Welcome back to the blog readers. Well, the day has finally arrived as the newest Francis Ford Coppola film is here. The film that has been a passion project of his for the last 45+ years of his life. A lot of hype has gone into this project as multiple stars have been in contention for roles in this epic science-fiction drama "magnum opus" that Coppola has been dreaming up. As a fan of science-fiction projects myself, I have always been curious about this film leading up to release. But now that the film is out, what would I think about it overall? Stick around to find out.
Megalopolis (marketed as Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis: A Fable) was written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film stars Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shai LeBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, Kathryn Hunter, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, D. B. Sweeney, and Dustin Hoffman. In the film, a visionary architect clashes with a corrupt mayor on how to rebuild the city of New Rome after a devastating disaster, with the mayor's daughter coming in between them and changing everything.
Like I said, this film has gone through a whole lot of trials and tribulations, and I really have been rooting for this film to succeed since it has been a passion project for 47 years. The problem is that this film has divided critics and audiences alike, with many calling it baffling and audience members walking out on the film. One audience member noted that there were 15 people that entered his theater for the start of the film and by film's end, only 6 people remained. Unfortunately for me, I am on the negative side of history of this film. I do agree that this film is a total mess with little to no cohesion and a piss-poor script, even though some of the performances are actually pretty decent.
Adam Driver has been a curious little conundrum over the last decade he has been acting. Why do I say he is a conundrum? It is because regardless of what he is in, I find him to be the best part of it. Granted I have not seen all his projects like The Last Duel (2021), House of Gucci (2022), and 65 (2023), I have loved him in everything I have seen him in, even that crappy film White Noise (2023) (more on this film later). I honestly feel the same way with him about this film. I found myself being attracted to this character that he plays with a sort of vigor and energy that I personally do not see from many other actors in this film. I feel like based on the interviews he has given, that he really connected with this material and wanted to help Coppola bring it to life, and I can see it in his delivery of lines and the passion he brings to the table. This film will inevitably get no Oscars but I would give him a vote or two if I could.
Then we have everyone's favorite villain in Giancarlo Esposito. Esposito knows what it feels like playing antagonists, since he has played and voiced so many. From Gus Fring to Moff Gideon, Stan Edgar to Antón Castillo, Esposito knows how to make a good villain. This film's antagonist, Francis Cicero, is not as memorable as those other villains, but Esposito definitely does what he can to make the character stand out from the rest. I think one of the best traits that Esposito has is the ability to bring a power to any role he takes on, and the same is true for Cicero. I truly found myself magnetized by his power and the ability he has to make anything work. He is playing another antagonist next year in Sidewinder, so I hope he brings that same power to the role.
I finally want to talk about the themes and story of this film, because I definitely have thoughts. Coppola said this about the film in 1992.
In many ways what it's really about is a metaphor—because if you walk around New York and look around, you could make Rome there ... Ultimately what's at stake is the future, because it takes the premise that the future, the shape of things to come, is being determined today, by the interests that are vying for control ... we already know what happened to Rome. Rome became a fascist Empire. Is that what we're going to become?
I definitely can see where Coppola would be coming from when he was developing this idea (and the quote is my way of not making myself seem like an idiot). And the fact that he mentions his fear of America becoming a fascist empire is more relevant than ever because a wannabe fascist is running to get back into the White House. Speaking of the orange man, I feel as if Shia LeBeouf's character is a stark comparison to him, especially with the rhetoric he says near the second half of the film. And for the record, I would rather vote for someone who actually has a plan, and not concepts of a plan.
To conclude my thoughts, Megalopolis is a pathetic mess that fails to do anything right, save for some of the performances. Thank you all for reading, and I will see you for the next post. P.S. More like Megaflopolis.
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