As a gamer with a deep appreciation for cinema and its ability to mirror societal issues, I find Francis Ford Coppola‘s latest project, Megalopolis, incredibly intriguing. The parallels between ancient Rome and modern America as depicted in this film are uncanny, and the timing couldn’t be more relevant, given the upcoming presidential election.
During a discussion about his latest movie, “Megalopolis,” on Monday, Francis Ford Coppola shared his political views, implying that the upcoming U.S. presidential election could resemble the fall of ancient Rome.
During a discussion at the New York Film Festival, which was simultaneously shown in 65 theaters throughout the U.S. and Canada with Imax’s assistance, Coppola engaged in a talk alongside Robert De Niro and Spike Lee about his extensive process of creating “an American epic reminiscent of Rome,” as he put it.
The movie revolves around the struggle between Cesar, portrayed by Adam Driver, an exceptional artist yearning for a perfect tomorrow, and Mayor Franklyn Cicero, played by Giancarlo Esposito, who clings to the old ways and resists change.
Coppola explained, “People often asked me, ‘Why create a film portraying America as Rome?’ Today, I believe America resembles Rome more than ever, on the verge of encountering similar challenges that led to Rome’s loss of its republic and the rise of an emperor. My movie foreshadows our current situation because it may unfold in just a few months. In Rome’s time, prosperity fueled an obsession with power and wealth among the senators, who neglected governing the country. Similarly, our senators and representatives are now wealthy and prioritize their own power over managing the nation, putting our future at risk.
Lee quipped sarcastically, “Did people back in Rome used to eat cats and dogs?” – a jibe at Donald Trump’s remarks concerning immigrants during the recent debate.
Coppola further clarified that he intentionally brought on board individuals with differing viewpoints to make this film. This is evident in the movie’s cast, as some actors hold opposing political views, and there are even people who have faced criticism or cancellation… yet, surprisingly, everyone involved in the project, including Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and Dustin Hoffman, collaborated harmoniously and creatively. This seems to be a nod towards the amicable and productive working environment on set.
The filmmaker expressed his desire to avoid the label of ‘political’ for their movie, as he felt it was made beyond politics. Despite this, the team got along well and collaborated effectively to create the film. He hopes that despite any differences in opinion, they can unite towards a common goal. The film, he said, encourages discussion about the future, and he wants everyone to join this conversation, with no topic being off-limits for debate.
Earlier in their discussion, they spoke about how each member joined the group, the story of Coppola selling his family’s winery to fund the movie, and his decision to title the Godfather sequel as “The Godfather Part II.” Coppola humorously admitted, “I’m the one who initiated this trend of movies having numbers in their titles. I apologize for that.
Lee shared that he showed the movie “Megalopolis” to his students at NYU, commenting on it by saying, “My brother never ceases to amaze me with his courage. It’s as if he’ll face any challenge head-on, no matter what it takes to complete the task at hand.
De Niro noted he had done a table read for the film, alongside Paul Newman and Uma Thurman, decades ago when Coppola was working on another iteration of it, and continued the night’s political theme.
He expressed his concerns to the audience about the similarities in Francis’ movie, stating, ‘I believe the fight isn’t over until it’s truly over.’ He emphasized our need to fully commit to defeating the Republicans, pointing out that these aren’t traditional Republicans. His message was clear: Trump must be defeated. It’s crucial for us not to have such a person leading our country. I urge everyone to vote and make it unmistakable what America stands for.
In his brief statement, Coppola shared that Trump and he had attended military school together – “I was a tuba player in the band due to my financial situation, while Trump, being wealthy, occupied a position in headquarters where the lights could stay on after ‘Taps'” – De Niro strongly agreed, stating, “Picture Trump directing this film… He aims to dismantle our country, and he’s incapable of handling anything structured like this movie.
Megalopolis hits theaters on Friday.
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2024-09-24 06:54