(2010, English and Italian) So loose and so cool … film star Johnny Marco (Stephen Dorff) races around in his black Ferrari, resides at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood between movies, parties (falling down stairs, breaking a wrist), and watches a pair of blonde twins, Bambi and Cindy, pole dance in his bedroom. Excitement as boredom.

Alone in his rooms he drinks beer and smokes cigarettes. Cellphone messages address him as "asshole" and "hot shit." His ex-wife Layla drops off their eleven-year-old daughter Cleo (Elle Fanning) for Johnny to drive her over to her solo ice-skating lesson and practice. He's so out of touch with Cleo's life that he doesn't know she's been ice skating for the past three years.

During a party, in the bedroom he falls asleep with his face between a woman's legs. Beautiful women avail themselves to his whims.

The next day at a photo session his co-star Rebecca whispers sarcastic remarks (no chemistry here); his replies to questions during the press conference are inane. For 40 minutes at the special-effects studio he has to sit still alone with his face covered in plaster for a head mold; the result is unnerving.

Writer and director Sofia Coppola's film, seeming much longer than its 98 minutes, is a Richard Cory story without the tragic conclusion.

After shagging his neighbor across the way, Johnny unexpectedly finds Cleo waiting for him in the hallway, wondering aloud why he took a shower in someone else's room. Her innocence and maturity are a stark contrast to his dissolute existence.

Along with Johnny's brother Sammy, they play video games. Layla calls to inform Johnny that she needs to get away for an indefinite time, asking him to make sure Cleo gets to summer camp on time.

Left with no other option, Johnny brings Cleo along to Milan where he'll be making his next picture; they reside in a luxury hotel suite with an indoor pool and a night visitor, Sylvia. He's presented with an award on Italian TV.

Back in California, they enjoy a few more days together, playing ping pong and cards and sunning themselves, before heading off to Camp Belmont, including a stop in Las Vegas for Johnny to throw dice in a casino. On the drive Cleo expresses her fear of being abandoned.

Lonely again in his hotel room he comes to a hollow realization about himself. So loose, so cool … going nowhere.

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Copyright © 2010 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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