Somewhere

  • Review Date: December 13, 2010
  • R
  • Genre: Drama
  • 2010
Review

Common Sense Media says

Exceptional but mature Hollywood story.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this mature Sofia Coppola drama -- which has some of the same dreamy feel of her hit Lost in Translation (but with less humor) -- is filled with adult situations, mainly sexual. The main character, a successful actor, has sex with many partners, and some women are shown topless. Characters smoke cigarettes often and sometimes drink hard liquor. Language is relatively sparse but includes words like "f--k." Several brands are also featured, most notably the Ferrari that the main character drives. The movie is beautifully crafted, but teens may not be interested in a story of a selfish father finding redemption through his daughter.

  • Positive messages1
    Through Johnny's behavior during the movie, the film sends the message that positive change comes from thinking about something other than yourself -- though how lasting that change is, is unclear.
  • Positive role models0
    Johnny learns some valuable lessons during the movie, such as how to avoid temptation and to think of others. He also learns the value of family and real human connections. But before that, he's a man who's lost his way; he indulges in anonymous sex, smoking, and drinking, and several people are angry with him due to some past indiscretions.
  • Violence1
    Characters occasionally get angry with the hero and in some cases verbally abuse him.
  • Sex5
    Women throw themselves at the main character, and he sometimes sleeps with them; he has multiple partners. Several women are seen topless. In one case, the hero removes a woman's underwear but falls asleep before anything happens. In another scene, a bed bangs up against the wall with the force of his lovemaking. The hero hires twin blond "pole dancers" to perform for him; their act is sexy but contains no nudity. A male masseuse takes off all his clothes to work, but little is shown.
  • Language4
    Swearing includes "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "hell," and "damn." The words "s--t," "f--k," and "a--hole" appear in text messages. "Jesus" is used as an exclamation.
  • Consumerism2
    The main character drives a Ferrari, which is prominently on display throughout the movie. He plays Guitar Hero and other video games with his daughter and shops at a Big 5 Sporting Goods store. He also wears various T-shirts with logos for Pep Boys auto parts and Sub Pop records.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking3
    The main character is seen drinking beer, as well as hard liquor. He attends a party where many guests are also drinking. He also smokes cigarettes throughout.
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What's the story?

Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is a successful Hollywood actor living in the Chateau Marmont. He drifts through his days drinking, smoking, indulging in sex, occasionally dealing with his publicist, and generally trying to stave off sadness and boredom. When his ex-wife suddenly drops off their daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning), for an indefinite stay, Johnny slowly begins to understand that family may be more important than his career and all its perks. But now that he's made this discovery, how can he change his life?

Is it any good?

 

Some people may view Sofia Coppola as a privileged daughter of Hollywood royalty who stumbled into filmmaking after trying and abandoning several other careers. Her movies aren't exactly plot-driven, which isn't everyone's cup of tea. But once you get right down to it, she's one of the most ferociously talented filmmakers working today.

Like Lost in Translation and Marie Antoinette, SOMEWHERE is also about how people, even if they're successful and surrounded, can grow lonely and bored, and how the right soul at the right time can open their hearts. Somewhere is sparser and moodier than Coppola's previous films and has less humor. But it's no less riveting for the way it captures a poetic mood in each scene and for the way the seemingly random scenes always fold back upon and reference one another. For all its wandering, this is a very deliberate, masterful, and ultimately very touching movie.

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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the movie's messages about sex and relationships. How does the main character view sex? Is that a healthy perspective? Parents, talk to your teens about your own family's values on these subjects.

  • If Johnny is a successful actor,
    shouldn't he be happy and have everything he wants? Why might that life be unfulfilling?

This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Adult
January 31, 2011
AGE
13
 
Pensive, Delightful movie for interested, mature teens
I loved this movie. I saw it on new years. I had waited SO LONG to see it (sofia coppola being my favorite director) and I was blown away. This movie, about a movie star and his relationship with his daughter is pensive, cool, and beautiful. It might be boring for some teenage viewers though! The only concerns are bare breasts, implied sexual actions, and corse language. I felt that, as a 13 year old (at the time) It was nothing I haven't seen before. I THOROUGHLY recommend it!
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Adult
December 22, 2010
AGE
15
 
outstanding film making, slow paced but excellent.
3.5/5 SOMEWHERE is a witty, moving, and empathetic look into the orbit of actor Johnny Marco (played by Stephen Dorff) who is living at the legendary Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood. He has a Ferrari to drive around in, and a constant stream of girls and pills to stay in with. Comfortably numbed, Johnny drifts along. Then, his 11-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) from his failed marriage arrives unexpectedly at the Chateau. Their encounters encourage Johnny to face up to where he is in life and confront the question that we all must: which path in life will you take? well this was the movie i was looking forward to, i mean after watching the trailer with the soothing music and getting the idea of a different take on the plot i wanted to watch it. its a Coppola movie, but the thing that really kind of made me wait for it was the surprise and out of nowhere winning of Golden Lion for Best Picture at the Venice International Film Festival. this movie is for sure one of the best Indie Offbeat movies this year. if not one of the very best movies of the year but for sure a good movie. this movie is extremely slow paced and boring but that is the beauty of it, i seriously never felt tiring or getting bored, which is strange but true. i loved this movie exactly the way it is. after my personal favorite Lost In Translation she did it again. its an awsome movie. perfectly Directed by Sofia Coppola with great perfection, she uses long shots without pauses, very long shots with not much happening which gives this movie a very realistic and near to life feel. you exactly get this feeling of seeing the life of this actor exactly the way it is, Coppola gives exactly what she sees, perfect, she actually pushes the boundaries as a director. editing and screenplay was good. their isn't much talking in the movie, not much to show but whatever you see speaks louder and clear than it would have with actual talking, which is odd but in a strange way perfect for it. it features very nice and good performances by Stephen Dorff and the cute Elle Fanning, good performances. the story is really good, a very different and deeper view at the Hollywood life, she kind of makes us see the Microscopic picture of it. very simple but yet big and deep. a very good movie and a good take, i loved it and i am sure you will too. a very moving movie.
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This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
Studio:Focus Features
Director:Sofia Coppola
Cast:Elle Fanning, Michelle Monaghan, Stephen Dorff
Genre:Drama
Run time:97 minutes
Theatrical release date:December 22, 2010
DVD release date:April 19, 2011
MPAA rating:R
MPAA explanation:sexual content, nudity and language
This review was written by Jeffrey M. Anderson
 

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