I went to watch Megalopolis again and noticed a few things were missing from the print I saw on opening day. The first time I saw it, there was this really intentional delay in a scene where Cesar was talking-a super long pause. I’d heard it was meant to give a member of the audience or staff a chance to read a line from the script or something like that. Also, the slogans shouted by the protestors in the film seemed to be cut in the second viewing. The film felt like a mix of things: it had this play-like quality at times, but it also had elements of film noir, Fellini’s surrealism, and that campy Gotham City vibe. It felt nostalgic in a way, like the director was pulling from the styles and themes he connected with in his youth. By mixing in those familiar elements, I think he’s getting the audience to experience the film on multiple levels-part homage, part commentary on the issues we’re dealing with today. I really enjoyed it more the second time around, once I stopped comparing it to Coppola’s earlier films. This one’s different. It’s got a lot going on, and I think people will be talking about it for a long time. Honestly, I think it may eventually, with time, earn its place among the greats.
Saw this today and was thrilled with it from start to finish. One of the best films I have ever seen and I don't understand the hate the film is getting. Not only is it gorgeous to look at, beautifully acted, engaging, fascinating and emotional but it also has several genuinely funny bits. I loved it. Thanks for the review.
I thought the movie was a long exploration of love on every level and from every side, and it is played on top of a retelling and twisting of an actual historical event. It showed the ugliness and beauty of love. There was grief, jealousy, sex as a weapon on the negative side. Catalina was in the middle of psychosis in the first half of the movie, but he was also an indifferent and uncaring; the visuals in the first half can be seen through the lens of his psychosis. We don’t see how Platinum falls in love with Catalina but we know how that drives her anger and jealousy; which is how Pulcher responds to rejection. It was love that redeemed him and the second half of the movie was how that happened. Beyond the personal love, the movie explores love through the lens of family and civics to the love of humanity and all beings. As love refines Catalina, he starts to care more about other people. The movie as a whole can be seen through the lens of a fable with magical realism. As a fable, it has a clear moral message. The structure was coherent and clear. For the historical events, the scandal with the Vestal virgin happened with the real Catalina being accused of trying to sleep with one, which was a potential death sentence. The Coliseum scene with the virgin also speaks to love misused, her virginity was being put up for sale. I also think the historical Catalina is split into two characters - the cousins portrayed by Driver, who is the superego, and Labeouf, who is the id. But Driver starts off with his id and superego fighting from the grief of the loss of his wife. Coppola subverted both fables and the ending of the real conspiracy. Rome became a dictatorship. And part of the point of the movie is we can't make it on our own. Love is what brought him out of the madness.
@@lymphomasurvive - I made the point below that it's a raised middle finger to the critics who despise all of his work after APOCALYPSE NOW, and just want to be able to embalm him in marble along with his Seventies classics. They can piss themselves all they want-he made the movie he wanted to make, he made it all with his own money, and he made it completely the way he wanted to. It is completely HIS movie, and they are just going to have to deal with it-which many of them, mostly named "INDIEWIRE's David E_H_rlich", are doing very, very pettily and very Very VERY badly.
Loved it over here in the Philippines! Watching "Megalopolis" was like walking through a dream: there's beauty, monstrosities, wackiness, disjointedness, and hope, and I was grinning all throughout for its audacity. The mixture of the high and low, the juvenile acting with stunning visuals and editing, the resulting unique tone, was I think the point in Coppola's experimentation, because they make the film feel almost alive and help stick its ideas in a viewer's head in various ways compared to a conventionally told film that would have ideas land just one way for audiences. This is especially considering that the film's main character Cesar emphasizes the need for a continuing debate in our society. The misconception that Coppola had in making the film, I think, is in American audiences' open-mindedness when it comes to experimental cinema and reaching-for-the-stars ambition, which goes to show the unfortunate state of American moviegoing culture at present. I mean, I'm down for some superhero movies and old-fashioned storytelling, but I think one is better off not liking a film but having enough space for some appreciation of the artistry and insight that can be found in cinema rather than expressing hate for something that one didn't get upon first viewing.
" ...There is a lot of meat on the bone - even if it's a not particularly a meat some people will like." Hmmm, sounds suspiciously like Soylent Green to me.
At the Orpheum in Sydney, they're showing it on the smallest screen in the house instead of the magnificent 1933 main hall. I saw it at IMAX instead, and it really did it justice. I enjoyed it, but it's a shame to only show it on a small screen. They seem to be trying to bury it for some reason. It's something fresh and sophisticated.
Use to live in Napa, CA and made a couple of trips to Coppola's winery. Upstairs is a movie geek feast with a Tucker 48 car, Brando's desk from the Godfather, Kilgore's surf board from Apocalypse Now, plus lots of pre-production art work. His films are like paintings to me. Coppola will lose some money on Megalopolis, for now that's a given but he'll still have a legacy of amazing films which likely this will fit in. I plan to see it.
Oh, thank heavens! Raquel and I saw MEGAPOLIS Sunday night, and well I wouldn't say we loved it? We certainly liked it a lot better than the normal run of reviews do!
It's different. It's offbeat. It's most definitely unconventional in its presentation and delivery. It possesses supreme visuals. Some call it a mess and say it's unbalanced. It is, in fact, a beautiful mess and perfectly unbalanced. It's a Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece. I absolutely love it! Cesar Catalina created Megalopolis the city and Sir Francis Ford Coppola created an awesome motion picture by the same name. I couldn't be happier for him. Thank you, Mr. Coppola.
@terrytalksmovies That's the beauty of cinema. When we watch it, it becomes our own individual movie. My interpretation is for me only and yours is yours. We cinefiles get to share and discuss our respective perspectives which is always nice.
Many, many years ago I worked in Hi-fi and we helped deck out the sound systems in the Sun Cinemas. They have probably been upgraded since but the owner at the time was SUPER into sound. He was VERY particular about how the systems should sound, how annacoic the rooms should be, how powerful the subs needed to be, and they spent a MINT on the sound for even the smallest room there.
It's sad how many people are against this movie. It's an original IP by a pioneering film director. There are so many critics gleefully wanting this movie to fail. I was and still am hoping for this to at least to become a cult classic. He self funded this movie too. Sure he's had a couple of misfires but generally he's a hit filmmaker. Thank you Terry.
His filmography is far more miss than hit. Godfather 72/74, Apoc 79, Conversation 74. He didn't make a film in the 80s that anyone can remember. In the 90s the two films that got remembered, Godfather 3 (LOL) and Dracula. And the 25 years since the 90s ended? Nothing of note. His entire awards rack is those 4 70s films plus a few nods for Dracula and Patton (70). As a director of note he hasn't even EXISTED for 45 years.
This Is Not A "Hollywood" Film.... In Fact.... What Most People Think Of Hollywood Dosen't Exist Anymore. This Is A Independent Film Made By A Collective Of Artist. A Labor Of Love By More Than One Person. It Has It's Share Of Obstacles, Crisies, Shortcomings & Drama But Isn't Every Collaboration Subject To These? I Observe This Film As Art But Flawed Art. It Is Definitely A Culmination In More Ways Than One.
@@darthkek1953I have heard of Rumble Fish and it was a very good film. Even in 2009, Tetro was an excellent film. Granted, his greatest films were exclusively in the 70s, but he hit heights that decade that no other filmmaker ever hit in a single decade. And it's no surprise Megalopolis went over your head. It isn't for the simple. However, it is a marvelous film. I dare say a masterpiece.
I saw it last night. While watching, I felt like it was one of the technically worst movies I’ve ever seen, yet miraculously, I loved every minute of it. I didn’t get bored or look away from the screen once, and the message of the movie is still burned into my mind a full day later-more than I can say for most films. I’m confident this movie will become a cult classic soon and inspire many future creators. I’ll definitely buy the Ultra 4K Blu-ray when it’s released and watch it multiple times, at least once a year.
Fortunate to see it in Imax on a Wednesday/10:00 pm. Unfortunate in that Less than 10 people were present. I Had to support and view what Is likely to be the Maestro's final film on the biggest screen possible. The best Adam Driver has been, in my opinion. For all that there is to criticize by those who are panning/don't buy into this film, Driver's performance is deserving of an Oscar-nomination.
Lots of Roman history call-backs, I guess it makes sense, given Coppola's pride in his heritage. Probably worth the soldi/denarii to him. Also, everyone compares the US to the Roman Republic, anyway. I have to say the first two Godfather films were striking films. Fishburn was the young Bosuns Mate, "Clean" in Apocalypse Now (another great movie). Another favorite movie of mine. One of my high school teachers and coach's fought as a Marine at Camp Carroll, the Rockpile and Khe Sanh. He said that if you understand the Dolon Bridge sequence in Apocalypse Now, you understand Vietnam: "Soldier, who is in charge?" "Ain't you?" (to the Blooker Gunner) "Soldier, do YOU know who is in charge?" (Blooker Gunner after silencing the VC attack with a 40 mm grenade) "Yes."
Just got back from seeing it. I found it pretty awesome, actually. It was matter of each scene being compelling to me more than the whole result. But there is no film I've ever seen that is like it, and I've been watching movies for 60 years.
I agree completely. I thought it was fantastic. Theatrical, symbolic, self-referential, philosophical , funny and upbeat. I’ve been thinking about it for days.
I love independent reviewers and I know a number of them. I don't necessarily agree with them but they're always honest dealers with their audience. I love that.
Glad you enjoyed it, I had to see it after reading some particularly vitriolic reviews, and I was pleasantly surprised. And I'm not a big fan of Coppola's recent arthouse films, but this one was actually enjoyable to watch. And shame on the willfully dense critics who claimed that this movie can't be followed at all, I think they're giving the game away that they only know how to watch MCU movies now.
Some movies deserve to be rated A for Autopsy -- and some autopsies can be grimly fascinating. An ambitious misfire can beat a down-the-middle success. I may sit through this someday. Thanks, Ter.
It didn't look like a character driven story, but more of a big spectacle/concepts flick. If so, based on on fantastic visuals you describe, it should be worth it on that alone. Imma check it out based on this review. Thnx
Thans for picking this movie to discuss and giving it some breathing room. It's the kind of thing closer to my heart. You mention Fellini: Any plans to do a video focusing on his work (and/or work in this kind of mode)? I like a film of his that seems seldom discussed, CITY OF WOMEN. Sure would enjoy some of your thoughts on that film and Fellini in general. Thanks for this! I hope the movie DOES make SOME kind of money for the man! I worked with him a bit on his BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and found him great to work with, plus we had fun as Corman alumni talking about THAT interesting film maker too. good wishes!
@@B.B.Digital_Forest From my perspective and a life-long fan of the man's work (I was seeing his films as a young teen when some of them were first released) it is one of Fellini's most fun/playful movies and filled with some of his wildest, mad characters. of all ..and that's saying a lot.
I watched it 1 and 1/2 times this week and liked it even better the second time. I picked up more dialogue and understood more symbols. I see this as more of a fable crossed with autobiography of Francis Ford Coppola sort of. Anyway the movie leaves me inquisitive and full of wonder. The movie is kind of like an Easter egg hunt. There is dreamlike quality. There is philosophy. I’ll see it again.
The response to Megalopolis has been fascinating to watch (I've mostly been following the discourse on Threads). Haven't seen it and probably won't until it hits home viewing cos it's not playing anywhere near me, but I really want to just because the reactions are so divided; I see people calling it great, calling it shit, and sometimes calling it *both* of those things.
I missed my chance to see this opening weekend and have tickets for other films every night this week, so my plan is to catch up with Megalopolis Saturday. I'm intrigued, and even more so by the venom I'm hearing about it. Sometimes bad reviews become kind of a dare for me. Haha
I try not to read the reviews before I watch and review movies. Sometimes, I accidentally get the headlines while scrolling through news sites but I try to go into films with fresh eyes. Whether people are reviewers or not, I think that's a good approach to take. You can always read them later. If a movie intrigues you, watch it. 😀
Those reviews became a dare for me, certainly! That I enjoyed this film, although I can see the flaws in it, Gods know, convinces me that most mainstream critics these days, and especially INDIEWIRE's David E_H_rlich, have no fucking taste .
"Are ambitious and show me something i havent seen." I'm middle aged, but I've been watching the Skibidi toilet series on YT with a similar mindset. I actually think theres something pretty special in it.
@terrytalksmovies "Escelation" is a great descriptor. The kids today, in 40 years will rematch the series after their deserved nostalgia hit, and they'll get to see a deeper story. Kinda cool for them.
I perceived nothing special about her character and I wonder why the film’s trailers were so amorphous and outright deceptive; I think this film will be quickly forgotten until its “rediscovery” periods begin.
Although I felt disappointed after watching Joker 2, I feel like watching Megapolis especially, if it's about Francis Ford Coppola "the guy who made The Godfather trilogy".
Yeah, no….. it was as bad as everyone said if not more so. I rarely think of leaving a film I paid for, that idea popped into my head exactly 77 minutes into the film - I forced myself to finish this movie, out of respect for Coppola’s past achievements.
@@terrytalksmovies I must admit expensive failers from gifted artists have always fascinated me as they afford an opportunity to glimpse deeper than their more populist creations. "BABYLON" comes to mind, George Stevens' "THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD", "HEAVEN"S GATE", "BARRY LYNDON", so I will definitely see this . - m
So, is this movie just not being understood by the people who see it and review it? Are their expections off, for example, expecting another Sound of Music and instead they get Cabaret (something that isn't a happy little musical)? I'm surprised that there was so much negative press about it. Adding: others are saying the story gets more confused in the later half. One reviewer says: This is ART, that is why they are confused and hate it. The big corporations hate it because it is an independent production.
If you're only accustomed to mainstream movies, this isn't going to be an easy watch for you. If you watch widely, you'll probably get much more out of it.
I think his detractors hate it so much because, at bottom, the film is a 2:18 raised middle finger to his detractors. A lot of haters compared this film to Ayn Rand, which neither Raquel nor I got-so I have to wonder if that isn't a reference to Coppola making HIS movie, HIS way, and all they can do now is piss themselves over it, impotently. The accusations of Coppola inappropriately groping women during the production ties in so perfectly in with a spurious accusation made against Cesar that it feels like he deliberately put that in to clap back at them-which would be impossible as it's not just a quick reference, but a lengthy and significant plot point.
Im looking forward to seeing this! It’s my perception that spending over 100 million dollars on making a movie is pretty normal for the 21st century. Francis Knows how to tell a story. He’s always been a complete filmmaker!
I just saw the movie 30 minutes ago I really wanted to like it. The movie was trying to be bigger than it actually was. I see why Fancies had to make the movie on his own. It was a mix of modern times and 30’s/40’s and bad acting from good actors. There was a lot of parts that could have been edited out. It was a mess I kept thinking was director drunk when filming.
I found it unfocused, confusing, and not one issue was ever resolved except for the "the one-dimensional bad guys all got run over by a bus and the good people lived happily ever after" ending. Subtlety, 0. Sledgehammer, 1.
I don't think Coppola has the cultural cache he once had. It's easy to namecheck the Godfather, The Conversation, etc, but these were decades ago. His last five films before Megalopolis were Jack, The Rainmaker, Youth Without Youth, Twixt, and Tetro.
Cool review Terry. Yes, I've heard nothing but negative reviews about this one until now. I'm reading Lawrence Durrell's 'The Alexandria Quartet' at the moment - it's very much like what I've heard about this film. Felliniesque - I'm in!
Well, I'm seeing this tomorrow so I hope I can take Terry's word for it. My favorite Coppola film is "Apocalypse Now" (yes, Redux) which I've watched 8 billion times and I had the idea this would be Coppola's last hurrah and I didn't want it to be "Eyes Wide Shut" but I got "bloated" vibes from the trailers. All the slam reviews didn't help either. I remember reading about "Apocalypse Now" in 1972 in Playboy when it was supposed to star Steve McQueen and it turned out epic. But...did he really have to cast Jon Voight??
I’ll be watching it next Tuesday in an IMAX theater. Watched two great albeit completely different movies today in the theaters: The Substance and The Wild Robot.
@@terrytalksmovies My double feature next Tuesday will be “Megalopolis” and “My Old Ass”. AMC Theaters has discount Tuesdays with free membership and most movies are just $7.00 (IMAX is $13.00) all day Tuesdays. On other days, that $7.00 is $14.89 during matinee hours otherwise it’s $18.49.
I wish I could have caught it at the cinema, but I haven't gone to the theaters since February of this year. I'll try to catch it on cable in the future. Right now I'm waiting for my blu-ray copies of "The Double Life of Veronique", "Alphaville", and "The Marvels". (The crooks that be discontinued a Three Colors Trilogy collection to sell a newer set at twice the price!)
It's deliberately camp, manic, fragmented, banal, even cartoonish, the first film of the posthuman Tic Toc age in which our society is so degraded, so openly veering towards collapse, that it's only response to this brilliant film was to say, "When is the new She Hulk season coming out?" Megalopolis is a masterpiece. A decade from now people will speak of its prescience.
Mark Kermode summed it up really well by stating it was a folly and not a fable. A mind numbing, boring movie full of pretention. All of the actors appear to be acting in different movies and clash against each other. Adam Driver in arch Shakespearian mode, Shia LaBeouf in over the top camp and an incomprehensible Jon Voight. It's only worth seeing for Audrey Plaza's performance. Gian Carlo Esposito is good. It's really unfortunate that the elaborate and beautiful images are not in service of a coherent and engaging story. In a few years time it may be revived and get a following like the Room. It's shoddy , messy and undisciplined. The same director of The Conversation who also unfortunately directed Jack. No it's not a good film. It certainly references Ayn Rand's novel , The Fountainhead. Doesn't work as an allegory, science fiction or magical realism.
But....but....but.... The fact that he can freeze time has nothing to do with the plot!!!...So obviously this is one of the worst films of all time (Im kidding) Seriously if I see one more negative review with that as one of the main criticisms I'm going to go crazy. After sitting on this film for a few days, I am undecided on whether or not I think it is a great film. Or even a good film. I feel like the story had a lot more potential to be better. And i don't mean more coherent. I mean in terms of impact toward the themes. But i was enthralled. And I can't wait to go back to the theater and see it again. Anyone who walks out of this film...I just don't get it. Thank you for a positive review(they are hard to come by)
Yes; just going from memory; he’s commenting on Carthage under the veil of the supposed script to challenge the Molech which burns their first born. Why at the end the babe is saved from Time the Ruiner. As it says in the end of The Book of Revelations: “And swear that there shall be time no more.” For time is that limit which provides the excuse to what destroys Beauty. However to openly challenge that cult which still runs Hollywood and the world?
They deliver the edicts of God Without delay And are exempt from apprehension From detention And with their God-given Petasus, Caduceus, and Talaria Ferry like bolts of lightning Unhindered between the tribunals Of Space and Time The Messenger-Spirit In human flesh Is assigned a dependable, Self-reliant, versatile, Thoroughly poet existence Upon its sojourn in life It does not knock Or ring the bell Or telephone When the Messenger-Spirit Comes to your door Though locked It’ll enter like an electric midwife And deliver the message There is to tell Throughout the ages That a Messenger-Spirit Ever stumbled into Darkness Destiny, by Gregory Corso “On the bottom of the pyramid there are people thrown into homelessness.” FFC ‘Francis Ford Coppola heard support and criticism at a meeting about his North Beach Citizens Initiative’ North Beach Journal (sept 2002 vol 3: no 1)
A hundred & twenty million dollars is probably lunch money to Coppola. 🍗 I usually try to avoid reviews of films before they come out so I can form my own negative opinion 😼 but you really piqued my interest. PS I used to have a friend who lived in Yarraville & we saw many films in the Sun cinemas. They're great cinemas full of charm & ambience.
I just call the movies as I see them. A lot of professional reviewers for newspapers are limited by ad revenue on their masthead. Being a RUclips reviewer is a freer thing.
@@bartholdy74 Usually it isn't a good idea for a director to fund his/her own films. It's usually because if it underperforms it is the director left holding the bag. A studio with its producers usually handle it by balancing the books with a box office hit or two.
Thanks for this, I was on the fence as the reviews are pretty bad. Mostly that it's boring and too philosophical. Coppola has had his ups and downs but he definitely swings for the fences so he deserved all the credit in the world. I'd heard he wanted to make this for years so I'm glad he got to do it finally. Why not spend your own money especially if it's probably going to be your last film. Given the title, I had thought the influence was Fritz lang's Metropolis, like that on steroids. No?
I'm glad you haven't joined the critical stacks-on- the-mill on this one. I haven't seen it yet, and I doubt I'll like it very much when I do - there's nothing about what I've seen so far that appeals, except for the production design. But the whole critical head-shaking, eyebrow-raising 'Worst. Movie. Ever' response just seems crass to me. I'm not saying critics should let Coppola off lightly, for services rendered, but an original achievement like this certainly deserves respect - and an actual understanding of what it's doing. I blame Mark Kermode for turning the 'rant' into the easiest way for wannabe critics to achieve clicks...
I'll hack apart a movie that deserves it but this one definitely doesn't. I love its originality and I can excuse a little incoherence because it's a unique vision and a mission statement for the future of humanity, which was totally unexpected.
@@terrytalksmovies What I like about your reviews is that even when you hate a movie - unless it's genuinely morally reprehensible - you don't take it as a personal affront or as an opportunity for grandstanding. (Although you might get more clicks if you did 🙂)
I really enjoyed John Voight's performance because it felt like he was taking the piss out of Donald Trump… Even though he's a Trump supporter, so go figure…? Shia LaBeouf was either brilliant at acting hateful, or he's just so incredibly hateful that it flows out of his pores naturally. I can never decide if LaBeouf is a brilliant actor or a complete and utter tool-I guess trying to figure out what side of the line he's on why Hollywood keeps casting him.
Unfortunately, sometimes Directors make one too many films. Ford, for example, should have stopped with Two Rode Together or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, instead of making Cheyenne Autom or Seven Women
@@terrytalksmovies LOL, to be more specific when I saw the extreme negative reaction from everyone online i thought to myself "it's probably not THAT bad, but just very, very WEIRD." Most people don't have a high tolerance for weird things, even if they say otherwise.
I'll have to take your advice, but I can't help but think of The Fountainhead, I mean it's got that 'genius architect figure - but also what I've seen looks over the top and badly acted. But is it 'so bad it's good?' With Ayn Rand, her personal egoic, not to mention ideological, pretensions are on full display for the audience to chew on. In fact, there is an certain quality... is it my gaze, or is it in King Vidor's direction? Did he over-do it on purpose because he knew the material was silly, or was he a 'true believer'? Regardless, the movies makes me crack up all through it. I"ll be curious to see if there are any echoes of that experience in Megalopolis.
It's not really like that, except in the loose sense of an architect as an artist who will do whatever he must to see his vision realized-and that's just about any creative artist who's not a complete hack. Cesar Catilina is as much David Fincher, Orson Welles, David Lynch, Denis Villeneuve, or Francis Ford Coppola as he is Howard Roark, maybe more so because while all of those filmmakers believe in their ability to stop time with their movies? Howard Roark is too much of a feet-planted-on-the-ground rationalist for that sort of airy-fae malarkey....
I didn't dislike any of it. Sure it's unorthodox. Uses poetic logic rather than being literal. Symbolic but not directly analogic. A deliberate hodgepodge of overlapping classical references to blur any delineations relating to current minutia. It's not meant to be totally intellectualized, but rather sensed. I do think there's too many threads that abruptly begin and then suddenly are forgotten without narrative satisfaction. Feels like a pithy recap of something much fuller.
Ambitious, yes. Well made? Not quite! There were elements that I enjoyed about the film, but the dialogue/ plot took a backseat to the spectacle of CGI 🤷🏾♂️🚫🎬
I paid to see it after watching this video. Hardly seemed original at all, more like a mashup of Dune (Lynch version), Brazil and Dark City without the wit and humour of any of them. Profound message? 'people suck and power corrupts', hardly news. He should have just produced it and found a director that can do 'magical reality' well, although I doubt Lynch, Gilliam, Jackson or even Linklater would touch the project with the wrong end of a toilet plunger. Either FFC had an extended 'senior moment' or he's pranking all the sycophantic pseudo-intellectual movie critics that will pretend it's a masterpiece. I asked for a refund and got it without question, just the comment "You did well, none of the staff here lasted more than 20 mins with this one".
@@terrytalksmovies He owes a lot more to the Manager of Luxe in Wisbech for loss of income and Aubrey Plaza for torpedoing her attempts to be considered for 'serious' roles. I guess I must be one of those ignorant philistines that lack your ability to see the Emperor's new clothes. C'mon you must have seen Fellini's Roma, that film changed my outlook on life, this garbage was more gruelling and pointless than sitting through all the episodes of the Bladerunner prequel The Man in the High Castle.
@@terrytalksmovies I don’t see hatred to be honest, just people saying it’s a bad movie, which it is. But some people think it simply cannot be a bad movie because it’s made by This guy. I was never much of a godfather fan really, I think apocalypse now is his only really good movie. But that’s just me.
@@terrytalksmovies- I wonder if there isn't a "paradox of speech" similar to the paradox of tolerance, because Elon Musk, J.D. Vance, and Donald Trump are certainly pushing that to the limit! 🙄
You have got to be kidding. Copula has made nothing but junk for years, this is the worst yet. I lost a huge amount of respect for the actors that helped him make this sadness.
Sometimes a comment, or a movie, is just so incredibly idiotic it could almost be mistaken for genius. Congratulations, Good Sir! You are the Tommy Wiseau of pointless negative comments. 🙇♂
You’d think modern audiences would understand a movie having Dream Logic / surrealism in movies. “Uhh! This strange! Can’t be good!”
For many movie goers there's a definite learning curve to Megalopolis.
I went to watch Megalopolis again and noticed a few things were missing from the print I saw on opening day. The first time I saw it, there was this really intentional delay in a scene where Cesar was talking-a super long pause. I’d heard it was meant to give a member of the audience or staff a chance to read a line from the script or something like that. Also, the slogans shouted by the protestors in the film seemed to be cut in the second viewing.
The film felt like a mix of things: it had this play-like quality at times, but it also had elements of film noir, Fellini’s surrealism, and that campy Gotham City vibe. It felt nostalgic in a way, like the director was pulling from the styles and themes he connected with in his youth. By mixing in those familiar elements, I think he’s getting the audience to experience the film on multiple levels-part homage, part commentary on the issues we’re dealing with today.
I really enjoyed it more the second time around, once I stopped comparing it to Coppola’s earlier films. This one’s different. It’s got a lot going on, and I think people will be talking about it for a long time. Honestly, I think it may eventually, with time, earn its place among the greats.
The reputation will definitely change with time. There's an odd hysterical tone to a lot of the criticism of the movie.
it was like some Williams Castle gimmick, and no one in our theater did anything so it added to the weirdness.
Saw this today and was thrilled with it from start to finish. One of the best films I have ever seen and I don't understand the hate the film is getting. Not only is it gorgeous to look at, beautifully acted, engaging, fascinating and emotional but it also has several genuinely funny bits. I loved it. Thanks for the review.
My pleasure. It's a weird, fascinating story and basing it on a 2000 year old obscure history is mindblowing.
You can never please people. They whine for originality but when they get it they destroy it 😅
It's definitely far from perfect but it is original. In a way it felt like Southland Tales and other outliers.
I thought the movie was a long exploration of love on every level and from every side, and it is played on top of a retelling and twisting of an actual historical event. It showed the ugliness and beauty of love. There was grief, jealousy, sex as a weapon on the negative side. Catalina was in the middle of psychosis in the first half of the movie, but he was also an indifferent and uncaring; the visuals in the first half can be seen through the lens of his psychosis. We don’t see how Platinum falls in love with Catalina but we know how that drives her anger and jealousy; which is how Pulcher responds to rejection. It was love that redeemed him and the second half of the movie was how that happened. Beyond the personal love, the movie explores love through the lens of family and civics to the love of humanity and all beings. As love refines Catalina, he starts to care more about other people. The movie as a whole can be seen through the lens of a fable with magical realism. As a fable, it has a clear moral message. The structure was coherent and clear. For the historical events, the scandal with the Vestal virgin happened with the real Catalina being accused of trying to sleep with one, which was a potential death sentence. The Coliseum scene with the virgin also speaks to love misused, her virginity was being put up for sale. I also think the historical Catalina is split into two characters - the cousins portrayed by Driver, who is the superego, and Labeouf, who is the id. But Driver starts off with his id and superego fighting from the grief of the loss of his wife. Coppola subverted both fables and the ending of the real conspiracy. Rome became a dictatorship. And part of the point of the movie is we can't make it on our own. Love is what brought him out of the madness.
Absolutely. It may well be Coppola's love letter to the future.
@@terrytalksmovies So many critics call it incoherent. I don't get it. Why do you think so many people hate it so much?
@@lymphomasurvive - I made the point below that it's a raised middle finger to the critics who despise all of his work after APOCALYPSE NOW, and just want to be able to embalm him in marble along with his Seventies classics. They can piss themselves all they want-he made the movie he wanted to make, he made it all with his own money, and he made it completely the way he wanted to. It is completely HIS movie, and they are just going to have to deal with it-which many of them, mostly named "INDIEWIRE's David E_H_rlich", are doing very, very pettily and very Very VERY badly.
Loved it over here in the Philippines! Watching "Megalopolis" was like walking through a dream: there's beauty, monstrosities, wackiness, disjointedness, and hope, and I was grinning all throughout for its audacity.
The mixture of the high and low, the juvenile acting with stunning visuals and editing, the resulting unique tone, was I think the point in Coppola's experimentation, because they make the film feel almost alive and help stick its ideas in a viewer's head in various ways compared to a conventionally told film that would have ideas land just one way for audiences. This is especially considering that the film's main character Cesar emphasizes the need for a continuing debate in our society.
The misconception that Coppola had in making the film, I think, is in American audiences' open-mindedness when it comes to experimental cinema and reaching-for-the-stars ambition, which goes to show the unfortunate state of American moviegoing culture at present. I mean, I'm down for some superhero movies and old-fashioned storytelling, but I think one is better off not liking a film but having enough space for some appreciation of the artistry and insight that can be found in cinema rather than expressing hate for something that one didn't get upon first viewing.
Coppola has been know to play the long game with movies. Films like One From The Heart took decades to be understood by a broad audience.
" ...There is a lot of meat on the bone - even if it's a not particularly a meat some people will like."
Hmmm, sounds suspiciously like Soylent Green to me.
A much lesser movie. 🙂
At the Orpheum in Sydney, they're showing it on the smallest screen in the house instead of the magnificent 1933 main hall. I saw it at IMAX instead, and it really did it justice. I enjoyed it, but it's a shame to only show it on a small screen. They seem to be trying to bury it for some reason. It's something fresh and sophisticated.
They don't think it will find an audience. I'll have to check out the Orpheum next time I'm in Sydney.
Use to live in Napa, CA and made a couple of trips to Coppola's winery. Upstairs is a movie geek feast with a Tucker 48 car, Brando's desk from the Godfather, Kilgore's surf board from Apocalypse Now, plus lots of pre-production art work. His films are like paintings to me. Coppola will lose some money on Megalopolis, for now that's a given but he'll still have a legacy of amazing films which likely this will fit in. I plan to see it.
I hope you enjoy it. Like I said, challenging but really interesting.
Oh, thank heavens! Raquel and I saw MEGAPOLIS Sunday night, and well I wouldn't say we loved it? We certainly liked it a lot better than the normal run of reviews do!
It is better than the reviews said it was.
It's different. It's offbeat. It's most definitely unconventional in its presentation and delivery. It possesses supreme visuals. Some call it a mess and say it's unbalanced. It is, in fact, a beautiful mess and perfectly unbalanced. It's a Francis Ford Coppola masterpiece. I absolutely love it!
Cesar Catalina created Megalopolis the city and Sir Francis Ford Coppola created an awesome motion picture by the same name. I couldn't be happier for him. Thank you, Mr. Coppola.
I'm slightly less enthusiastic about it than you are, but I can see where you're coming from. 😀
@terrytalksmovies That's the beauty of cinema. When we watch it, it becomes our own individual movie. My interpretation is for me only and yours is yours. We cinefiles get to share and discuss our respective perspectives which is always nice.
Many, many years ago I worked in Hi-fi and we helped deck out the sound systems in the Sun Cinemas. They have probably been upgraded since but the owner at the time was SUPER into sound. He was VERY particular about how the systems should sound, how annacoic the rooms should be, how powerful the subs needed to be, and they spent a MINT on the sound for even the smallest room there.
The sound is always great at The Sun. I've seen quiet dramas and full on action movies there. Both sounded great.
It's sad how many people are against this movie. It's an original IP by a pioneering film director. There are so many critics gleefully wanting this movie to fail. I was and still am hoping for this to at least to become a cult classic. He self funded this movie too. Sure he's had a couple of misfires but generally he's a hit filmmaker. Thank you Terry.
It's an honest film and I like it for that.
@@terrytalksmoviesas an artist myself, that's probably the highest praise I could recieve. "Your art was honest."
His filmography is far more miss than hit. Godfather 72/74, Apoc 79, Conversation 74. He didn't make a film in the 80s that anyone can remember. In the 90s the two films that got remembered, Godfather 3 (LOL) and Dracula. And the 25 years since the 90s ended? Nothing of note. His entire awards rack is those 4 70s films plus a few nods for Dracula and Patton (70). As a director of note he hasn't even EXISTED for 45 years.
This Is Not A "Hollywood" Film.... In Fact.... What Most People Think Of Hollywood Dosen't Exist Anymore. This Is A Independent Film Made By A Collective Of Artist. A Labor Of Love By More Than One Person. It Has It's Share Of Obstacles, Crisies, Shortcomings & Drama But Isn't Every Collaboration Subject To These? I Observe This Film As Art But Flawed Art. It Is Definitely A Culmination In More Ways Than One.
@@darthkek1953I have heard of Rumble Fish and it was a very good film. Even in 2009, Tetro was an excellent film. Granted, his greatest films were exclusively in the 70s, but he hit heights that decade that no other filmmaker ever hit in a single decade. And it's no surprise Megalopolis went over your head. It isn't for the simple. However, it is a marvelous film. I dare say a masterpiece.
I saw it last night. While watching, I felt like it was one of the technically worst movies I’ve ever seen, yet miraculously, I loved every minute of it. I didn’t get bored or look away from the screen once, and the message of the movie is still burned into my mind a full day later-more than I can say for most films. I’m confident this movie will become a cult classic soon and inspire many future creators. I’ll definitely buy the Ultra 4K Blu-ray when it’s released and watch it multiple times, at least once a year.
It's a movie unlike other movies and there are moments that fail, but it's definitely an experience.
I imagined that I heard that there was a "The Godfather: European Vacation" film in the pipeline, destined too be the definitive final work.
I doubt it. 😀
In the new release of Godfather III Michael Corleone didn't die in the end. We see him waking up after slumping on his chair.
Fortunate to see it in Imax on a Wednesday/10:00 pm. Unfortunate in that Less than 10 people were present. I Had to support and view what Is likely to be the Maestro's final film on the biggest screen possible. The best Adam Driver has been, in my opinion. For all that there is to criticize by those who are panning/don't buy into this film, Driver's performance is deserving of an Oscar-nomination.
I disagree about Driver, but everyone sees a different movie. He did fine but for me, her didn't impress. We can agree to disagree.
Lots of Roman history call-backs, I guess it makes sense, given Coppola's pride in his heritage. Probably worth the soldi/denarii to him. Also, everyone compares the US to the Roman Republic, anyway.
I have to say the first two Godfather films were striking films. Fishburn was the young Bosuns Mate, "Clean" in Apocalypse Now (another great movie). Another favorite movie of mine. One of my high school teachers and coach's fought as a Marine at Camp Carroll, the Rockpile and Khe Sanh. He said that if you understand the Dolon Bridge sequence in Apocalypse Now, you understand Vietnam: "Soldier, who is in charge?" "Ain't you?" (to the Blooker Gunner) "Soldier, do YOU know who is in charge?" (Blooker Gunner after silencing the VC attack with a 40 mm grenade) "Yes."
The parallels between the USA and the Roman Republic are useful but let's hope, not predictive.
Just got back from seeing it. I found it pretty awesome, actually. It was matter of each scene being compelling to me more than the whole result. But there is no film I've ever seen that is like it, and I've been watching movies for 60 years.
Absolutely. It's weird and unique and challenging.
I agree completely. I thought it was fantastic. Theatrical, symbolic, self-referential, philosophical , funny and upbeat. I’ve been thinking about it for days.
It an impressive achievement.
I ignore general consensus when it comes to film - a lot of stuff people love I find to be ok or meh at best and a lot of stuff people hate I love 😊
I love independent reviewers and I know a number of them. I don't necessarily agree with them but they're always honest dealers with their audience. I love that.
Glad you enjoyed it, I had to see it after reading some particularly vitriolic reviews, and I was pleasantly surprised. And I'm not a big fan of Coppola's recent arthouse films, but this one was actually enjoyable to watch. And shame on the willfully dense critics who claimed that this movie can't be followed at all, I think they're giving the game away that they only know how to watch MCU movies now.
I'm fortunate. I can groove on an MCU movie but I still try to keep flexible enough to enjoy Megalopolis and other more challenging films.
Some movies deserve to be rated A for Autopsy -- and some autopsies can be grimly fascinating. An ambitious misfire can beat a down-the-middle success. I may sit through this someday. Thanks, Ter.
It's worth seeing. Weird and unique.
Autopsies have scientific value, at least. I may watch it for science. If I happen to dig it, well that would be groovy gravy.
Saw it today. Was completely immersed and thrilled. Unlike anything else. A masterpiece!
It's a unique film.
It didn't look like a character driven story, but more of a big spectacle/concepts flick. If so, based on on fantastic visuals you describe, it should be worth it on that alone. Imma check it out based on this review. Thnx
Happy to help, Pierre. 😀
Terrific objective review. Can't wait to see it.
Thanks so much, Joe. I try. 😀
Thans for picking this movie to discuss and giving it some breathing room. It's the kind of thing closer to my heart.
You mention Fellini: Any plans to do a video focusing on his work (and/or work in this kind of mode)? I like a film of his that seems seldom discussed, CITY OF WOMEN. Sure would enjoy some of your thoughts on that film and Fellini in general.
Thanks for this! I hope the movie DOES make SOME kind of money for the man! I worked with him a bit on his BRAM STOKER'S DRACULA and found him great to work with, plus we had fun as Corman alumni talking about THAT interesting film maker too.
good wishes!
Thanks! Megalopolis is 100% worth checking out. It doesn't feel like a Hollywood movie and that's a good thing.
@@RSEFX City of Women is on my wishlist of DVDs. I think I'll enjoy it much more than Snyder's "Suckerpunch".
@@B.B.Digital_Forest From my perspective and a life-long fan of the man's work (I was seeing his films as a young teen when some of them were first released) it is one of Fellini's most fun/playful movies and filled with some of his wildest, mad characters. of all ..and that's saying a lot.
I watched it 1 and 1/2 times this week and liked it even better the second time. I picked up more dialogue and understood more symbols.
I see this as more of a fable crossed with autobiography of Francis Ford Coppola sort of. Anyway the movie leaves me inquisitive and full of wonder. The movie is kind of like an Easter egg hunt. There is dreamlike quality. There is philosophy. I’ll see it again.
There are so many ways you can interpret the movie, which makes it more interesting than anything Baz Luhrmann has ever done.
Honestly, I like that description, a fable crossed with FFC autobiography. That really nails it for me. Hope you don't mind I borrow it. 👍🙏👍🙏
@@televinv8062 no but if for a review please say it came from a RUclips comment. Cheers. Have fun ruminating about the movie.
@ginger22ly not for a review...among friends. And of course, not something I came up with. From RUclips comment section/ginger22ly...thanks!
Great review Terry. Good to hear a well presented argument against the dog-piling which has been directed at this movie.
It doesn't feel like a Hollywood movie at all and so some people have trouble understanding it.
The response to Megalopolis has been fascinating to watch (I've mostly been following the discourse on Threads). Haven't seen it and probably won't until it hits home viewing cos it's not playing anywhere near me, but I really want to just because the reactions are so divided; I see people calling it great, calling it shit, and sometimes calling it *both* of those things.
I definitely think two viewings is the way to see it. There's too much to take in with just one.
I missed my chance to see this opening weekend and have tickets for other films every night this week, so my plan is to catch up with Megalopolis Saturday. I'm intrigued, and even more so by the venom I'm hearing about it. Sometimes bad reviews become kind of a dare for me. Haha
I try not to read the reviews before I watch and review movies.
Sometimes, I accidentally get the headlines while scrolling through news sites but I try to go into films with fresh eyes.
Whether people are reviewers or not, I think that's a good approach to take. You can always read them later. If a movie intrigues you, watch it. 😀
Those reviews became a dare for me, certainly! That I enjoyed this film, although I can see the flaws in it, Gods know, convinces me that most mainstream critics these days, and especially INDIEWIRE's David E_H_rlich, have no fucking taste .
@@timeliebe I've never been one to put any stock in any opinion that's not my own. But I find them fun when they spin me up 😁
"Are ambitious and show me something i havent seen."
I'm middle aged, but I've been watching the Skibidi toilet series on YT with a similar mindset. I actually think theres something pretty special in it.
There is! The whole Skibidi mythology and escalation is incredible storytelling and worldbuilding.
@terrytalksmovies "Escelation" is a great descriptor.
The kids today, in 40 years will rematch the series after their deserved nostalgia hit, and they'll get to see a deeper story.
Kinda cool for them.
We get to see Aubrey Plaza's "down under?" I'll reserve my Blu-Ray now!
No we don't.
@@terrytalksmovies I'll get it anyway. Thanks.
Sold! I'll be watching this soon.
Have fun!
I wasn't crazy about the movie, but I enjoyed Aubrey Plaza so much that I'll give it a second viewing some day.
She's an interesting actress. Always has her tongue in her cheek, metaphorically.
I perceived nothing special about her character and I wonder why the film’s trailers were so amorphous and outright deceptive; I think this film will be quickly forgotten until its “rediscovery” periods begin.
Its good to hear some positivity on this or atleast your approach and opinion on it, i might give it a shot
If you do, I hope you enjoy it.
@@terrytalksmovies it sounds like something I would enjoy so maybe one day or sometime
Great review. Made me want to watch it. thanks.
Thanks! I just call them as I see them. Gotta stay true to myself or else I become Mr. Beast.
Although I felt disappointed after watching Joker 2, I feel like watching Megapolis especially, if it's about Francis Ford Coppola "the guy who made The Godfather trilogy".
You gotta get back on that horse when you fall off. I hope you like Megalopolis.
@@terrytalksmovies I absolutely agree with what you said, by the way, did you see Joker: Folie á Deux?
I'm surprised Terry! And I fully agree with you.
Yay! It's not bad at all.
@@terrytalksmovies It has it's problems. But it's a movie with big ideas and I thought it was a very daring film.
Yeah, no….. it was as bad as everyone said if not more so. I rarely think of leaving a film I paid for, that idea popped into my head exactly 77 minutes into the film - I forced myself to finish this movie, out of respect for Coppola’s past achievements.
We can agree to disagree. 😀
Thank you for giving an alternative review from a fillm most seem to hate. I will make a point of seeing it. Michael -South Africa
Thanks, Michael. Your opinion after you see it may be different, but at least you will have seen it.
@@terrytalksmovies I must admit expensive failers from gifted artists have always fascinated me as they afford an opportunity to glimpse deeper than their more populist creations. "BABYLON" comes to mind, George Stevens' "THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD", "HEAVEN"S GATE", "BARRY LYNDON", so I will definitely see this . - m
I LOVE Yarraville and The Sun
There's a great vibe there.
So, is this movie just not being understood by the people who see it and review it? Are their expections off, for example, expecting another Sound of Music and instead they get Cabaret (something that isn't a happy little musical)? I'm surprised that there was so much negative press about it.
Adding: others are saying the story gets more confused in the later half. One reviewer says: This is ART, that is why they are confused and hate it. The big corporations hate it because it is an independent production.
If you're only accustomed to mainstream movies, this isn't going to be an easy watch for you. If you watch widely, you'll probably get much more out of it.
I think his detractors hate it so much because, at bottom, the film is a 2:18 raised middle finger to his detractors. A lot of haters compared this film to Ayn Rand, which neither Raquel nor I got-so I have to wonder if that isn't a reference to Coppola making HIS movie, HIS way, and all they can do now is piss themselves over it, impotently.
The accusations of Coppola inappropriately groping women during the production ties in so perfectly in with a spurious accusation made against Cesar that it feels like he deliberately put that in to clap back at them-which would be impossible as it's not just a quick reference, but a lengthy and significant plot point.
Im looking forward to seeing this! It’s my perception that spending over 100 million dollars on making a movie is pretty normal for the 21st century. Francis Knows how to tell a story. He’s always been a complete filmmaker!
It's a bold movie for him to make. A long term dream of his that finally hit screens.
I just saw the movie 30 minutes ago I really wanted to like it. The movie was trying to be bigger than it actually was. I see why Fancies had to make the movie on his own. It was a mix of modern times and 30’s/40’s and bad acting from good actors. There was a lot of parts that could have been edited out. It was a mess I kept thinking was director drunk when filming.
I'll waiti until I can see it again. I think there's more there than I really perceived the first time around.
I found it unfocused, confusing, and not one issue was ever resolved except for the "the one-dimensional bad guys all got run over by a bus and the good people lived happily ever after" ending. Subtlety, 0. Sledgehammer, 1.
It's far from perfect.
I don't think Coppola has the cultural cache he once had. It's easy to namecheck the Godfather, The Conversation, etc, but these were decades ago. His last five films before Megalopolis were Jack, The Rainmaker, Youth Without Youth, Twixt, and Tetro.
He still has that track record. Megalopolis is the best thing he's done in decades.
The last 3 of those movies were him experimenting.
Cool review Terry. Yes, I've heard nothing but negative reviews about this one until now. I'm reading Lawrence Durrell's 'The Alexandria Quartet' at the moment - it's very much like what I've heard about this film. Felliniesque - I'm in!
Enjoy, Peter!
Well, I'm seeing this tomorrow so I hope I can take Terry's word for it. My favorite Coppola film is "Apocalypse Now" (yes, Redux) which I've watched 8 billion times and I had the idea this would be Coppola's last hurrah and I didn't want it to be "Eyes Wide Shut" but I got "bloated" vibes from the trailers. All the slam reviews didn't help either. I remember reading about "Apocalypse Now" in 1972 in Playboy when it was supposed to star Steve McQueen and it turned out epic. But...did he really have to cast Jon Voight??
Eyes Wide Shut amazes me - mostly because Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman have zero chemistry on screen.
@@terrytalksmovies Wasn't Eyes Wide Shut Stanley Kubrick?
@@rautakallio1852
Precisely. 😅
😂
@@terrytalksmovies it was probably the same off-screen 😅
I’ll be watching it next Tuesday in an IMAX theater. Watched two great albeit completely different movies today in the theaters: The Substance and The Wild Robot.
That's a hell of a double feature!
@@terrytalksmovies
My double feature next Tuesday will be “Megalopolis” and “My Old Ass”. AMC Theaters has discount Tuesdays with free membership and most movies are just $7.00 (IMAX is $13.00) all day Tuesdays. On other days, that $7.00 is $14.89 during matinee hours otherwise it’s $18.49.
I wish I could have caught it at the cinema, but I haven't gone to the theaters since February of this year. I'll try to catch it on cable in the future. Right now I'm waiting for my blu-ray copies of "The Double Life of Veronique", "Alphaville", and "The Marvels". (The crooks that be discontinued a Three Colors Trilogy collection to sell a newer set at twice the price!)
You buy good blu-rays!
Awesome and thoughtful review. I loved the movie!
Thanks. It's very different.
It's deliberately camp, manic, fragmented, banal, even cartoonish, the first film of the posthuman Tic Toc age in which our society is so degraded, so openly veering towards collapse, that it's only response to this brilliant film was to say, "When is the new She Hulk season coming out?"
Megalopolis is a masterpiece. A decade from now people will speak of its prescience.
I could honestly go another season of She Hulk but I still enjoyed Megalopolis, too.
Amen!
Mark Kermode summed it up really well by stating it was a folly and not a fable. A mind numbing, boring movie full of pretention. All of the actors appear to be acting in different movies and clash against each other. Adam Driver in arch Shakespearian mode, Shia LaBeouf in over the top camp and an incomprehensible Jon Voight. It's only worth seeing for Audrey Plaza's performance. Gian Carlo Esposito is good. It's really unfortunate that the elaborate and beautiful images are not in service of a coherent and engaging story. In a few years time it may be revived and get a following like the Room. It's shoddy , messy and undisciplined. The same director of The Conversation who also unfortunately directed Jack. No it's not a good film. It certainly references Ayn Rand's novel , The Fountainhead. Doesn't work as an allegory, science fiction or magical realism.
I enjoyed it. I think it's all over the place but I can enjoy a movie like that and just go for the ride.
But....but....but.... The fact that he can freeze time has nothing to do with the plot!!!...So obviously this is one of the worst films of all time
(Im kidding)
Seriously if I see one more negative review with that as one of the main criticisms I'm going to go crazy. After sitting on this film for a few days, I am undecided on whether or not I think it is a great film. Or even a good film. I feel like the story had a lot more potential to be better. And i don't mean more coherent. I mean in terms of impact toward the themes. But i was enthralled. And I can't wait to go back to the theater and see it again. Anyone who walks out of this film...I just don't get it.
Thank you for a positive review(they are hard to come by)
I just called it as I saw it. It's an interesting film.
Your review is the first positive I have seen here on RUclips.
I suppose that's a way to differentiate myself from the crowd. I call them as I see them. 😀
@@terrytalksmovies I plan to watch this weekend here in Atlanta.
It’s Caesar-Antichrist by Jarry; with commentary on 1914’s Calibri. A Time Machine for film.🎥
Do you mean Cabiria?
Yes; just going from memory; he’s commenting on Carthage under the veil of the supposed script to challenge the Molech which burns their first born. Why at the end the babe is saved from Time the Ruiner. As it says in the end of The Book of Revelations: “And swear that there shall be time no more.” For time is that limit which provides the excuse to what destroys Beauty. However to openly challenge that cult which still runs Hollywood and the world?
I think a character is Cabiria so he did not really occlude the literate.
They deliver the edicts of God
Without delay
And are exempt from apprehension
From detention
And with their God-given
Petasus, Caduceus, and Talaria
Ferry like bolts of lightning
Unhindered between the tribunals
Of Space and Time
The Messenger-Spirit
In human flesh
Is assigned a dependable,
Self-reliant, versatile,
Thoroughly poet existence
Upon its sojourn in life
It does not knock
Or ring the bell
Or telephone
When the Messenger-Spirit
Comes to your door
Though locked
It’ll enter like an electric midwife
And deliver the message
There is to tell
Throughout the ages
That a Messenger-Spirit
Ever stumbled into Darkness
Destiny, by Gregory Corso
“On the bottom of the pyramid there are people thrown into homelessness.” FFC
‘Francis Ford Coppola heard support and criticism at a meeting about his North Beach Citizens Initiative’
North Beach Journal (sept 2002 vol 3: no 1)
A hundred & twenty million dollars is probably lunch money to Coppola. 🍗
I usually try to avoid reviews of films before they come out so I can form my own negative opinion 😼 but you really piqued my interest.
PS I used to have a friend who lived in Yarraville & we saw many films in the Sun cinemas. They're great cinemas full of charm & ambience.
I just call the movies as I see them. A lot of professional reviewers for newspapers are limited by ad revenue on their masthead. Being a RUclips reviewer is a freer thing.
Well, I do believe he had to put most or all of his winery/vineyard money into it, which made me depressed when I finally saw the trailer... Alas.
@@bartholdy74 Usually it isn't a good idea for a director to fund his/her own films. It's usually because if it underperforms it is the director left holding the bag. A studio with its producers usually handle it by balancing the books with a box office hit or two.
Thanks for this, I was on the fence as the reviews are pretty bad. Mostly that it's boring and too philosophical. Coppola has had his ups and downs but he definitely swings for the fences so he deserved all the credit in the world. I'd heard he wanted to make this for years so I'm glad he got to do it finally. Why not spend your own money especially if it's probably going to be your last film. Given the title, I had thought the influence was Fritz lang's Metropolis, like that on steroids. No?
There's definite a visual influence from Metropolis and Coppola admitted that.
I'm glad you haven't joined the critical stacks-on- the-mill on this one. I haven't seen it yet, and I doubt I'll like it very much when I do - there's nothing about what I've seen so far that appeals, except for the production design. But the whole critical head-shaking, eyebrow-raising 'Worst. Movie. Ever' response just seems crass to me. I'm not saying critics should let Coppola off lightly, for services rendered, but an original achievement like this certainly deserves respect - and an actual understanding of what it's doing. I blame Mark Kermode for turning the 'rant' into the easiest way for wannabe critics to achieve clicks...
I'll hack apart a movie that deserves it but this one definitely doesn't.
I love its originality and I can excuse a little incoherence because it's a unique vision and a mission statement for the future of humanity, which was totally unexpected.
@@terrytalksmovies What I like about your reviews is that even when you hate a movie - unless it's genuinely morally reprehensible - you don't take it as a personal affront or as an opportunity for grandstanding. (Although you might get more clicks if you did 🙂)
Glad I saw Megalopolis instead of Joker Folie a Deux, which, from everything I've heard, trashes the first film.
Haven't seen Joker 2 yet and I might wait for streaming or I'll see it next week. Not sure.
I really enjoyed John Voight's performance because it felt like he was taking the piss out of Donald Trump… Even though he's a Trump supporter, so go figure…?
Shia LaBeouf was either brilliant at acting hateful, or he's just so incredibly hateful that it flows out of his pores naturally. I can never decide if LaBeouf is a brilliant actor or a complete and utter tool-I guess trying to figure out what side of the line he's on why Hollywood keeps casting him.
Shia felt more Trumpian to me.
Unfortunately, sometimes Directors make one too many films. Ford, for example, should have stopped with Two Rode Together or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, instead of making Cheyenne Autom or Seven Women
I suspect it's too different from the current zeitgeist to find a big audience.
I had my suspicions
I always have those.
@@terrytalksmovies LOL, to be more specific when I saw the extreme negative reaction from everyone online i thought to myself "it's probably not THAT bad, but just very, very WEIRD." Most people don't have a high tolerance for weird things, even if they say otherwise.
Glad you like it. But you are the outlier here for sure 🙂
I have zero problems with being an outlier if I'm being true to myself. It doesn't faze me at all. 😀
I'll have to take your advice, but I can't help but think of The Fountainhead, I mean it's got that 'genius architect figure - but also what I've seen looks over the top and badly acted. But is it 'so bad it's good?' With Ayn Rand, her personal egoic, not to mention ideological, pretensions are on full display for the audience to chew on. In fact, there is an certain quality... is it my gaze, or is it in King Vidor's direction? Did he over-do it on purpose because he knew the material was silly, or was he a 'true believer'? Regardless, the movies makes me crack up all through it. I"ll be curious to see if there are any echoes of that experience in Megalopolis.
Yeah it gave off slight Fountainhead vibes but wasn't as silly or ludicrously didactic as that one.
It's not really like that, except in the loose sense of an architect as an artist who will do whatever he must to see his vision realized-and that's just about any creative artist who's not a complete hack. Cesar Catilina is as much David Fincher, Orson Welles, David Lynch, Denis Villeneuve, or Francis Ford Coppola as he is Howard Roark, maybe more so because while all of those filmmakers believe in their ability to stop time with their movies? Howard Roark is too much of a feet-planted-on-the-ground rationalist for that sort of airy-fae malarkey....
I didn't dislike any of it. Sure it's unorthodox. Uses poetic logic rather than being literal. Symbolic but not directly analogic. A deliberate hodgepodge of overlapping classical references to blur any delineations relating to current minutia. It's not meant to be totally intellectualized, but rather sensed. I do think there's too many threads that abruptly begin and then suddenly are forgotten without narrative satisfaction. Feels like a pithy recap of something much fuller.
I'd rather this movie than Spielberg doing Ready Player One and remaking West Side Story.
Two vibes: Ayn Rand and Metropolis.
Also some Fellini, a little bit of Welles' The Other Side Of The Wind and a few others as well.
Wow you Aussies really hate Jon voight😮
I deeply dislike anyone who supports Trump. He's a dangerous demagogue with visibly diminished intellectual capacity.
It's not just Aussies.
Respect the Voight.
Yeah, nah. He's as mad as a cut snake.
@@terrytalksmovies
How so?
Dig that hole.
Go ahead
@@Geronimo_JehoshaphatIf you really have to ask, you are probably a bit mad yourself
@@chetdesmond8320
Yep, I'm mad to hear you autonomous geniuses articulate your case.
megaflopolis was a mess and it felt like it was 5 hours long
For me, that's not a bad thing. At my age, anything that makes my remaining lifespan subjectively stretch is not a bad thing.
Ambitious, yes. Well made? Not quite! There were elements that I enjoyed about the film, but the dialogue/ plot took a backseat to the spectacle of CGI 🤷🏾♂️🚫🎬
I want to see it again. There's some visual storytelling and allegory that I want to cross-reference in my mind.
I paid to see it after watching this video. Hardly seemed original at all, more like a mashup of Dune (Lynch version), Brazil and Dark City without the wit and humour of any of them. Profound message? 'people suck and power corrupts', hardly news. He should have just produced it and found a director that can do 'magical reality' well, although I doubt Lynch, Gilliam, Jackson or even Linklater would touch the project with the wrong end of a toilet plunger. Either FFC had an extended 'senior moment' or he's pranking all the sycophantic pseudo-intellectual movie critics that will pretend it's a masterpiece. I asked for a refund and got it without question, just the comment "You did well, none of the staff here lasted more than 20 mins with this one".
Looks like Francis owes me a glass of wine for getting someone to see the movie. Sorry you didn't see in it what I did. 😀😉
@@terrytalksmovies He owes a lot more to the Manager of Luxe in Wisbech for loss of income and Aubrey Plaza for torpedoing her attempts to be considered for 'serious' roles. I guess I must be one of those ignorant philistines that lack your ability to see the Emperor's new clothes. C'mon you must have seen Fellini's Roma, that film changed my outlook on life, this garbage was more gruelling and pointless than sitting through all the episodes of the Bladerunner prequel The Man in the High Castle.
No it’s not.
The hatred for the movie is totally over the top.
@@terrytalksmovies I don’t see hatred to be honest, just people saying it’s a bad movie, which it is. But some people think it simply cannot be a bad movie because it’s made by This guy. I was never much of a godfather fan really, I think apocalypse now is his only really good movie. But that’s just me.
Musk saved free speech.
Not everything is about
the money, Big Guy.
There's always one simp in the comments.
… yeah, we all know the type of “free speech” you’re talking about.
You're right, Richard. The Nuremberg Rally kind of free speech.
@@terrytalksmovies … yep.
@@terrytalksmovies- I wonder if there isn't a "paradox of speech" similar to the paradox of tolerance, because Elon Musk, J.D. Vance, and Donald Trump are certainly pushing that to the limit! 🙄
Worst movie ever made
You need to see more movies.
You have got to be kidding. Copula has made nothing but junk for years, this is the worst yet. I lost a huge amount of respect for the actors that helped him make this sadness.
You seem to be leaning in to the hyperbole there. Take a deep breath.
YOU LIE! This movie is doggy doo-doo and that's the name of THAT tune brother.
Thank you for your eloquent rebuttal.
Sometimes a comment, or a movie, is just so incredibly idiotic it could almost be mistaken for genius.
Congratulations, Good Sir! You are the Tommy Wiseau of pointless negative comments. 🙇♂
@@timeliebe You make me want to SMOKE!