This Must Be The Place (2011)

An aging former rock star (Sean Penn) has been out of the limelight for twenty years, ever since two of his young fans committed suicide because of his dark music. Living in Ireland, he returns home to America for his father's funeral although he hadn't seen him for almost thirty years. After the funeral, he decides to search for the Nazi (Heinz Lieven) who persecuted his father at Auschwitz. Directed and co-written by Paolo Sorrentino (THE GREAT BEAUTY), this is a strange little film. It's not realistic in the least but rather an almost surrealistic road movie. Penn's performance is divisive. Depending on your point of view, yet another piece of ham from Penn or another fine performance by one of the best American actors. I'm leaning toward the latter though his performance is somewhat problematic. On one level, it's a perfectly tuned meticulous performance. Maybe too meticulous as there are no surprises as he hits every note as if he planned it that way. His character and that of his wife (Frances McDormand) seems to be loosely based on Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne. I didn't love the film but I liked the relaxed unconstrained way the story unraveled with the occasional surprises along the journey. There's a wonderful score by David Byrne, who plays himself in the film. With Judd Hirsch, Harry Dean Stanton, Joyce Van Patten and Eve Hewson.