In the Coppola dynasty, there is Francis Ford of course, the daughter Sofia, the son Roman (Director), nephews Nicolas Cage, Jason Schwartzman (actor and singer)and Robert Carmine (singer) and the grand-daughter, Gia (it is all very complicated but this is clearer: http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famille_Coppola). Gia understood that family is important so she learned directing from her grandfather, her aunt and hiring some of their usual crew members for her movie. She also worked with her uncles for the soundtrack. Same thing for the cast since she took Julia Roberts’ niece, Emma for the female lead, Emma and Val Kilmer’s son, Jack for the male lead. That’s it for the Hollywood’s who’s who.
This film is an adaptation of short stories by James Franco “Palo Alto stories”, you know that guy that posts weird photos on social networks and make dude movies with his bestie Seth Rogen. Basically, expect idle teenagers and many joints smoking joints. More seriously, the film that was made with very little budget benefits a lot of advertisement just by its arty indie legitimacy thanks to the cast and crew members. So, much ado about nothing?
We have mixed feelings because there are some very good stuff and some flaws as well.
The good stuff:
The actors are great. Emma has a spontaneousness and a charisma that makes her a legit “Coppolian” muse. Same thig for for the young Kilmer which makes me think about Dicaprio at the beginning of his career. Appearances of Val Kilmer are also wonderful.
The subject of movie is well treated. A theme often seen in Coppola movies like “Outsiders” by Francis Ford and “The Virgin Suicides” by Sofia. Gia even managed to outdo “Somewhere” and “Bling Ring” from her aunt because here, her characters’s nonchalance doesn’t turn into deep boredom for the audience.
Indeed, many references are made to Sofia: “Virgin Suicides” poster in her heroine’s bedroom, shots of her in the car, hands caressing the wind reminiscent of Kirsten Dunst in “Virgin …”, the last long shots of her in her panties recalling Scarlett Johansson in “Lost in Translation”, shots of chairs by the poolside recalling “Somewhere”. Many references so that sometimes we question whether we’are wathing at a Sofia and not a Gia movie … which brings us to the flaws of the movie.
The not that great stuff:
By always working with the same people on the same subjects, we end up making copies. What interest is there to watch the same movie in terms of style and storytelling to another? The music, the atmosphere, the photography = Sofia Coppola. It’s only natural when we hire the same people to make it.
Too much Hipster. Let me explain: the photography is great it has a vintage stylish look … but we honestly feel like we are watching a movie with an Instagram filter. Especially as it adds to an atmosphere already “artificially” stylized. Electro indie music that is by the way very good, but combined with the directing using a lot of “gimmicks” is too much for one movie. We deplore spontaneity, simplicity that could have been profitable especially when we saw those flaws enough times in Sofia’s movies. It is not unbearable but it harms the movie. Especially since it uses the same processes ten times: the cut away shots on ten different objects, the several voiceovers that are disconnected from the image we see on screen. Some of it is okay, but too much : we see the trick. At the same time, she learned to do it like that since this how they do in the family.
And as Sofia, the rhythm is slow. We end up getting bored … That said, the film has more pace than “Somewhere” for example and benefit a certain dramatic tension.
In short, Gia is a worthy successor to the family dynasty with a stylish directing which uses their codes. It is still an honorable first film with that little budget. Great actors revealed to the international public but through a film that lakes pace and whose overflow style effects can bother. We must see if Gia actually come to create her own style without copying reproducing Sofia’s.
