Sofia Coppola isn't the most acclaimed filmmaker out there, but she's definitely perfecting her style. Fixating the viewer on a trance-like single scene for the longest time using a stationary camera, has become her repeating method to portray attractive washed-out characters (remember Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation). The washed-out character here is a world-famous Hollywood superstar who is actually a depressed loser, struggling to maintain a minimally decent relationship with his daughter (the opening shot of a Ferrari racing in circles is the giveaway). Coppola is obviously offering first-hand knowledge on the Hollywood elite; but my problem was: Who cares?
Mo says:
Agree with you...she has a style and leading first 15 minute of movie without dialogue and just image and camera is a style definitely but a little boring ...the same was in " lost in translation" but became better in Marie Antoinette ( i didn't see virgin suiside yet)
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere its award in Venice Festival was unfair and due to bias of O.T.Seems already he made her an offer she can not refuse!!
Although Kirsten Dunst had a strong presence, I remember getting bored watching "Marie Antoinette" (I was writing emails during the movie!). But at the end, Coppola's style suddenly "clicked" with me. I realized she wants her audience not to expect anything wild, but instead wait and fall into the movie's rhythm. That's probably why after watching "Somewhere", I believed Coppola is getting better with each film.
ReplyDeleteThis has also made me interested in watching "The Virgin Suicides" - another Dunst movie. Hopefully soon.