Parenthood. Its one of those core themes that is at the centre of films as diverse as To Kill a Mockingbird and As Good as It Gets. It is also the subject of today's film, the latest film from Sofia Coppola, Somewhere.
In an unexpectedly strong performance given his career thus far, Stephen Dorff stars as a washed up action star called Johnny Marco hiding out in the legendary Chateau Marmont Hotel in West Hollywood. The film opens with Johnny driving round and round a circular race track in his Ferrari. He is going in circles much as he is in life, spending his days lounging around the Hotel, drinking, smoking and moving from one meaningless tryst to the next. That is until his daughter, the delightful Elle Fanning turns up on his doorstep and he is forced to be a father.
This is Coppola's fourth film as a director and it returns to the familiar territory of Lost In Translation after 2006's bubblegum history flick Marie Antoinette. All of the themes are there: A washed up Hollywood star, Loneliness in a large hotel, and a depressed character who finds redemption in a new relationship. That's not to say that this film is a derivative of her earlier work. It stands in its own right and Coppola is a master at such themes.
In truth, Elle Fanning is not overly tested as Johnny's daughter Cleo, though there are a number of scenes where Cleo almost intrudes upon Johnny's drinking and debauchery, she never actually does so. I would suppose the point being made is that Cleo is fine, She has her Dad and doesn't need anything more then him to be there so the real emotional breakthroughs of the film are Dorff's. He is the centre of the film.
Of course, Johnny realizes eventually that the hollow nature of his lifestyle is the source of his despair and that he gets more enjoyment from simply hanging by the pool with his daughter then living the vapid Hollywood lifestyle. The film ends with Johnny driving his Ferrari. Somewhere.
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