If you are a fan of Sofia Coppola films, then you will love Somewhere; the theme of the film and the somewhat toned down yet still beautiful aesthetic will please you I'm sure. If you are not such a fan, but you like films that are a little different, visually stunning and leave you thinking for a while, then you should still give this film a go. All I knew about this film before watching it was the information given in the trailer, and that it starred the up-and-coming Elle Fanning (yes, Dakota's little sister). I don't want to give too much away because before watching this film I didn't know a lot about it, and enjoyed it more-so because of that (trust me it's one of those films). What I will say on the story-line is that Coppola's central character (Stephen Dorff) is a newly famous actor who is living in the Chateau Marmont. But don't be fooled by thinking that you will get to see the glitz and glamour side to his job; in actual fact you see the opposite. The theme is familiar to that of Marie Antoinette and Lost in Translation; isolation and existensial crisis. What would be a film about loneliness picks up when his daughter (Fanning) comes to stay with him. Overall it is a breath-taking and beautiful film, it is heart-warming as it is relatable. Oh, and expect some lovely cameos! ♥
Like I said before, this is a film that will leave you thinking. In tone and style it is typically Coppola, but Dorff and Fanning are charming together as father and daughter and they are the ones who sold it for me; Fanning is just a ray of sunshine. What I also enjoyed about Somewhere is that it portrays a 'reality' side to Hollywood; we are all so used to being under the illusion that celebrities lead fantastic lifestyles, which in many cases is probably far from true. Coppola herself grew up on film sets and in hotels, and although she says the film is not fully autobiographical she did take some inspiration from her personal life for the film's themes and settings, which I think gives it so much more substance ♥
