In Somewhere, director Sofia Coppola paints a picture of a lost young movie star whose life is an abject amalgamation of drink, drugs and women. Stephen Dorff plays Johnny Marco, a film star whose high octane life and care free spirit leads him on the a path of destruction. It is only when he reconnects with his estranged daughter that he learns the true value of his own existence, and finally finds the courage to turn his back on his hedonistic lifestyle.

The majority of the film is shot in the lonely expanses of hotel corridors – an apt simile for Johnny’s empty existence. In the beginning of the film Johnny’s life is depicted simply as an endless stream of alcohol and cheap dates. He spends his time drifting between industry events and Hollywood parties, often passing out before the fun has ever really begun.

Once his daughter comes into the picture, Johnny begins to revaluate his life and finds pleasure in the simple things. In many ways he is just as childlike as his 11 year old girl – the viewer gets the sense that he, in his emotionally immature state, is more of a friend to his daughter than a father.

Stephen Dorff does a commendable job of playing a listless young man who has been beaten down by the highs and lows of a lifetime in the spotlight. His only salvation lies in his daughter, who Elle Fanning portrays wonderfully. The scene of her ice skating is particularly memorable, her spirals and pirouettes a perfect manifestation of the grace and beauty of her character.

However, there is a sense that this film is all too familiar. Any viewer who has seen Coppola’s other movies such as Lost in Translation is well acclimatised to the ‘washed-up-lonely-hero’ dynamic of the piece. The film excels in portraying the slow-burning continuity of existence that people who live at the zenith popular culture experience, but this is perhaps a narrative that we all are too familiar with.

Overall, Somewhere is an enjoyable film which features worthwhile performances from its actors and some stylistic direction from Coppola. Just don’t expect to see anything here that you haven’t really seen before.