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- What the Heck Is Megalopolis, and Why Does Adam Driver Have That Haircut?
- Why Great Directors Are Often Stranded in Developmental Hell
- Hype May Build Mystique, But It Doesn’t Sell Tickets
As a film enthusiast who has spent countless hours poring over the annals of cinema history and the intricate machinations of the industry, I can’t help but feel a sense of melancholy when I reflect upon the tales of unrealized masterpieces. These projects, shrouded in hype and anticipation for decades, often fall victim to their own lofty expectations.
When Francis Ford Coppola’s latest film, titled Megalopolis, makes its debut, we stand on the brink of cinematic history – assuming there’s an audience. Plagued by financial woes, self-doubt, and political turmoil throughout his career, Coppola’s Megalopolis might have become a timeless masterpiece had it been completed, serving as a fascinating “What if?” tale in the annals of film history. The script, once shrouded in myth among movie enthusiasts as one of the revered “Greatest Films Never Made,” has long sparked intrigue and speculation, with its treatment fueling countless discussions, lists, and essays online about what could have been.
The intricately crafted movie, brewing in Coppola’s mind for over half his lifetime, is so complex that not even he can easily explain its essence or its intended audience. His latest interviews suggest it’s a personal project. We’re simply along for the journey. Coppola isn’t compromising his vision, and with costs escalating, he’s not skimping on expenses either. This could potentially be risky, as he is shouldering the financial burden this time. Yet, the prospect of another bankruptcy doesn’t seem to bother him. In fact, he’s selling off some of his own assets to gather the funds necessary for the production and distribution of the frequently-delayed film. The movie’s themes are challenging to market, and the initial response has been divided.
With an IMAX premiere set, the esteemed filmmaker is undoubtedly betting big on his creation, believing it will endure the trials of time. Yet, such passion ventures by directors in their prime years have often faced harsh criticism from history. The results are usually disappointing when it comes to high-budget, risky, conceptual movies like this one.
What the Heck Is Megalopolis, and Why Does Adam Driver Have That Haircut?
In the afterglow of success from “The Godfather” duology and “Apocalypse Now,” Francis Ford Coppola attempted to sell his ambitious project “Megalopolis” during a less than favorable period. By the early ’80s, big-budget experimental films had virtually disappeared, with Michael Cimino’s “Heaven’s Gate” effectively snuffing out the remaining sparks of the auteur movement in the American film industry. The project was further hindered by Coppola’s troubled career, as studios were reluctant to finance his movies due to their poor performance in the ’80s. Struggling to repay his debts, he only agreed to direct “The Godfather: Part III” for a substantial amount of money, thus postponing Megalopolis again. He made another attempt at it around 2000, but the film never materialized due to reasons yet unknown.
Setting aside initial setbacks, he persisted without giving up, finding success in a series of less popular films during the 2000s. The reason for this was that Francis Ford Coppola’s work since 1979 had often been met with indifference from both audiences and critics, making it challenging to secure outside funding. Despite his reputation’s fluctuations over the years, the ambitious project of ‘Megalopolis’ consistently remained in Coppola’s thoughts. With his 90th birthday approaching, he saw this as a prime opportunity to invest a substantial amount – around $100 million and growing – from his own resources, as expressed in an interview with GQ in 2022.
As a cinephile, I’m well aware that crafting a deeply personal and dreamlike masterpiece like “Megalopolis” could prove challenging in terms of financing. The more layers I infuse into this film, the longer it might take for audiences to decipher its meaning, stretching out the wait: What exactly is hidden within Megalopolis? What message am I conveying? Oh, the complexities when they unravel like that!
The movie, which seems to blend elements from the final days of Rome’s Republic with modern-day American politics, is set in a city that resembles New York but isn’t exactly it, as suggested by the skyline depicted on the poster. It could be likened to Gotham City, but with a sci-fi twist and a heavy dose of political undertones. Initial responses have described the film as somewhat complex and dramatically intense, drawing parallels between past and present events, with hints of Ayn Rand’s “The Fountainhead” woven into the narrative. After decades in development, Coppola has had ample time to include historical references and philosophical ideas.
Finally, here it is – the long-awaited movie that I’ve been eagerly anticipating. Initial responses seem mixed, with some viewers either adoring it or finding it hard to connect. The Los Angeles Times even likened it to “The Bonfire of the Vanities” in a preliminary review, mocking its erratic dialogue that seemingly veers from awkward lines to memorable quotes. If you’re familiar with the challenging adaptation of Tom Wolfe’s novel, the ‘Bonfire’ reference can be seen as a subtle compliment amidst Coppola’s battle against an unfavorable legacy.
Why Great Directors Are Often Stranded in Developmental Hell
Coppola has more luck than most directors of his caliber. Orson Welles missed the opportunity to direct his ideal movie. His version of Joseph Conrad’s novella, Heart of Darkness, never progressed beyond pre-production. Similarly, Guillermo del Toro’s adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness never materialized due to his unwillingness to conform to executive demands and produce a PG-13 film. Even the support of high-profile producers like Tom Cruise and James Cameron couldn’t set things in motion. Sadly, Alejandro Jodorowsky’s grandiose plans for Dune were abandoned, resulting in a less-than-satisfactory film adaptation in 1985.
Stanley Kubrick dedicated approximately four decades to planning an ambitious Napoleon film project, which he found himself unable to fully execute due to his excessive perfectionism. This relentless dedication often hindered his work and strained the patience of his fellow collaborators and crew. He meticulously researched Napoleon’s life and grappled with various logistical challenges, such as filming candlelight scenes and dressing 20,000 extras in authentic military attire from the time period. The sheer magnitude of the task eventually proved too much for him, causing delays throughout his career. Upon Ridley Scott’s 2023 release of a Napoleon movie that received a lukewarm response, one might ponder if Kubrick made the right decision in abandoning the project, given his expectation of a similar critical reception.
When a movie becomes extremely important, it’s often the case that an artist might struggle under the pressure of meeting such high expectations. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; they value their work and the stories they tell deeply, and would prefer to see them remain unfinished rather than be completed hastily or without proper dedication. Sometimes budget constraints, subpar sets, or special effects, or other challenges become insurmountable obstacles. A movie can fail for numerous reasons, and a skilled director can usually identify these issues long before the filming begins. The primary reason many promising “masterpieces” never see the light of day is because the anticipation was merely too great.
Hype May Build Mystique, But It Doesn’t Sell Tickets
Experiencing the turmoil of bringing a production to life is one challenge. But the greatest misery is investing years into your cherished project only for it to be met with deafening silence upon release. Terry Gilliam’s movie, The Man Who Killed Don Quixote, which was long-awaited and expected to become a timeless classic in the 2000s, finally came out in 2018 after two decades of anticipation. Unfortunately, it didn’t live up to expectations and has since faded into obscurity. Despite all the excitement surrounding this legendary work, its impact on Gilliam’s directing career was minimal, and now it’s merely a passing mention in film classes with no lasting significance.
He’s surrounded by great companionship, as you might not know that Warren Beatty has been working on his Howard Hughes biography titled “Rules Don’t Apply” since the ’70s. Despite being retired for 18 years, he was so passionate about the story that he returned to direct it when no one else would.
As it turns out, the title “Greatest Film Never Made” is empty rhetoric in reality, according to Chris Gore. While intriguing, the title doesn’t offer any real value. When a script is praised solely because of the director’s fame, it’s important to maintain a healthy skepticism. Let’s cross our fingers that Coppola breaks this pattern. Even if you don’t recall his films like Jack or One From the Heart, it’s heartening to see the 85-year-old taking such a significant risk, putting everything on the line, betting on himself as he did with Apocalypse Now. He may have lost some money along the way, but he never lost his courage, believing that the grand epic will eventually be recognized as a masterpiece. Coppola’s neoclassical allegory, Megalopolis, will premiere in US theaters on September 27.
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2024-09-26 04:02