This Must Be the Place

USA 2011, 113 minutes
Dir. Paolo Sorrentino
Rating: [M] Offensive language & sexual references
Genres: Drama / Road Movie

Feat. Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch, Kerry Condon, Harry Dean Stanton, Joyce Van Patten, David Byrne, Shea Whigham

“Determinedly quirky and cool, arresting and ultimately too baffling to be satisfying, although Penn is priceless. Cultdom beckons.”~Empire Magazine

Aroview: Sean Penn is all affectation as a retired, depressed glam rocker who sets off on an American road trip in search of a Nazi war criminal in this eccentric but poignant comedy of the surreal.

Sure to divide audiences, this first English-language feature from Italian dir. Sorrentino takes its title from the Talking Heads song, and its random observational quirkiness is reminiscent of singer David Byrne's own directing effort, TRUE STORIES, as well as experimental stylists like Gus Van Sant. Like Sorrentino's other films, it is always visually arresting, but arguably fails to satisfying place its wildly caricatured protagonist in the real world.

NZ International Film Festival 2012

Member Reviews

Average rating (Very Good). Showing 1-3 of 3 member reviews.

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5 stars (Exceptional) Tale of an aging 80's goth singer, who could be depressed (but more likely just bored) takes on the task of tracking down his estranged (and dead) father's tormentor. Loved the soundtrack, loved the cast, I'm just in love with this movie! ~GenXGirl
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3 stars (Good Enough) Great soundtrack and cameos from Francis McD and Harry DS - the pace of the film also worthy of mention. ~Tubbs
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4 stars (Very Good) Quiet the achievement considering I normally can't stand Sean Penn. ~Regando