With "Somewhere" Due for UK release next week (10th Dec), Sofia Coppola's new film looks to be the next part-confessional work after "Lost in Translation". Based on stays with her father at the infamous Chateau Marmont.
The basic premise of the movie; Hollywood actor Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) resides at the Marmont, living the party dream, girls, booze and all that goes with the lifestyle. He then is given sole occupancy of his 11 year old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning), and tries to fit her into his way of life.
What really interests me about the movie is, firstly the Hollywood hotel (Chateau Marmont) where the film is based. Steeped in folklore and mysteries of Warren Beatty's sexual escapades, Jim Morrison losing 8 of his 9 lives trying to jump from a roof to his room, and the tragedies, most notably John Belushi's drug overdose in 1982.
It is the most Hollywood location to set a film, with more gossip columns written about it's residents and going-on's than anywhere else, it certainly adds to the realism of the movie.
Secondly Coppola's integrity to make films she can empathize with. It is well known that she is Francis Ford's daughter. Her formative years surrounded by the Hollywood lifestyle, and the isolation it brings. It gives further weight to the subject matter for me. Telling human stories from glamorized situations.
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