This Must Be The Place

There are some rock stars out there that do actually retire when they get older. This films explores what happens when one of them gives up the glamorous life.
Some rock and pop stars from the 80's would dress up when they performed. I'm not sure how many of them actually wore the make-up and costume when not on stage. Cheyenne is one rock star who still gets dressed up despite the fact that he no loner performs. He does it to go about his normal life and do his errands. It certainly provides much of the humour of the film. Seeing how people react to him is quite funny. I think the best thing is that he walks around with a small trolley. It is such a regular item for someone like this to be carrying around. Cheyanne's journey in this film is a very strange one. He is quite bored with his humdrum life and so when his father dies he travels from his secluded life in Dublin to the USA. Cheyanne discovers that his father had been trying to find a Nazi who tormented him during the war. So Cheyanne takes up his father's quest. The plot may sound a bit strange but it suits the film very well. There is a great deal of normality to the story but there are a few quirky and some outright bizarre scenes that make it different. That is what made me love the film so much. It could have easily followed a conventional path but writers Umberto Contarello and Paolo Sorrentino have made it just that little bit weird to make it different. Paolo's direction is excellent as well. He does these wonderful sweeping camera moves in certain scenes which I loved. There is also a brilliant musical performance by David Byrne which was strange but amazing. 
There is no doubt that Sean Penn is one of the best actors working today. For me this is one of his best performances. I think it is one of the best acting performances of any actor in any film. I was totally blown away by what Sean does here. His character is quite confronting in looks but you come to really care about him and his journey. The lightness of his characters voice was a nice touch as well. I am a huge fan of Frances McDormand as well. I loved how as Cheyanne's wife she freely accepts his odd behaviour. I just wish she was in the film a bit more. Eve Hewson is excellent as a young friend of Cheyanne's. Judd Hirsch is quite funny too as a man who helps Cheyanne in his quest.
Do not let the oddness of the film put you off seeing this brilliant piece of film making. It is not only hilariously funny but has some lovely moments of emotion. Then there is the phenomenal performance of Sean Penn, which is well worth the price of admission alone.