Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) is an actor living in his own bubble, unable to truly connect with anyone.

He lives a privileged lifestyle with no limitations. The actor, and well known playboy, is surrounded by sycophants ever eager to build him up just to knock him down again.

Johnny lives in the Chateau Marmont Hotel.  He’s leading the high life between movie sets, press events, and rendezvous with random naked women, enjoying all the perks of being a celebrity. 

At a press junket the star is asked ‘Who is Johnny Marco?’ and he is dumbfounded. How can he answer a question he doesn’t even know the answer to.

Then Johnny’s daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) is dumped at his doorstep when his ex-wife goes off saying she needs a break, and he’s terrified at the prospect. 

Johnny struggles to relate to anyone at the best of times never mind an eleven year old girl. But they hang out and Johnny soon comes to realize what’s truly important in life. Cleo’s cheery disposition seems to help her father get out of his self-pitying rut and they begin to bond for the first time.

Director Sofia Coppola has a unique style of direction that seduces the audience into a trance-like state, eagerly awaiting the next scene. She takes her time revealing the guts of the story and this may sound tedious but forces the audience to come to their own conclusion, making the movie very subjective.

Coppola will sit on a shot for far longer than is comfortable but it just makes the scenes more compelling and their meaning more resonating.

Cinematically the movie is beautiful, it is very visual. The storyline may not be complex but what it lacks in complexity it makes up for in charm. It’s gritty and awkward at times but who wants to be spoon-fed exquisitely polished movies all the time? Not me that’s for sure.

DVD Extras

The DVD includes a bonus feature ‘Making Somewhere’, a rare insight into Coppola’s mind. Seeing the effort that went into the making of the movie just makes you love it that bit more.