42/39
Coppola fully abandoned the project in 2007, and didn't begin developing it again until 2019
Synopsis
The city of New Rome faces the duel between Cesar Catilina, a brilliant artist in favor of a Utopian future, and the greedy mayor Franklyn Cicero. Between them is Julia Cicero, with her loyalty divided between her father and her beloved.. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the script in the early 1980s, but the film was kept on the back-burner partially due to his financial debts. Pre-production finally began in 2001 after filming 30 hours of second unit footage and holding table read with Paul Newman, Uma Thurman, Robert De Niro, James Gandolfini, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Edie Falco, and Kevin Spacey, but the project was scrapped after the September 11 attacks, because a scene from the script (page 166) "predicted" the attacks.
Hamilton Crassus III: What do you think about this boner I ‘ve got?
Throughout the movie there are many moments where the hand movements jump between cuts.. The "Ultimate IMAX Experience" version of the film features a live actor asking questions during the filmed press conference.. Referenced in The John Campea Show: Adam Driver To Lead Francis Ford Coppola's New Film Megalopolis (2022). My PledgeWritten by Grace VanderWaalPerformed by Grace VanderWaalCourtesy of Columbia RecordsBy arrangement with Sony Music EntertainmentProduced and Orchestrated by Kris Kukul.
Then the fantasy of Megalopolis would've been more effective giving a wow feeling
Obscure feelings. Megalopolis is epic and goofy mixture of different movies (Babylon, Casanova, Moulin Rouge, Cabaret, Batman, Hudsucker Proxy and Hollywoodland mini series etc.). Coppola recycles lots of styles of some famous directors like Luhrmann, Chazelle, Burton, Aronofsky, Fellini and Visconti. His own voice is somewhere there in the passing details which unfortunately reminds of his weaker films like "One from The Heart".The film could've been set in a more realistic location.
There were thoughtful and beautiful ideas
And what is the point of the stupid and unjustified theatrecality or should I just say theatre? Personally I hate that kind of approach giving me a Baz Luhrmann puke into my mouth. It's eating the serious credibility of the story. Based on that point there's lots of loose moments without a reason: dropping the hats, some weird dance posing during the first scene and the vibe just in general.Still, I actually liked the last fourth of the film.
The ending was also fine
The story is quite good with its connections to ancient Rome etc. And without the continuing interference the film could've had a chance to be a decent adult fairy tale. Sadly the messy and restless theater goofiness is just eating the entirety too much.. Check out our list of exciting new movies from this year's film festivals, including Venice, TIFF, the New York Film Festival, and more.