Somewhere, Blu-ray (2011)

by | Apr 18, 2011 | DVD & Blu-ray Video Reviews | 0 comments

Somewhere, Blu-ray (2011)

Starring: Stephen Dorff, Elle Fanning
Director & Writer: Sofia Coppola
Studio: Focus Features/Universal 62112184 [4/19/11]
Video: 1.85:1 for 16:9 1080p HD
Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1; French & Spanish DTS 5.1
Subtitles: English SDH, French, Spanish
Extras: “Making Somewhere,” BD Live!, Pocket Blu app
Length: 1 hour 38 minutes
Rating: ***

Sorry, but I find Somewhere nowhere. The general theme of a chronically-bored celebrity actor being at loose ends in a situation in which he supposedly is catered to hand and foot were treated by Sophia Coppola so much better in her terrific Lost In Translation, starring Bill Murray. Some of the situations are in fact embarrassingly similar – such as the over-the-top Italian TV show Dorff is injected into vs. the over-the-top Japanese TV show Murray was forced to appear in.

Actor Johnny Marco (I guess that’s what he is but he seems to be eternally between films) leads the full celebrity lifestyle with plenty of women, pills, drinks and boredom. A highlight for male viewers will be an early scene in which he hires two blonde twins who pole dance in his hotel room for his entertainment (they come with their own collapsible poles and boom box).  Suddenly his ex-wife drops off at his Hollywood Chateau Marmont digs his vivacious 11-year-old daughter Cleo.  He takes her around, including on a jaunt to Italy, and seems be a good and proud father to her.  I suppose the long scenes of his driving and wandering around at loose ends after he sends Cleo off to camp are supposed to somehow communicate that Johnny has begun to re-think his lifestyle.  But they look to me just like the similar shots at the beginning of the film.

However, the film is beautifully photographed, there’s lots of beautiful people in it (though not Johnny), and there’s a second great scene (besides the pole dancers): Johnny having to sit still for 40 minutes with heavy plaster all around his head for construction of an elderly face mask for a film role – only two tiny holes for breathing.

 — John Sunier

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