2AM's London Film Festival 2010 Highlights: ‘Somewhere’

‘Somewhere’, Sophia Coppola’s much anticipated follow up to 2006 ‘Marie Antoinette’ tells a story of Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) a handsome Hollywood superstar living temporarily in LA’s Chateau Marmont , being ferried to press junkets, partying in the hotel with his entourage (including nocturnal visits by pole dancing Barbie twins). His life seems anything but exciting, it feels monotonous, empty and lonely. He doesn’t talk much or do much (his arm is also in a cast from a drunken fall) until one Sunday morning when he is woken up by Cleo (Elle Fanning), his 11 year old daughter from a broken relationship, signing her name on his cast. Cleo is to spend a day with her dad but eventually it turns into a much longer stay and for the rest of the film Coppola paints a beautiful, quiet, gentle, sentimentality free portrait between a father and a daughter bonding over small things, hanging out in hotels, enjoying each others company.

‘Somewhere’ is somewhat braver than Coppola's other films; she holds her shots much longer, doesn’t move the camera much and just lets the story unfold at a slow pace that suits it well. It is a really good film, laced with memorable moments, deadpan humour and pitch perfect performances by Dorff and Fanning. Another cinematic achievement for Sophia Coppola.

Trailer HERE