Somewhere ☆☆☆☆

I am a huge huge fan of Sofia Coppola. Not because I've seen everything she's ever made, I've consciously avoided Marie Antoinette, but because she made Lost in Translation and I think that is perhaps one my most favourite films ever.

Somewhere is very similar to LiT in that it uses long scenes of quiet, minimal dialogue (no wasted words with Copolla), great actors and a pretty fabulous soundtrack.

Stephen Dorff plays an actor, Johnny, who lives in a hotel (but not in a sad way), and generally does what he pleases. He is visited on occasion by his bright and bubbly 11 year old Cleo, played by the lovely Elle Fanning. When she visits it brings him out of his selfish bubble and he notices what she does and takes care of her needs (mostly) above his own. Then during one visit the mother of Cleo calls to say she is 'going away' as is wont to happen in films of father-daughter bonding.

The subsequent journey of the two of them, not getting used to each other because they already had a pretty great relationship, shows Johnny how fantastic his daughter is, and how much he needs her in his life.

It so frigging CUTE. I loved it.

You have to like Lost In Translation to like this movie, I firmly believe that. Anyone who disagrees please do comment me back and say so, but to me they are so similar in style (unsurprising when it comes to writer/directors) that if you disliked the quiet of Johansson and Murray then Dorff and Fanning are not going to win you over either.

Dorff was really very good. I don't know him from anything except the Britney Spears video for Everytime and so I didn't have any expectations piled on him, but he impressed me. He has an easy charm as Johnny but also this wonderful and caring look in his eye as he interacts with Fanning.

Fanning is a sweet actress who hasn't quite gotten the same acting chops as her big sister, but as Cleo she is charming and lovely and you wonder at her ability to be such an adult at only 11. But then kids from broken homes often are.

The two together are brilliant and they light up the screen. Films like this only work if the chemistry is there and it was there in spades, they really could have been father and daughter.

Copolla is a sturdy hand with a film like this, her words are chosen carefully and they are not said with any lack of emotion or believability. She has the corner on the quiet indie film market and I hope there are more Lost in Translations and Somewheres to come our way.

So finally, as I have said before, I loved it. I hope if you haven't tried out a Coppola movie this inspires you to do so, and that you enjoy them and take as much from them as I do.