Megalopolis, which draws parallels between the fall of the Roman empire and modern-day America, is a film by Francis Ford Coppola – and it couldn’t, in fact, be more by Francis Ford Coppola if it tried.
He wrote, produced, directed and self-financed it ($120 million; ouch) and even found the time to be its greatest fan. On the film review sharing platform Letterboxd he has awarded it five stars. Way to go, Francis. We’re behind you even though, to be honest, you lost us quite early on. The movie is often baffling, and plainly nuts, but I’d prefer to see something baffling and plainly nuts by Francis Ford Coppola than, say, sit through Dune again.
The script, when it’s not being declamatory, offers lines like: ‘Don’t let the now destroy the forever’
This is a passion project, or, if we are being mean, a vanity project, but as Coppola is the recipient of five Oscars and has The Godfather films as well as The Conversation and Apocalypse Now to his name, he has surely earned the right to do as he damn well pleases.
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