"Somewhere" film producer Sophia Coppola with co-stars Elle Fanning & Stephen Dorff
Labor Day weekend is a big deal in Italy, its time for the 67th Annual Venice Film Festival and this year we were blown away by one independent film premiering there, “Somewhere” by Sophia Coppola. Not only does she look incredible in her Louis Vuitton dress and shoes, but her film is the most talked about and liked picture of the festival. Elle Fanning, younger sister to actress Dakota Fanning, makes a precious performance in the film and on the carpet, stood out in her Marc Jacobs gown, the dress is a perfect choice for a young girl.
"Somewhere" filmed at the Chateau Marmont Hollywood.
“Somewhere” also marks an exciting new phase in the real life career of actor Stephen Dorff, who originally made his mark in the film world playing Deacon Frost in many guys favorite film “Blade“, despite having been a successful actor for ten years by that time, including the film released one year before “Blood & Wine” where he co-starred with Jack Nicholson.
Stephen Dorff in Blade
Last year we saw Stephen alongside of Johnny Depp in “Public Enemies” playing a bad boy robber, but “Somewhere” shows a side of the actor that has gone unseen till now, he plays Johnny Marco – a young successful actor who lives at SSD’s real life favorite Hollywood spot The Chateau Marmont Hotel, the Sunset Boulevard icon of Hollywood often known for excess and impermanence.
Stephen Dorff on the set of "Somewhere" at The Chateau Marmont.
Every vice is easily available to Johnny: parties, women, sex, booze, drugs, fame, but he is always dissatisfied. Sudden change comes in the form of his 11-year-old daughter (Elle Fanning), who comes to stay with him after his ex-wife (Michelle Monaghan) leaves her at his doorstep.
“I think the movie is about his becoming a man,” Dorff said at the press conference at the festival. “A lot of characters I’m interested in are at a transition in life,” Coppola said. “Elle’s character is something real in a world not based on real things.” She said. “When I was first writing the script, Stephen came to mind.” Dorff praised Coppola and described making the film as “one of the most incredible experiences I’ve had. It made me really sad when it ended.” Dorff went on to add, “The one thing I found very realistic … there is an isolation that happens to an actor when a film is finished, for film actors, we work together three months, then the movie ends. I don’t go to an office every day. I am kind of left with not knowing what I am going to do, until the next movie arrives.”
Coppola said she wanted to do “a portrait of today’s L.A.” and the idea for the movie took shape while she was living in France after finishing “Marie Antoinette,” her last film, and viewing Los Angeles from a distance through the pages of tabloids brought by visiting friends. The 39-year-old director gives a fresh and often wry twist to the excesses of showbiz fame. We believe this is exactly the type of role that will bring Stephen Dorff the accolades he deserves and the insight to know not to let it all go to his head.
Stephen Dorff & Sophia Coppola at the "Somewhere" press conference in Venice.
Coppola said she got her inspiration for the story from growing up with her father, director Francis Ford Coppola, who serves as one of the film’s executive producers. “I spent a lot of time living in hotels while on location with my dad,” she recalled. “They are an impermanent place filled with characters in transition.
”We hope “Somewhere” wins The Golden Lion – the award all Venice Festival Particpiants hope to get – and is announced September 11th this year. And we are cheering Stephen on as his career takes on a new style. Watch for him in the upcoming movies; “Born to Be A Star”, Adam Sandler‘s comedy with Don Johnson and Christina Ricci as well as “Immortals” a Greek titan film where he was cast along side of Mickey Rouke, Kellan Lutz, Frida Pinto, and Isabel Lucas.
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