then she succeeded. If we compare the viewer with the main character,the only good release is at the very end when the film finishes. Somemay love this but I found it boring!!!

gradyharp

24 May 2012

Sofia Pauses in the Interstices of an Empty Life

SOMEWHERE is a film that can be taken on several levels and dependingon the willingness of the viewer to tolerate endless moments ofstationary stillness it can either be a numbing bore, or it can be anintuitive examination of a life of the rich and famous and vacuouscreatures the film industry supports. Given writer/director SofiaCoppola's personal background, it appears to this viewer that she hasrecreated that second stance. The setting is the decadent Château Marmont, still a hideaway for starsand spot for manipulative interviews of stars by the nosey media, aboveSunset Strip in Hollywood. Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is a worldfamous movie star whose life is controlled by his PR manager Madge whenhe is not indulging in wild drunken parties with hired girls (he breakshis wrist early on, leaving him in a small arm cast). He admits to anew actor wannabe that he never trained for acting, that he just wasdiscovered and became successful, leaving education and thinkingbehind, or drowned in alcohol. His private persona is pathetic, yetthere is something about Johnny that attracts a need for companionship.Into this sorry state arrives his 11 year old daughter Cleo (ElleFanning) who brings a sense of sparkle into Johnny's life: Cleo studiesballet and ice skating and is a mature, genuinely loving and talenteddaughter. Johnny's ex-wife Layla (Lala Sloatman) informs Johnny (andCleo) that she is leaving for an indeterminate period of time andJohnny must take Cleo to her summer camp. But Johnny has publicappearances and interviews to promote his latest feature film,requiring him to visit Milan, Italy, and Johnny simply takes Cleo alongwith him. Cleo adjusts well, tolerating the extended periods of ennuiand the watching of glamorous women seducing her father, and finds thatsomething in her father that Johnny has lost - a reason to be alive.There is no real beginning to this story and no end - it is justglimpses into a life wasted by self indulgence that has created a manwith no purpose, observed by a talented daughter who must face the factthat she likely will be always baggage in the lives of both herparents, at times wanted and at times just as casually discarded. Stephen Dorff inhabits this empty movie personality's life withsurprising accuracy and Elle Fanning continues to prove that she is agrowingly capable talent. Sofia Coppola's direction could use sometightening: some frozen scenes or views linger far too long on thescreen, seemingly wasting time until the next idea arises. But that canalso be a description of the life that has evaded Johnny Marco: thereis so little to his real persona that the gaps must be filled with filmor partially clothed women or alcohol. And if the viewer takes thatapproach to this film then there is a viable portrait here. Grady Harp

22 May 2012

Never Intended To Be

This review is from: Somewhere (DVD) After reading several reviews and comments surrounding "Somewhere", the unique beauty of this film is solidified in my mind. It never was intended for the masses.I saw "Somewhere" without reading any reviews or knowing anything of the plot or style of the film. I walked into the experience completely naive and ignorant. And I was mesmerized with this film; its pace, its honesty and bravery. It stayed with me and I thought about it throughout the days that followed. This piece stood in contrast to the distractions, lies, and illusions that often surround contemporary film today.I smile to myself when I read the inevitable reviews. Ah, the film seems to frustrate the popcorn munching, cell-phone checking, remote fumbling masses. The opening scene aggravates with its pace, the lack of degrading sexuality frustrates, and it's subtle intelligence passes by unobserved.It is inspiring that Sophia has the courage to create a film such as Somewhere. It isn't a film for most, and was never intended to be.

22 May 2012

A beautiful meditation on loneliness and love

Somewhere is a beautiful meditative film about Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff), a lonely, bored, dissolute Hollywood star who, by spending time with his daughter, Cleo (played by Elle Fanning) learns to love again. Elle Fanning is absolutely delightful in the role -- she is so sweet, natural, and at times, charmingly awkward. Her youth and unpretentious beauty are an effective foil to Stephen Dorff's character, who parties hard on a regular basis and looks it. Johnny is in a state of existential ennui; he lacks emotional connection with others and lives a life of instant gratification that is devoid of meaning. When Cleo's mother leaves Cleo with Johnny for an extended period of time, it gives him the chance to renew his relationship with her and thaw his heart. By learning to love Cleo, Johnny is forced to face the emptiness in his life and decides to change.

Rex Reed

22 May 2012

The latest calcified bore by Sofia Coppola is less pretentious than Marie Antoinette but every bit as inertly stupefying as Lost in Translation.

21 May 2012

when it will be avaliable?i do really wanna watch it so bad

sorry it is not a review.since i can not contact the owner of this online shop,i just wonder when will it be avaliable?

19 May 2012

Slow movie to nowhere!

I watched (most of) this film on cable, after reading the description. This could have easily been cut for an hour TV show - 45 minutes would have been plenty! There were several times when I was about to turn it off... they should offer the film on the 22 hour plane ride to New Zealand, when passengers are ready to kill themselves, anyway!

brocksilvey

19 May 2012

Young Girl with Really Famous Father -- Is This Sofia Coppolas autobiography?

If Sofia Coppola's brand of wistful melancholy appeals to you, you willlike this movie.One has to wonder if the emotions and themes explored in this storyabout a young girl with a super-famous dad aren't largelyautobiographical. Stephen Dorff plays the dad, a hugely popular actionstar whose personal life gives a new definition to ennui. The filmunfolds in a series of noncommittal vignettes as we watch him gothrough the motions of promoting a new film while spending some onagain/off again time with his teenage daughter. The movie is sad, butnot depressingly so. It's my sense that the world of the rich andfamous just IS sad, one where things like a never-ending quest for fameand material things has replaced anything more fulfilling.Those who get impatient with Coppola's taciturn directing and writingare justified. I found myself becoming impatient a few times whilewatching this film. But on the other hand, there's something about herruminative, mellow style, and her refusal to tell us how to feel abouther characters and stories, that I find immensely appealing.Grade: A-

lizardtongue-59-334145

17 May 2012

Sleepy

Wow! Talk about lost in translation! The translation of goodfilmmaking. I think that Sofia needs to get away from dull long pausesand make a movie with real characters not ones who have been copiedfrom previous art cinema.I actually enjoyed Marie Antoinette and loved Lost in Translation butoh dear!I want to review it more but I'm boring myself. If only her dad couldtell her to actually go and live some life.It's strange to think that this is the same person who refixed BillMurray's career and made the eternally bland Scarlet Johansson aninteresting performer.

16 May 2012

A Misunderstood Marvel

This is how a film is made.Now, before I begin, I will quickly address those who do not like the film. Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and I can perfectly understand why people would not like the film, but there is a difference between disliking a film because one finds it lacking in quality, and disliking a film because you do not understand it.The film, indeed, is difficult to understand for many. It requires the audience to think while they watch and reflect afterwards, which most people don't want to do. Writer/Director Sofia Coppola gives the audience time for this with extremely lengthy shots, but these are not meant only for thinking. They represent the boredom and meaninglessness in this man's (Stephen Dorff, in excellent form) life, and if one is paying attention, they will notice that when his daughter (Elle Fanning, equally as wonderful considering her age) enters, the film moves at a faster pace.This deals with the same basic theme of Lost in Translation (Coppola's marvelous Oscar-winning endeavor), that being isolation. But Coppola takes it in another, equally as interesting direction. Dialog is sparse, each line has been carefully chosen to not be superfluous, and indeed, they are not. The cinematography is gorgeous and, as mentioned earlier, Dorff and Fanning give fabulous performances.There is so much to discuss about this film, but I wouldn't want to appear as if I idolize it. It's fantastic, but not perfect. I feel (and hope) that Coppola will have used this film to exercise herself of this theme, and move onto something else.Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll be wonderful.

Laremy Legel

13 May 2012

That the movie is able to make us care is a testament to Coppola's prodigious gifts.

wbaholic

13 May 2012

Worst Movie Ever!

This is without doubt, the worst movie ever made. Biggest pile ofpretentious crap to date. If you want to watch paint dry, peoplesitting around getting a tan, people smoking, and other assortednothingness, then this is the film for you.This has actually become a running joke between me and my Girlfriend.We made the mistake of buying it on DVD and we constantly loan it outto people telling them that it's a really great movie with a twistending. Little do they know that it's a piece of crap. If there's aSpider running across my floor then Somewhere would be the CD case thatyou would use to squash it.Honestly, it's that bad!

paolo-colombo

12 May 2012

Most boring film ever

Everebody, critics and people seem to be amazed by this, I'm startingwondering if I've seen the same film. Is it the film of the bored starwho does nothing for an hour and half? If it is, which scene did youlike most? The one cooking pasta, or when the car suddenly stops?Seriously I can't find anything interesting in the story or in theacting. I don't have much to add, it's not that the film is good orbad, the film is simply incredibly boring. After all then I don'tunderstand the need for Sofia Coppola to make the bad copy of Lost intranslation with bad actors. Everybody at the cinema was disappointedas I am, so that I'm seriously thinking that they put the wrong film.

Framescourer

11 May 2012

Drifting impression of films already visited

This disappointing fourth feature from Copolla transposes theexistential desert of the itinerant Hollywood from neon Tokyo toparched LA. Again, it's a love story, this time between father anddaughter, without the 'figure' qualifier. As a pathetic (i.e. withpathos) tale of Being and Nothingness manifest it misses its mark.Maybe Copolla has read Heidegger. Unfortunately she doesn't seem to beable to pull her (tonally, well-pitched) collage together in order tomade her take on the philosophy comprehensive.Elle Fanning? Super, as if Dakota cast no shadow. Stephen Dorff is wellcast in this too. He reminds me of Ethan Hawke - indeed he attempts aclueless rendition of Bach's Goldberg Variations at the same point asin Linklater/Hawke's Before Sunrise, i.e. on the downslope from thehighpoint of the lovestory. If only Copolla had borrowed more focusedideas such as these there would have been more gravity or even point toher film. There's charm here but it's too loose. 5/10

zi_giedre

11 May 2012

Going nowhere

The only ending that would help the entire movie make any sense was ifJohnny Marco committed suicide even before getting into the car. Orgotten killed while driving it. Being what it is the movie should becalled "Going nowhere" instead of "Somewhere": maybe the ending intendsto show that Johny walks away from the car because he just realizedsomething about his life, but come on, how far away will he go beforehe gets tired and turns around? Sorry, I'm not convinced anythingmeaningful happened here. The Golden Lion award for this is far beyondmy understanding. The only reason I rated this movie 4 stars is myrespect to Ms.Coppola for her earlier movies. But nothing will convinceme to watch "Somewhere" for a second time; I'd rather watch "Lost intranslation" for another five.

S. James Wegg

10 May 2012

Dropped on the Hollywood bad boy's doorstep by a suddenly vanishing mom, the forced father-daughter relationship takes stage, demonstrating yet again how inventively creative director/writer Sofia Coppola is.

Jake Coyle

06 May 2012

Coppola is brilliant at capturing mood: With cinematographer Harris Savides, her languid camera depicts California melancholy. But substance isn't her game.

06 May 2012

Not quite over the rainbow...

Being the fan of Sophia Coppola that I am, `Somewhere' was my most anticipated film from last year. I literally could not wait to see it, so much so that I downloaded it to my computer months before it was released in theaters near me so that I could watch it. For me, `Somewhere' doesn't quite live up to my expectations.First things first, this is not a bad film at all. In fact, it is a very good film. Some of my friends have noted that they feel this is Coppola's most mature offering, and in many ways I totally agree. She has a beautiful knack for fleshing out the humanity in her stories with such graceful subtlety. She masters that here, allowing the fluid movement of the scenes to do most of the talking. While some would make sweeping statements that this is, `by far', we worst film, I can only half agree. While she shows definite maturity here, this is my least favorite of her films. In that same respect though, I can't say `by far' since the film is a very good film. I just found it too familiar. Coppola often regurgitates similar themes in her films, but she manages to make them feel fresh and unique to her own style. She doesn't quite manage that here. It drips with style (it is beautiful to look at and it moves with the grace and fluidity that we expect from Coppola) but it feels too rehashed to be anything monumentally moving. It felt like 'Lost in Translation' lite. I really liked it, and the performances are beautifully detailed, but the film itself reaches short of the greatness I was expecting. The idea of being lost within your own life and trying to find an outlet, anything really to save you from yourself, is a great idea, but Sophia has done that four times over now and it shows on this film that she is running out of ways to make it feel soulfully individualized. This just felt somewhat halfhearted.And yet, I can't help but admit that had `Lost in Translation' not been released on '03 I'd probably be lauding this particular film as a masterpiece and placing it at the top of my personal ballot for Best Picture last year. Like I said, it's very good, but it is also very familiar.But, one cannot overlook the glorious Elle Fanning and her marvelous contribution to this film. In fact, I would hand her a win over ANY of Oscar's nominated supporting actresses; in a heartbeat. I'm just going to post straight from a piece I wrote about her performance on my blog back in January."In Sophia Coppola's latest entry, `Somewhere', she cast the `other' Fanning girl, Elle, to play a fictional variation of herself (or I assume as much). While Coppola is one of my favorite working directors, I must say that the familiar nature of `Somewhere' was a tad underwhelming for me. That said; the naturally organic presence of Elle Fanning utterly blew me away. By merely doing nothing at all, Fanning does SO much with this character. Playing Cleo, the young daughter to Hollywood megastar Johnny Marco, Fanning isn't discomfited by her father's world. She isn't afraid to call a spade a spade (that stare at the breakfast table was superbly executed) and yet she realizes the nature of the world in which her father dwells and so she allocates herself to it with childlike ease. The construction of a Coppola film is already wildly organic in tone (it just flows in such a sublimely effortless manner) but Fanning adds so much weight to the film by relaxing right into the pace. Her character arc may seem oddly anticlimactic (also the signature ways of the director) but there is the sting of her presence that never quite goes away. You can feel her spirit moving her father to contemplate his own footsteps, and you understand why. It is less the notion that a child can reconstruct a parent and more the understanding that THIS child is something special to THAT parent. There is such intimacy presented in this performance (as well as Dorff's).In fact, dwelling on Fanning's performance is making me appreciate the film more than I initially thought I did."In the end, I like this movie and I highly recommend it. Sophia Coppola is a masterful director and I cannot wait to see what she delivers to us next. She understands the beauty of the human spirit and she weaves magic out of simplicity, which is something most directors don't bother to consider. I want her to branch out on her next project though. I want to see her step outside her comfort zone and prove to the world that she isn't one-track minded. I know she has more in her. As it is, she ranks very high for me and is probably one of my top five working directors today. With a little spice she could easily become number one.

04 May 2012

Nothing to say disguised as art

This review is from: Somewhere (DVD) As someone who loved "Lost in Translation" for its ability to speak volumes with understated performances and economy of dialogue, "Somewhere" takes a similar approach but fails entirely. The characters are far less compelling, elements that might be construed as a narrative are threadbare at best and the movie, despite its lethargic pacing, quickly begins to feel like a self-indulgent exercise in examining the emptiness and monotony of an actor's life. This actor (the character, not Stephen Dorff), unfortunately for the film, isn't one who's interesting, gifted, articulate or insightful upon self-reflection. By about a third of the way in, this movie began to feel more like "Nowhere with Nothing To Say." This lame exercise disguised as minimalism signals that either the director has run out of inspiration or needs to get a taste of life outside of the self-absorbed self-fascination of Hollywood.

Radheyan Simonpillai

03 May 2012

There's little dialogue, but a whole lot is said in every frame.