Somewhere

[Poo Bear]

I really like Sofia Coppola's 'Lost in Translation' and so I thought I'd check out 'Somewhere' without really knowing anything about it. Like the first film its about rich famous people feeling isolated and alone. Like the first film's unlikely lead, Bill Murray, it stars an even more unlikely Stephen Dorff. That really was a shock, because I've only seen him in a few low budget flicks and really was not impressed at all. However, he gives a really compelling performance as a washed up actor, squandering his wealth, wasting his life and only just in time realising what he is missing.

It loses some of its potency, because its so similar to Lost In Translation, but its still strangely compelling. This guy really has no redeeming features and sums up everything that is wrong with the rich, decadence and wasted opportunity. Once again though you can't help feeling for him as the realisation hits him of the pointlessness of his life. I really wanted to see him turn things around, but things are left hanging so you are left to speculate.

I'm not sure I could recommend it, if you haven't seen either then I think Lost In Translation is quite a bit better, but they are both worth watching. I love the use of his ridiculous car as metaphor for his life. He drives a gorgeous Ferrari and its so obviously completely impractical. Only two seats, tiny boot, makes a shocking noise wherever he goes, stands out a mile, breaks down, its purpose, speed, entirely thwarted by the traffic clogged streets.