Current:Home > InvestThe uproar around Francis Ford Coppola's ‘Megalopolis’ movie explained-LoTradeCoin
The uproar around Francis Ford Coppola's ‘Megalopolis’ movie explained
View Date:2024-12-23 23:47:18
Francis Ford Coppola has never played it safe. He cast a then-shunned Marlon Brando in "The Godfather," filmed his Vietnam-themed epic "Apocalypse Now" in the Philippine jungles during a war and opted to make a movie about a bold automaker, Preston Tucker, who failed.
In so many instances, the filmmaker has put his personal vision first, and the results have ranged from box office flops to cinematic gold ... not to mention five Oscars.
So it comes as no surprise that with his latest movie, "Megalopolis," which has its North American premiere on Monday at Toronto International Film Festival, Coppola, 85, has once again thrown caution to wind. To finance his sprawling allegorical tale about urban greed, the director has poured $120 million harvested from his successful Napa Valley wine business into the film.
Not that Coppola seems worried. As he told GQ a few years ago as production on "Megalopolis" geared up, studio executives reacted to his new movie the same way they did "when I had won five Oscars and was the hottest film director in town and walked in with ‘Apocalypse Now’ and said, ‘I’d like to make this next.’ ”
"I own ‘Apocalypse Now,'" he said. "Do you know why I own ‘Apocalypse Now’? Because no one else wanted it.”
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Here's what you need to know about Coppola's new big-screen opus:
Join our Watch Party!Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox
What is Francis Ford Coppola's movie 'Megalopolis' about?
"Megalopolis" is a notable detour for Coppola, whose past movies are rooted in specific eras and in reality. For this film, which he has subtitled "A Fable," the director is off on a futuristic science-fiction tangent while being inspired by the ancient past.
The movie stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, an idealist architect with the power to control time, who is determined to rebuild a city that seems like New York after an accident plunges it into ruins. But Cesar's utopian vision is challenged by corrupt mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who would rather keep the graft-riddled husk of a city the way it is. Complicating matters is Cicero's daughter Julia (Nathalie Emmanuel), who comes between the two feuding men.
Coppola has been working on the script for four decades, and has taken much of his inspiration from the rise and fall of the Roman Empire (hence the name of Driver's character, Cesar).
Who are the stars of Francis Ford Coppola's movie 'Megalopolis'?
Beyond Driver and Esposito, the core cast includes Aubrey Plaza as a TV presenter named Wow Platinum, Shia LaBeouf as Cesar Catalina’s cousin Clodio Pulcher, and Jon Voight as Catalina’s uncle and bank boss, Hamilton Crassus III.
Other notable cast members include Laurence Fishburne − who launched his career at 14 in "Apocalypse Now" − as both the film's narrator and Catalina’s driver. In addition, Coppola’s sister, Talia Shire, perhaps best known for her role as Rocky Balboa's wife in the "Rocky" films, appears as Catalina's mother, while Jason Schwartzman is part of Esposito's corrupt cadre.
When and where can I see Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis'?
"Megalopolis" has had a rocky road to the big screen. After premiering to mixed reviews at Cannes Film Festival last May, it was bought a month later by Lionsgate, which will distribute the film.
Coppola's epic will screen Sept. 23 in select IMAX theaters and be released Sept. 27 in traditional theaters.
What have critics said about Francis Ford Coppola's 'Megalopolis'?
Among those who saw "Megalopolis" at Cannes, the reactions ran the gamut. For example, Vanity Fair‘s Richard Lawson wrote that while "some cinephiles will see value in the 'Godfather' director’s long-gestating epic, many more, though, will be left scratching their heads.”
In contrast, Rolling Stone‘s David Fear called the film “truly epic," noting that "so long as there are people who love movies that are actually about things, and think about the past 6,000 years of human civilization, there is an audience for this.”
Why was Francis Ford Coppola accused of sexual harassment on the set of 'Megalopolis'?
In May, an article in The Guardian reported that Coppola had engaged in "old school" behavior on the "Megalopolis" set, which included, during the two-day shoot of a nightclub scene, pulling half-dressed actresses onto his lap and kissing them.
In June, Coppola offered the New York Times a rambling response to the accusations, saying that he was "too shy" for such actions, adding that one of the women in question was someone he had known "since she was 9."
In July, Variety surfaced video of Coppola on the set, showing the director trying to kiss multiple extras during the shoot. Some members of the production have defended the set as a safe place, while others have described Coppola as having ultimate control, given that he was financing the project.
What was the controversy about the 'Megalopolis' trailer?
In August, Lionsgate released the first official trailer for "Megalopolis," only to recall it hours later.
Why? The clip opened with a series of alleged quotes from movie critics who had savaged Coppola films such as "The Godfather" and "Apocalypse Now," movies that have since become classics. The implication was that anyone criticizing "Megalopolis" now was bound to be on the wrong side of film history.
The only problem: The quotes from real critics such as The New Yorker's iconic Pauline Kael had been fabricated. Lionsgate issued a statement saying, "We offer our sincere apologies to the critics involved and to Francis Ford Coppola and (his production company) American Zoetrope for this inexcusable error in our vetting process. We screwed up. We are sorry.” The revised trailer can be seen on YouTube.
veryGood! (95625)
Related
- 'Treacherous conditions' in NYC: Firefighters battling record number of brush fires
- Drake & Josh’s Josh Peck Reveals He Almost Played Edward Cullen in Twilight
- A match made in fandom: Travis, Taylor and the weirdness of celebrity relationships
- Officials still looking for bear who attacked security guard in luxury hotel
- Song Jae-lim, Moon Embracing the Sun Actor, Dead at 39
- Kaley Cuoco Shares How Her Approach to Parenthood Differs From Tom Pelphrey
- Michael Cohen returns to the stand for second day of testimony in Trump's fraud trial
- Emancipation Director Antoine Fuqua Mourns Death of Cedric Beastie Jones
- Florida Man Arrested for Cold Case Double Murder Almost 50 Years Later
- Hasbro announces Monopoly Knockout, a new edition of the Monopoly board game
Ranking
- Powerball winning numbers for November 11 drawing: Jackpot hits $103 million
- The problem with canceling Jon Stewart: Apple bowed to Chinese government censorship
- Missouri nonprofit director stole millions from program to feed needy kids, indictment alleges
- South Korea, US and Japan condemn North Korea’s alleged supply of munitions to Russia
- The White Stripes drop lawsuit against Donald Trump over 'Seven Nation Army' use
- Bud Light becomes the official beer of UFC as Anheuser-Busch looks to recoup revenue drop
- Love your old yellow pillow? It's a health hazard, experts say.
- US Mint announces five women completing fourth round of Quarters Program in 2025
Recommendation
-
Utah AD Mark Harlan fined $40,000 for ripping referees and the Big 12 after loss to BYU
-
Kris Jenner Shares Why She Cheated on Robert Kardashian
-
41 states sue Meta alleging that Instagram and Facebook is harmful, addictive for kids
-
An increase in harassment against Jewish and Muslim Americans has been reported since Hamas attacks
-
Best fits for Corbin Burnes: 6 teams that could match up with Cy Young winner
-
Officials still looking for bear who attacked security guard in luxury hotel
-
Imprisoned apostle of Mexican megachurch La Luz del Mundo charged with federal child pornography
-
With Victor Wembanyama's debut comes the dawn of a different kind of NBA big man