DVD Review: Somewhere

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Life can be boring.

I get it. Life cannot always be interesting when you're watching from the outside. If I were in a movie right now, would the audience care that I'm sitting at my kitchen table typing away on my computer? Probably not. I'm enjoying myself, but the audience wouldn't be. That's how I felt watching Somewhere.

Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is a jaded Hollywood film star who's taken up a bit of a residency at the famous Chateau Marmont. He just breezes through his life with alcohol and prostitutes, and even though he's filthy rich, he doesn't seem happy. He receives a surprise visit from his lovely young daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) and now Johnny is forced to decide what is more important, his meaningless existence, or being a good father to his daughter.

If Somewhere had moved any slower, it would've been going backwards. We're given countless scenes in which nothing happens. Just long drawn out takes. I can appreciate a long take when the person/place in it can speak volumes with only a simple look. Stephen Dorff isn't capable of doing that. I'm not saying films shouldn't have these natural scenes, they should, but one should be aware of how much time they are actually taking. Elle Fanning quite literally lights up the screen whenever she's on it, but even her scenes are few and far between. Is it unfair for the eleven year old to have to carry the movie? Because that's what she ended up doing when she was on screen. Everything else just felt boring and useless.

Recommended: No

Grade: D+

Memorable Quote: "I don't know if mom is ever coming back.." Cleo (Elle Fanning)

Comments

  1. m.brownFebruary 12, 2014 at 1:59 PM

    I like bad movies, but this seems like the wrong kind of bad movie. Maybe I'll just watch the first Blade again, you know, to see Dorff actually do something interesting.

    And that movie about you? I'm in. I mean, typing in a kitchen!. Crazy! Let's greenlight that. Trust me, I've seen weirder concepts fully executed into feature length movies....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 13, 2014 at 6:41 AM

      Like where every problem is solved via some futuristic DDR? lol! :)

      Delete
  2. .February 12, 2014 at 5:12 PM

    I love this movie. I enjoyed the emptiness of Dorff's scenes. It just goes to show that his life without his daughter has no real meaning. Which leads up to the end when he realizes he regrets not being a major part of her life sooner. His scenes with Elle are mostly happy, until it get's to the point to her actually leaving.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 13, 2014 at 6:40 AM

      Elle really does light up the scenes she's in. It's too bad everything else was so bland.

      Delete
  3. UnknownFebruary 13, 2014 at 12:31 AM

    Somewhere is one of the movies I get why people love it and I get why people hate it. For me Im in the middle. There are some scenes that I find to be very beautiful and poingent and others I find to be drab and dull. This is a charter at a crossroads in his life and I like that it all the turmoil he is facing is done internal instead of external which is what most movies would have done. Plus no one can make the boreing looks as beautiful as Sofia Coppola does it. If she made a movie about the life of a plotted plant. I would probably watch it. Good review

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 13, 2014 at 6:39 AM

      That's true, she does make things look beautiful, but unfortunately that wasn't enough for this one.

      Delete
  4. s.February 13, 2014 at 10:48 AM

    I actually did enjoy this film. Granted, I was fairly hammered watching it, but the atmosphere was enchanting. It is incredibly slow, yes, but I didn't think it was bad.

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    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 13, 2014 at 12:30 PM

      I wish I could love it as much as you, Elina, Modesto and I think Mettel Ray likes it too, but I couldn't. I think if I had watched this hammered I would've fallen asleep. lol

      Delete
  5. Lights Camera ReactionFebruary 16, 2014 at 1:42 PM

    I wasn't a big fan either, it just didn't go anywhere for me. Soundtrack and performances were good.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Andrew K.February 22, 2014 at 8:47 AM

    This made my top 12 of 2010 so I'm definitely a fan. It's odd, I remember being mistrustful of it for a bit but I think it's the scene about half an hour in (it's been a while since I've seen it) when he's getting the makeup on his face then the one when Elle skates to "Cool" and even for all its deliberately glacial nature I find it really working for me.

    (I think Dorff is really fantastic in it, too.)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 22, 2014 at 9:16 AM

      The fandom seems to be totally split on this one. Half love it and the other half end up like me. lol

      Delete
  7. AnonymousFebruary 22, 2014 at 5:24 PM

    Ahhhhh NOOOO!! Maybe try watching it woth a lot more alcohol inside you? I actually agree with you, that the takes were very drawn–out, but it didn't bother me at all. Well, I'm glad you liked Elle, at least, she was truly so fantastic. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Brittani BurnhamFebruary 22, 2014 at 7:34 PM

      I know! I wanted to love it since I love her other work. Elle was definitely the best thing about it.

      Delete
  8. JoshFebruary 27, 2014 at 4:55 PM

    I totally understand your reaction... I loved it, though. :/

    ReplyDelete

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