Somewhere and The Tourist

Oscar Season Movie Rundown Continued...though I strongly suspect that neither Somewhere and The Tourist are strong front-runners

Somewhere is the latest from one of my fave directors Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette), who seems to have developed a niche in loneliness and urban isolation. Not to mention beautiful colors, shots, and rockin scores. Also in resusitating the careers of aging hipsters (first Bill Murray, and now Stephen Dorf) as well as promoting those of aspiring up-and-comers (ScarJo, and now Elle Fanning -- just fantastic). There's a lot to like about this film visually and audibally (sp?). It's like one long love letter/music video to the movie star life of the inhabitants of Chateau Marmont. However, as far as the story, there is a lot of waiting, hoping through limited dialogue and loooonng shots (at times, while actually watching paint dry. Like actually, we watch latex paint dry for what feels like seven years). While I appreciate the need for variation (not all films are/should be as ADD as a Michael Bay epic, or feature as many jump cuts as some Guy Ritchie piece), at times this was trying to my patience. Further, I felt Coppola was lifting a lot of scenes from Lost in Translation (the movie star press junket sequence where the star, overwhelmed by the light bulbs, comes off like a moron, as well as unsollicited hotel room call girls), which is a more efficient film. Maybe the Academy will recognize Coppola for the good work she has done in the past and will likely continue to do. However, I don't think this is the finest feather in her cap. A solid iTunes rental and a good source of some great music.

The Tourist -- in spite of this film's bizarre Golden Globe noms, I doubt we'll hear more from it come late January. Two very attractive people. Like really. Maybe the most attractive people. In a spy flick. Which is sort of fine, entertaining, lots of pretty outfits, gadgets, Venice. I mean, it makes some sense. The plot. Well, until the end. But it's serviceable. Okay, you know what, I will recommend it. You can see this movie. That's fine. You aren't hurting anyone. Really, you are just proving Darwin's Survival of the Fittest theory. Pretty people.