When it's over, this film had the most unique opening I've seen in a very long time. There was less than 10 words said in the first 15 minutes. The whole beginning sequence was done in visuals and inter-cutting of well-thought out scenes offering a snapshot into the life of a Hollywood bad boy named Johnny Marco, played by Stephen Dorff. Johnny's loved by his fans, but can't seem to find a way to love himself and find meaning in his life. This first 15 minutes sets up the mood and the direction the film will take. The absence of dialogue evokes a sense of loneliness, emptiness, isolation, and boredom. I admire Director Sofia Coppola's vision and style (as she always demonstrates in her films), and it's because of her artistic abilities that kept me intrigued throughout the film. However, there's something very disappointing about going on a journey with a character only to be let down and unfullfilled in the end. That's how I felt with the ending of this film. Although the film suggests that Johnny has evolved, I would have liked to see him evolve, perhaps in a 5 - 10 minutes montage of the outcome of his decisions - on his life, his daughter, his career, his car, and it would have been nice to see where he ended up living. I don't want to give too much of the film away, so you really need to see the film to understand some of the comments I'm making. No doubt, this film is definitely a small experimental art house film, and would appeal to viewers who enjoy dissecting a film, because this film has a lot to break down - there's lots of metaphors, symbolism, and scenes left open for viewer's interpretation.
My rating: 3.5 out of 5
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