Somewhere

Movie: Somewhere

Cast:    Stephen Dorff       (Johnny Marco)

            Elle Fanning          (Cleo)

Genre: drama

I saw it on: January 9, 2011

Synopsis: Johnny Marco is a successful actor. He does not spend much time with his 11-year-old daughter, Cleo, who lives with her mother.  Johnny is something of a party animal who is primarily into having fun.  The movie opens with him recovering from a broken arm.  It seems that he is increasingly bored with his day to day life.  He even falls asleep while watching to pole dancers who are making a house call.

When Cleo’s mother decides she “needs to get away for a while”, Cleo has to move in with her father for a few weeks until summer camp.  Surprisingly, Johnny discovers that he really enjoys hanging out with his daughter.  He takes her with him to a PR visit to Rome, where they have a great time.  The movie follows their relationship while Johnny seems to be undergoing a change in what he wants in life.  Ultimately, he has to deliver Cleo to camp, at which point things come to a head when Johnny is faced with not having his daughter around.

My two cents: This is kind of a tough one.  When the credits started rolling, I had a WTF moment – I felt that nothing had been resolved and I still do not understand the closing scene. I walked out of the theatre very disgruntled.  Then I remembered that this was a Sofia Coppola movie and I started thinking about “Lost in Translation” – which I really loved.  I started to see the similarities between the two films.  I still have not quite figured out how to articulate the similarities. 

I really enjoyed watching Johnny discover that his daughter was really enjoyable to have around – and realize what he missed out on by being an absent parent.  One thing that puzzled me was the interior of his apartment.  It was in the Chateau Marmont which is apparently a very famous and elegant luxury hotel on Sunset Blvd.  Maybe I missed something, but the décor in his rooms did not look expensive – they looked like something from the 80’s.

Bottom line – this is definitely worth seeing.  Especially if you can figure out what that final scene means.  I look forward to seeing it again when it hits the small screen.  I suspect the second time around it is going to be even better.

 [10]

I Love You Phillip Morris

Movie: I Love You Phillip Morris

Cast:    Jim Carrey             (Steven Russell)

            Ewan McGregor   (Philip Morris)

            Leslie Mann          (Debbie)   

Genre: drama, comedy

I saw it on: January 9, 2011

Synopsis: Debbie and Steven seem to be the perfect couple.  Then we learn Steven is actually gay.  When he has a car accident on his way to a tryst with his male lover, he has an epiphany – he decides to come out of the closet.  He moves to Florida where he lives with his new boyfriend where he makes a living as a con man.  The authorities catch up with Steven and he ends up incarcerated.  In prison, he meets a prisoner who is to become the love of his life - Philip Morris.  The rest of the movie follows Steven as he repeatedly gets out of prison (usually by escape or by con) and is repeatedly re-arrested.  His never-ending goal is to be with Philip Morris – whether in prison or out.

My two cents: This was an interesting Jim Carrey character.  Not as over-the-top as usual, but with much of the same manic energy.  The big difference is that he was gay.  The myriad cons he pulls on business men, the legal profession and prison officials are really fun to watch.  Even so, about 70 minutes in I started looking at my watch to see how much more I had to sit through.  It just started to bore me.  I must admit though, the final five or ten minutes did provide quite an interesting twist. 

 Bottom line – If I had it to do over again, I think I would for it to come to Netflix or HBO.  Warning – if you are going to see this and depictions of gay male sex make you uncomfortable – prepare to be uncomfortable.

[9]