Friday, June 28, 2013

the Directors: Sofia Coppola

There’s a word I keep coming back to regarding the work of Sofia Coppola: confident. You can see it in the perfectly ‘70s appropriate production design of The Virgin Suicides, or in the overall pulp fiction retelling of Marie Antoinette, or in the painstaking patience of Somewhere. No matter what the material dictates – time, place, mood, tone – there’s an overall confidence to everything Coppola does.

Those who collaborate with Coppola are often quick to point out how specific she is with her vision. She has an idea of how something is going to be, and she sticks to it, no matter what. It’s that sense of artistic dedication that shines through every one of her films. And it’s probably also why everytime I watch a Sofia Coppola film, I’m convinced that it is the best film she’s made. With every subsequent viewing, I somehow grow more fond of her work. I suppose her confidence is to thank for that.

Lick the Star (1998)
The thing I like most about watching a director’s early short films is seeing how their initial style was born. For example, about two minutes into the black and white, 16mm Lick the Star, the most popular girl in school walks toward the camera in slow motion as a pop rock song blasts over the soundtrack. So from the get, you know damn well you’re watching a Sofia Coppola movie.

Lick the Star is about four middle school girls who consider poisoning the boys in their school, just because. The girls are led by queen bee, Chloe, and, thankfully, realize how full of shit Chloe is before things get way out of hand. With an amusing cameo by Peter Bogdanovich, and purposefully over exposed photography by the great Lance Acord, Lick the Star is a simple tale of popularity turned cold. When you’re up, you’re up, when you’re down, you’re down. B-
The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Coppola’s debut feature, The Virgin Suicides, is about so much more than depressed young girls. It’s about a time, a place, a way of life. When I watch this film, I’m transported to ‘70s Americana. The Virgin Suicides is so aware of its effect and how it goes about achieving it.

The film tells the story of five young, blonde, beautiful sisters, and the boys in their Michigan neighborhood who are transfixed by them. When one of the sisters inexplicably commits suicide, the remaining siblings don’t react as you might expect, instead going about their lives business as usual. But that’s because they’re leading up to a horrific punch line that no one else is privy to.

As is the case with every Coppola film, the cast of The Virgin Suicides is on point. But special mention needs to be given to James Woods and Kathleen Turner, who play the grief stricken parents of the girls. Both Woods and Turner’s performances are expert examples of what insurmountable grief can do to a person. This movie truly is one of the most confident debut films I’ve ever seen. A-

Lost in Translation (2003)
Lost in Translation is the biggest critical and commercial success of Sofia Coppola’s career, and the film that will surely define her as an artist. The film is a whimsical take on longing, love, and isolation. Through gorgeous cinematography, pleasingly appropriate pop music, and, of course, restrained and pensive acting, the film has become a landmark in American independent cinema. It cost only $4 million to make (which really, in the world of film, is nothing) and has since achieved classic status.

So, yeah, I’m damn impressed by how Lost in Translation was made, and thankful that it created a path for similar indie films of its kind. As Bob Harris, a famous American actor literally lost with himself, Bill Murray has arguably never been better. He’s funny when he needs to be funny, but, perhaps more notably, tender when he needs to be tender, spiteful, confused, and so on. And Scarlett Johansson (who was just 17 when the movie is filmed) adds greatly to Murray’s complexity. Their performances work in tandem; gently feeding off one another to a beautifully unique conclusion. A-

Marie Antoinette (2006)
All Sofia Coppola films are about isolation. And for me, Coppola’s Marie Antoinette is about a poor young girl being thrown into a situation against her will, and doing the best she can to cope. Of course, the film is about much more than that, but at its core, Marie Antoinette is about a girl lost, trying to keep her head above water.

The beauty of this film is in its levity. Sure, there are scenes of somewhat heightened drama (including its perfect ending), but Coppola’s unique brand of humor is what makes this film shine. Night after night, we watch Marie (Kirsten Dunst) be sexually rejected by her seemingly uninterested husband, Louis XVI (Coppola’s cousin, Jason Schwartzman). And, despite the repetitiveness of these scenes, it always remains humorous. As does Marie’s inability to grasp the manners of food, dress, conversation, and so on. While I think Marie Antoinette is far from Coppola’s best film, it’s rather refreshing to see a biopic about people involved in the French Revolution that in no way feels stuffy. B

Somewhere (2010)
I really like Lost in Translation. I enjoy its patience, its solitude, and its uniqueness. But I’ve always felt that Somewhere was a more eloquent follow-up to the mood Coppola depicted in Lost in Translation. The first time I finished Somewhere, I sat stunned in my chair. I had never seen anything quite like it, or at least not in a contemporary American film. The movie is a visual poem of man’s indifference, and how a feeling of indifference, when fueled by fame and wealth, can cripple a person into nothing.

The film very patiently follows movie star Johnny Marco (a career best Stephen Dorff, who really deserved more attention for his work here) as he aimlessly lives his life in L.A.’s famed Chateau Marmont. By all accounts, Johnny seems like a pretty standard star. He says little, parties frequently, sleeps around, drinks, smokes – he lives without a worry, moving to his own beat. And when he’s left to care for his young daughter, Cleo (Elle Fanning, perfect), Somewhere quietly morphs into a tender, father/daughter romance unlike any I’ve seen.

How does a star behave when he’s forced to behave? How does one impose rules when rules are normally disregarded? Coppola tediously explores this in Somewhere. Harris Savides’ miraculous cinematography, Phoenix’s gentle tunes, Sarah Flack’s reserved editing and the calm sensibilities of Dorff and Fanning all motivate the film’s purposefully slow narrative.

I’ve noticed that I’ve said a bit about the film here, but I’ve really said nothing. That’s the argument many detractors have with Somewhere, and Coppola’s films in general. What does it mean to watch a black Ferrari circle an empty racetrack in the desert, over and over and over? What does it mean to watch a man sit alone in a dark hotel room, drinking with one hand, smoking with the other? What does it mean for a man to finally admit his lack of worth to a telephone that isn’t hearing him? What does it mean? It means everything. A+

The Bling Ring (2013)
It hasn’t even been a week since I first saw The Bling Ring, and I already like it more than I did a few days ago. Like all great masters of cinema, Coppola’s films have a way of growing on you. Her impeccable sense of craft is something I admittedly don’t fully appreciate until days, weeks, months later. That’s her power.

The Bling Ring tells the true story of a group of teenagers who continuously robbed celebrities’ homes in 2008-2009. The kids, all wealthy and entitled from their parents’ money, stole cash, drugs, and designer clothes as a means of relieving boredom. There was no grand scheme or end game, they simply did it to do it, and Coppola captures it all in frenetic, jovial style.

Using a cast of virtual unknown young actors (with the exception of Emma Watson, who is superb as the most famous Bling Ringer, reality TV star Alexis Neiers), the film is a horrifying account of misspent youth and uninhibited wealth. While watching the many robberies in the film, I always found myself hoping the kids would get away with it. And later, when they foolishly bragged about their escapades at parties or on Facebook, I wanted nothing more then for them to go down.

Similarly to how The Virgin Suicides is a mediation on grief, the sequence in which the police search the homes of members of The Bling Ring is as honest a depiction of human nature as Coppola has ever captured. One kid denies everything, another tries to bargain. And one kid cries while hugging his mom, which is something I certainly didn’t expect to see. But that’s Sofia Coppola, never shying away from showing us something new. B+

In Summation
Masterful
Somewhere

Great
The Virgin Suicides
Lost in Translation
Marie Antoinette
The Bling Ring

Good
Lick the Star

Eh
None

Just Plain Bad
None



50 comments:

  1. She's one of my most favourite directors. I love all her feature films so far, except The Bling Ring since I haven't seen it yet.

    I would rank her films like this-
    1) Marie Antoinette
    2) The Virgin Suicides
    3) Lost in Translation
    4) Somewhere

    They are all A+ for me, and the difference between each is really minute.

    She's also directed my most favourite ad ever- Miss Dior Cherie. Absolute dream, that ad.

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    1. I know how big of a fan you are, so I really appreciate you commenting and leaving your rankings. Marie Antoinette is the film of hers I've seen the least, which is probably why it gets the lowest grade. After a few more viewings, I'm sure I'll love it more.

      Off to watch the Dior ad now. Thanks!

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    2. Btw, I had made an Ultimate Sofia Coppola list last year- http://beingnormajean.blogspot.ae/2012/05/ultimate-sofia-coppola-list.html

      What did you think of the ad?

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    3. LOVED your ultimate list. Great work!

      My God, what an ad. Portman is a goddess.

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    4. What an ad, I dug the Funny Face reference.

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  2. I really adore all of her films. If her weakest film is Marie Antoinette (which I actually do like a lot) then that is a compliment in my book. I still haven't seen The Bling Ring yet, but I'm definitely anticipating it.

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    1. Yep, completely agree. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on The Bling Ring. You can tell it's hers, but it's very different from the rest of her movies.

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  3. I'd rank them Lost in Translation, Somewhere, The Bling Ring, the Virgin Suicides (which is due a rewatch), Marie Antoinette. Somewhere is definitely deserving of more appreciation. For one of my film classes we had to screenshot a film every time there was a different shot, I decided to watch Somewhere since I remembered there were a lot of long takes, turns out there are only 372 shots in the whole film, it's not at the level of Tarkovsky's Stalker, but still damn impressive.

    Coppola is definitely one of my favourite directors working and I don't think anyone has the talent of injecting a song into a film at the perfect moment;
    Just Like Honey and Sometimes in LiT,
    Crown on the Ground and All of the Lights in the Bling Ring,
    Cool, I'll Try Anything Once and Love Like a Sunset in Somewhere
    and literally every song in Marie Antoinette, especially Ceremony, they all work so damn well.

    I can see how it would grate on some people, but my favourite part of her films is always the soundtrack.

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    1. Dude, that sounds like an excellent exercise for a film class. I wish I would've gotten that assignment back in the day. In fact, that'd make for a great blog post... but I fear it would test readers' patience. Hmmm....

      I didn't have a chance to mention her song choices in great detail, but I agree that she's one of the best filmmakers to put song-to-movie image. Love Like a Sunset takes the cake for me. What a fucking POWERFUL way to end a film. I gasped when those credits came on.

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    2. I remember one kid randomly picked Matilda for the film he did the screenshots for, and obviously since its a dialogue driven film there were lots of cuts between actors and he had thousands of shots, maybe 3000 and it took him forever to watch the film and rename all these image files.

      You get some cool stats from it though, like I learnt the average shot duration was 14.4 seconds, 40 shots lasted over 30 seconds and there are ELEVEN that last over a minute. Here's what it all looked like http://i.imgur.com/H5cBjOf.jpg

      It definitely gave me a further appreciation of Somewhere though, its amazing that the film works so well and the relationship between the father and daughter is so clear even though there are only like 3-4 dialogue scenes between them. I can't believe Dorff's career hasn't gained some traction after that performance, the only thing I can think of that I've seen him in since are the e-cig commercials.

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    3. Fuck man, that's brilliant. Question: what about the final shot? ;-)

      I can't believe Dorff hasn't "made it" (again) either. Such a damn shame. But hopefully those e-cig commercials bring in the dough. I've always really liked him.

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  4. There is no filmmaker that holds more importance to me than Sofia Coppola. I love pretty much everything she's done so far. Lost in Translation means the world to me as it was the film that basically broke every idea I had thought about what a movie is and I suddenly realized that it's a lot more and it actually said something to me as a 22-year old w/ no sense of direction and was absolutely unsure of what to do with life.

    That was the film that made me want to go into that world of film and I think her work since then has become more ravishing as it goes on. I recently updated my Auteurs piece to include her most recent films.

    Here's my list where I've now included links to all of the films in the notes. There is no filmmaker today that continues to impress me more than anyone as I'm going to be a devoted follower... for life.

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    1. Oh, I want to add something. Scarlett was 17 during the production of Lost in Translation. She turned 18 during the middle of making Girl with a Pearl Earring. It's one of these things you have to know if you're a hardcore Sofia fan like I am.

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    2. What a great comment here. Your passion for her work really shines through. I knew you valued her work, but I had no idea you invested that much stock into her. Great stuff man, truly.

      I love when art literally speaks to us. It's so profound in that way, art.

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    3. Ahh good catch. Will update now, thanks!

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  5. Somewhere is my favourite Coppola film, no question. Not sure if that has something to do with seeing it with my dad at a festival a couple of years, but I think, without question, he was the right person to see it with especially because of the subject of the film.

    But all of her work is so good! Haven't see The Bling Ring as of yet (it's not even out in the UK, comes out next week I believe), but we shall see.

    Nice write-up, Alex!

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    1. Thanks! So glad to hear the Somewhere praise. I simply adore that film. And I bet it was a good experience to see it with your pops.

      Thanks for the comment!

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  6. She certainly is a visually inventive director and I love the way she explores alienation through symbolism and music in her films.

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    1. Hell yeah. She's such a visualist... I remain in awe of what she says with an image.

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  7. You're absolutely right to say that Coppola's films stick with you for days, weeks, months. That's exactly how I felt about The Bling Ring; it didn't live up to my expectations, but I couldn't stop thinking about it post-viewing and had to see it a second time. She has a very unique craft in that respect.

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    1. Definitely. I am in desperate need of seeing The Bling Ring again. I know my grade for it will go up after another viewing.

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  8. Alex, you're the man. If you don't mind, I'm just going to quote you back to you to demonstrate how much I loved this post.

    "All Sofia Coppola films are about isolation."

    "What does it mean? It means everything."

    "It hasn’t even been a week since I first saw The Bling Ring, and I already like it more than I did a few days ago."

    "Eh
    None

    Just Plain Bad
    None"

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    1. Ha shit, that was awesome, thanks man. I try to speak the truth as often as I can!

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  9. Have only seen three of Sofia's films, no Marie Antoinette or The Bling Ring. Here's how I'd rate them. Great post, dude.

    The Virgin Suicides B

    Lost in Translation A+

    Somewhere B+

    But, on my re-watch of the latter I greatly appreciated it more. Fantastic film I think will only improve further. Translation is one of my favourite films ever.

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    1. Thanks buddy! Great rankings there. All of her films really do improve for me with more viewings. She's like Kubrick in that way. They always grow.

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  10. I always make it a point to check out Coppola's work. Lost in Translation is still my favorite film from her (and possibly my favorite film from the 2000s, period), but I love that you singled out Somewhere as her best. That one is way too underrated so it's nice to see it get some love here.

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    1. I had seen Somewhere twice, when it first came out. Then I rewatched it a few months ago and was dumbfounded. It had a HUGE effect on me that I didn't suspect. I'll always love that one.

      Thanks for reading Eric!

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  11. I didn't need another reminder why you are one of my favourite film bloggers Alex, and yet you've given me one. Somewhere is one of my all-time favourite films and I fuckin' flip every time others heap praise on it as it's worryingly underrated. A beautiful, masterful movie that's a huge inspiration for me personally.

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    1. Thanks man, that really means a lot. I know you and I have been steadfast champions of this movie, which I believe is a good thing. "Worryingly underrated" is very well said. Well said, and scary.

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  12. I love Sofia! Of course, I have yet to see Somewhere and The Bling Ring, but all of her films are amongst my favorites. I'm so happy you finally featured her, Alex.
    Her films are all about the mood. Whether you can connect to the mood varies from person to person, making Coppola's films feel really personal. It's not so much that she transports you into another world but let you observe it and recognize its familiarity to your own.

    I would rank her films:
    1) Marie Antoinette, A+
    2) The Virgin Suicides, A+
    3) Lost In Translation, A+

    You've now motivated me to finally get around to seeing Somewhere. I had no idea you loved Sofia that much!

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    1. AWESOME rankings! I love that. Yes, please do see Somewhere and let me know what you think about it. I truly adore that movie; a huge creative influence over my own filmmaking.

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  13. I couldn't rank her films because I've only seen The Bling Ring and Marie Antoinette, with all the others always on my to-see list. The two I've seen they weren't something that I loved right off the bat, but as you pointed out they do grow on you. I look forward more and more to seeing the rest of her filmography. :)

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    1. It's so odd how they grow, isn't it? The two you've seen are the two that have taken the longest amount of time to grow on me, but grow do they ever.

      Be interested to hear your thoughts on Somewhere!

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  14. I have a love/hate relationship with Sofia Coppola, not being a big fan of her dialogue but loving the stories she crafts and the lavish visuals she's consistently composed. I've been plowing through her filmography as of late in anticipation for The Bling Ring, I need to watch Somewhere when I can.

    She's an undeniable talent and at times as visually adept, nay masterful as her brilliant father before her. I hope to see Sofia try and tackle something as robust as a work like The Godfather or Apocalypse Now someday, I can see her at the wheel of a 2+ hour epic with the utmost confidence.

    Her recent ad for H&M is pretty lavish as well, it's worth a look.

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    1. You know, this may be the first time I've heard someone say they hope Sofia makes an Apocalypse Now-sized film. Not saying that'd be a bad thing at all, but it'd be damn different. But hey, her pops started with really small flicks as well. So who knows?

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  15. It's great to see how you rank her films, as her work can be so divisive. Again, Somewhere on top is always great to see. My current ranking would be:

    1. Lost in Translation (A+)
    2. Somewhere (A+)
    3. Marie Antoinette (A)
    4. The Bling Ring (A-)
    5. The Virgin Suicides (B+)

    I haven't seen Lick the Star, but I'll watch it soon.

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    1. Love your rankings. I've only seen Marie Antoinette twice, so I really need to check that one out again. Somewhere, man... movie kills me.

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  16. For me it goes
    'The Virgin Suicides' 4.5/5
    'Lost in Translation' 5/5 (my favourite film)
    'Marie Antionette' 3.5/5
    'Somewhere' 4/5
    'The Bling Ring' 3/5

    Sofia is one of my favourite directors. When I think of her work the words that pop into my mind are 'thoughtful', 'energetic' and 'exuberant'. I also love that she portrays such a great range of female characters. Unlike many directors, she realises there are more than a few types of women.
    Great post Alex.

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    1. I had no idea LiT was your favorite film. That's awesome.

      I totally agree with your appreciation to her writing about females. Personally, I find women to be much more complex than men, and as a result, I enjoy writing female characters far more than men.

      A side story: when I switched the main character in Earrings to a female, the first thing I added as the post-sex scene. Why? Because a guy waking up after a one night stand is going to elicit, "Oh! Yeah! Awesome, bro!" from the audience. But a female waking up in a similar situation is going to (hopefully) elicit sympathy. See, complex.

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  17. Glad you like her! When I see The Bling Ring on friday, I'm planning to do a full post on Sofia. I don't like her films as much as you. For example, I wasn't a fan of The Virgin Suicides because I didn't really get it.
    I wasn't a fan of Somewhere either unfortunately. Lost in Translation is a masterpiece :)

    I'm excited for The Bling Ring though!

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    1. And I can totally understand why people don't dig her work. It's very different, you know?

      Hope you like The Bling Ring. Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

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  18. First time reading this post. Love everything that this girl touches. Even tried her Champagne, and it was good. I really liked reading your thoughts about "Somewhere" and how it says everything by doing nothing. Haft to rewatch that one again

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    1. Oh shit, I didn't know she made champagne... that's so awesome. Gotta love those Coppolas. Somewhere is one of my favorite movies from the past 10 years. So special, so unique.

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  19. I really and truly and well love Coppola, and my heart jumped with joy when I read what you wrote about Somewhere, the film I love most of all. I am definitely going to see Lick the Star as soon as I can because that opening scene you're describing truly screams Sofia's name! Your director articles are super interesting to read, thank you for sharing and putting in all the effort -- they must be one of the most time-consuming posts.

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    1. Thanks so much, Elina! Yeah, these posts do take a while to bang out, but they're always worth it to me. Sofia, ah, I just adore her. Somewhere is honestly one of the best films I've ever seen. I connect with it so deeply. Lick the Star is a lot of fun!

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  20. "Bill Murray has arguably never been better". Sorry but it's wrong I can't say its true because it isn't. Bill Murray was better in Broken Flowers. There is the best Murray performance. I can say is one of my favorite performance ever.

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  21. It's hard to say but I liked Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette and Somewhere (I'll watch soon The Virgin Suicides and The Bling Ring) equally. All this films are about loneliness and sadness and really depends on many things to decide which one you love more (I'm more interested about L.A. than Tokyo and/or the french revolution).
    If I need to rank them, it would be like this:
    Somewhere (A+),
    Lost in Translation (A+),
    Marie Antoinette (A+).
    I'm really really not sure how The Little Mermaid will be. I would like to be more like a silent film about loneliness in the human world.

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    1. I think she could do wonders with The Little Mermaid material. I'm very excited for her take on that film. So glad you ranked Somewhere first. I adore that film.

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