Summary
- Francis Ford Coppola likens the Megalopolis reception to the first reactions to Apocalypse Now, confident in its future appreciation.
- Megalopolis faced production challenges and has no distributor or release date yet.
- Director Coppola and star Adam Driver defend Megalopolis, touting its uniqueness and visionary quality.
Francis Ford Coppola responds to the mixed early reactions that his film Megalopolis cast includes Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Nathalie Emmanuel, Shia LaBeouf, Jason Schwartzman, Forest Whitaker, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, and Dustin Hoffman.
As per The Daily Beast, Coppola has responded to the divisiveness of Megalopolis, saying that “this is exactly what happened with Apocalypse Now 40 years ago,” in that there were “contradicting views” expressed about the film. He feels confident it will be “the same situation with Megalopolis,” and in time, people will come to appreciate the movie. Check out the full quote from Coppola below:
“This is exactly what happened with Apocalypse Now 40 years ago. There were very contradicting views expressed, but the audience never stopped going to see the film, and to this day Apocalypse Now is still in very profitable distribution. I am sure this will be the same situation with Megalopolis. It will stand the test of time.”
Megalopolis Has A Fraught Production History
Apocalypse Now is often considered one of the most definitive war films of all time. Within Coppola’s filmography, its greatness is often eclipsed by the Godfather trilogy, but it is nonetheless considered one of his most important projects. Still, using Apocalypse Now as the archetype for standing the test of time is complicated. As much as its cinematic achievement is recognized today, controversy over the portrayal of the Vietnamese characters in the film has only grown with time. So, while parts of Apocalypse Now are appreciated, the sanctity of its legacy is messy.
Messiness is already something that characterizes Megalopolis' production. Though Coppola imagined the beginnings of Megalopolis back in 1979, getting it to the screen has been an enormous challenge. The film struggled to find a studio for production and distribution, leading the Godfather auteur to self-fund the massive project. Furthermore, it saw key of its crew quit part way through the production, leaving Coppola and his team to have to scramble for a way to complete it. To date, it still does not have a distributor nor a release date.
Coppola springs to the film’s defense, and is implying that it is some form of unshakable masterpiece.
The bad press surrounding Megalopolis has left much of its production team on the defensive about the film. This includes Megalopolis star Driver, who recently called the work “undefinable” and “really unique.” He called Coppola “a visionary,” and spoke highly of the film, as he has throughout its entire process.
Coppola is no exception in the fight to stand up for Megalopolis. Even in the face of criticism, and after long-standing production challenges, the director does not at all seem to accept the words of any Megalopolis naysayers. Instead, Coppola springs to the film’s defense, and is implying that it is some form of unshakable masterpiece. Audiences will have to judge for themselves when Megalopolis is eventually released, after all this time.
Source: The Daily Beast
Megalopolis
- Release Date
- September 27, 2024
- Runtime
- 138 Minutes
- Director
- Francis Ford Coppola
- Writers
- Francis Ford Coppola
Cast
Forest Whitaker
Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, is a visionary 2024 film exploring the ambitious dream of reconstructing New York City into a utopia, following a devastating disaster. The narrative delves into the clash between the architect's utopian vision and the political and personal turmoil that ensues. With a star-studded cast, the film examines themes of ambition, power, and the human spirit's resilience against the backdrop of a futuristic metropolis.
- Main Genre
- Drama
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