Coming off last year’s “Priscilla,” Sofia Coppola’s filmography is now being assessed by one of the most important people in her life.
Francis Ford Coppola was asked on Instagram what his daughter Sofia’s best films were. Of course, the one’s she directed, not starred in, otherwise he’d have no choice but to select her .. dubious acting in “The Godfather Part III.”
Regardless, his response checks out. He answered with the four best and most obvious choices— “Lost in Translation” “Marie Antoinette,” “Somewhere” and “The Virgin Suicides.” That’s the golden quadrology. They also happen to be her first four films. Sadly, her last four have been of lesser quality: “The Bling Ring” (still, a guilty pleasure), “The Beguiled”, “On the Rocks” and “Priscilla”.
Last year’s “Priscilla” was Sofia’s eighth feature. Sadly, she still hasn’t topped “Lost in Translation” which was the film that she built her career around. There’s something to like in every one of the eight films she’s directed, but I don’t believe Sofia’s ever again hit the greatness of “Lost in Translation,” released more than 20 years ago.
Her “auteur” stamp is in making these picturesque arthouse girl coming-of-age dramas. She’s only really veered away from this territory once, and that was with 2020’s “On the Rocks,” which was more about a full-grown woman coming to terms with her unstable dad, who happened to be played by Bill Murray.
Another noteworthy film of hers, and my personal #2 of her filmography, is “Marie Antoinette” which was booed at its Cannes premiere in May of 2006. The film also received mixed reviews from critics and is still “rotten” on RT.
Critics were annoyed with the loose portrayal of real historical events and figures in the film. Not to mention Coppola’s artistic decision to include indie rock songs within the film’s period setting. A creative decision which I found inspiring. The film has been reappraised by critics in recent years, and, in some circles is seen as her best film.