Somewhere - 1 1/2 smiles

Obviously, director Sophia Coppola believes, and her movie “Somewhere” is a prime example of, less is more. However, Coppola has crafted a movie that’s just as shallow and meaningless as the city she criticizes. Movie star Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is bored to the point of numbness (and so are we by the time this movie ends). He practically sleepwalks though his days living at Los Angeles’ Marmont hotel, staring blankly into space and incessantly chain smoking. Despite his disheveled appearance, female companionship is always available although none make an impact. Johnny has good looks and charm although he rarely exhibits either and long stretches pass with minimal dialogue. What passes for a plot arrives in the form of Johnny’s 11-year old daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning), a precocious charmer who’s learned not to depend on her absent father. Mom, for unexplained reasons, has left for an indefinite period of time, leaving Cleo with Johnny until summer camp begins. Fanning, is by far, the best thing in this movie.

The previews would have you believe that this is about a man who finds meaning in his life by reconnecting with the daughter he never really knew. For this to be true, the pair would need to have some sort of substantive conversation or conflict that results in the ‘ah ha’ moment. Instead, Johnny and Cleo pretty much exist alongside each other as they take a quickie jaunt to Italy, laze in the pool and play video games before she’s off to summer camp. So what’s with not one but two unsexy routines by a pair of twin pole dancers in Johnny’s hotel room? Unfortunately, Coppola remains focused on the empty shell at the center of her movie. She’s commenting on a meaningless Hollywood life by making a meaningless movie? That’s doesn’t make sense, does it? 1/9/11