Top 37 Things I Love About Somewhere (that no one talks about)

Sofia Coppola’s Somewhere is one of my all-time favorite films. It’s subtlety, its minimalism, its restraint, its isolation – few films from the past several years have had such a profound emotional effect on me. Moreover than simply loving the film, I’m indebted to everything Somewhere has taught me as a filmmaker. Below are just a handful of reasons why I enjoy the film so much. As always, do feel free to share your favorite, overlooked moments from the film as well. (And consider listening to this while you read. It’s more fun.)

Why here? Why this? Why now? Exactly.

Johnny Marco parks, and as he walks to the front of his car, the sun comes out and literally begins to shine down on him. Whether this was planned (by slowly lowering large screens that were blocking the sun), pure coincidence, or just plain dumb luck, it’s absolutely brilliant.

The title card (lovely in its simplicity) fading in as “Love Like a Sunset (Part I)” amps up. Holy shit, chills.

The way Johnny’s fall is treated as an inconsequential act. As if it’s no big deal at all. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if they all kept partying after he fell.

The film’s use of “My Hero” is a great example of how to use a bad song really well in a film.

What it means to watch a Sofia Coppola film: not only do we endure the painfully long and hilariously awkward routine by the stripper twins, but we actually get to see them packing up as well. So Sofia.

Look how succinctly this frame captures isolation. It’s so… sad.

The shot of Johnny walking down the hallway has been instrumental to my filmmaking career. The way it begins out of focus, stays still, and only starts to move when Johnny walks into frame… I don’t know what it is about this 30 second shot, but it literally changed things for me.

Another shot that expertly captures isolation. But it isn’t just the shot itself; listen to the annoying hum of the light in the room, or the helicopter circling outside (which you often hear in LA when you’re still). There’s nothing here. Such an absence of character and life.

“I’m Cindy, you moron.”

“I’m sorry, Cindy.”

“I’m the other one.”

The other one. Jesus, she doesn’t even bother to remind him of her own name.

The angelic lighting, the enthusiastic performance – THIS is how you introduce a character.

It would’ve been so easy for Johnny to spend the entire ice skating scene on his BlackBerry. In fact, I half expected him to. But he doesn’t. He puts it down. He watches. He marvels. He’s transfixed. In this moment, we realize Johnny is a guy we’re supposed to like.

You might think it’d be The Life to walk into your living space and see that there’s a party taking place. Me, I think that’d suck. I mean, once or twice would be cool, but I bet this happens to Johnny all the time.

I could be wrong about this, but I think that gal to the right is Sofia’s niece, Gia Coppola (who wrote and directed Palo Alto). She isn’t credited as an extra, but she was a “costume staff assistant” on Somewhere. 

So, if it’s her – yay!

Why does Michelle Monaghan never get enough credit for anything she’s in? She’s So. Good.

That block of wood.

“Who is Johnny Marco?” Ha, wouldn’t we all like to know.

Okay, I know people have talked about this scene a lot, but it’s just so damn cool. “I met Bono in 59.”

How eager this masseur is to take off his yellow polo.

“Yeah, uh… it’s not for me. Thanks though, uhhh, just pack it up.”

So far we’ve heard: “Hey, I’m Johnny.” “Hi!” and “You got another cigarette?” used as pick-up lines. Sometimes it’s hard to feel too bad for the guy.

Can we talk about how good Chris Pontius is in this movie? For a guy best known for his contribution to the Jackass franchise, he really churned out a solid performance here. You think he’s going to a creep, but he’s actually just a genuine goofball. “Is your ballet teacher an alcoholic?”

The jump cut of Johnny and Cleo walking through LAX to them walking through the airport in Italy. It looks like they shot those scenes back-to-back, minutes apart.

The shared jet lag, the tired eyes, watching a famous show in a foreign language. A great little nod to Lost in Translation.

This was the scene that made me realize how good of an actor Elle Fanning is. Such mature disdain. Love her.

One of my favorite father/daughter moments in the movie. “Have you ever heard him sing before? Just wait… he’s great.”

One of the Top 10 movie scenes that make me hungry. So good.

The Strokes and ping-pong and pool and smiles and laughs. The playfulness of this montage never fails to make me smile.

Cleo breaking down in the car is a great reminder at how bad this poor girl has it. Sure, her parents can afford seemingly anything, but her mother is gone, and her father is almost always absent. I don’t care what financial class you’re in, that shit’s tough.

The sound mixing of Johnny’s apology to Cleo. I love that it’s drowned out by the helicopter. It’s the only way he can think to apologize – with a distraction present.

The remainder of the film following Cleo’s departure is when Somewhere evolves from a great film to a masterful one. Rarely is isolation and internal hell captured so well on film.

This is one of my favorite scenes from any movie ever made. It should’ve earned Stephen Dorff an Oscar nomination. This is what it means to be sad and tired and alone. This is pain.

We’re back to those glorious moments of isolation. Ah, they just kill me.

How pleased Johnny is with himself when he admits, “I’m gonna be checkin’ out.”

I would kill to use Phoenix’s “Love Like a Sunset (Part I and II)” in a film, but it is simply untouchable. No movie could ever match or top what Sofia Coppola did with the track here. Perfection.

There is no other way Somewhere could end. The music, the beeping reminder that the keys are still in the ignition, Dorff’s profound look, his confident walk, the music. Chills. Tears. Bliss. This is everything.

And, just as a reminder, please check out Sati’s excellent post in which she visually compares Somewhere to my short film, Earrings. Sati’s Visual Parrells are always on point, but this one makes me particularly happy.

More “No One Talks About” lists:
Top 29 Things I Love About American Psycho
Top 37 Things I Love About As Good as It Gets
Top 31 Things I Love About The Departed
Top 22 Things I Love About Goodfellas
Top 28 Things I Love About Heat
Top 44 Things I Love About Magnolia
Top 13 Things I Love About Mulholland Dr. 
Top 52 Things I Love About No Country For Old Men
Top 27 Things I Love About Scream
Top 30 Things I Love About Se7en
Top 42 Things I Love About Shame
Top 39 Things I Love About The Silence of the Lambs