As a seasoned moviegoer with over four decades of watching films under my belt, I must say Francis Ford Coppola‘s latest offering, Megalopolis, has left me utterly bewildered and slightly amused. This man is the maestro behind The Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now, yet here he stands, embroiled in a controversy over fake movie reviews that even the master of cinematic intrigue couldn’t have scripted better.
Francis Ford Coppola, the esteemed director known for films like Apocalypse Now and the Godfather trilogy, has denied authorizing fake reviews in the viral trailer for his upcoming film, Megalopolis. This year, Coppola returns to the big screen with another self-funded project. Boasting an impressive cast including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, and other top-tier actors, Megalopolis tells the story of Cesar Catalina (Driver), a visionary architect intent on rebuilding his devastated city into a utopia. After its debut at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, Megalopolis has garnered mixed reviews, ranging from scathing one-star ratings to glowing five-star accolades that herald the film as a masterpiece. Throughout his career, Coppola has been no stranger to negative criticism, and in an attempt to poke fun at the critics who were allegedly mistaken about his past works, the promotional team for Megalopolis included fake reviews in a trailer that has since been deleted.
In a turn of events, the deleted Megalopolis trailer showcased fabricated A.I.-generated appraisals of Francis Ford Coppola’s previous films such as Apocalypse Now and The Godfather. The PR agency responsible was promptly dismissed from the project, and Lionsgate issued an apology for the mishap. During a chat with Entertainment Tonight at the Toronto International Film Festival, Coppola addressed the controversy for the first time. The director explained that he had indeed shared his past unfavorable reviews with the distributors. However, he was unaware that the PR company would incorporate such fake reviews in the trailer itself.
It turns out I may have misunderstood or made an error regarding the reviews. It appears they weren’t as negative as I initially thought.
As a devoted admirer, I eagerly await Coppola’s return to the director’s chair with “Megalopolis.” The movie’s premiere has been highly anticipated, but unfortunately, the film’s promotional tour has been tainted by several controversies. One such issue is the unexpected dismissal of the entire Visual Effects team midway through production.
What Is Megalopolis Actually About?
It seems Francis Ford Coppola’s film, titled Megalopolis, is as intriguing to pronounce (give it a try: Megalopolis!) as it is perplexing in its content. Contrary to the purpose of reviews, which aim to guide public opinion about a movie and set expectations for theater-goers, the reviews for Megalopolis have only added to the puzzle. This enigma began at the Cannes premiere, where conflicting reports emerged regarding the film receiving a 7-minute standing ovation, and audience members booing during the screening. Upon reading the reviews, some critics pointed out scenes that necessitated ‘audience participation,’ leaving readers in a state of bewilderment.
Megalopolis centers around the city of New Rome. Following a catastrophic natural event that devastates the metropolis, visionary leader Cesar Catalina aims to propel the city forward, redesigning it into an ideal society. Simultaneously, Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Esposito), resists any advancements, preferring to maintain the city in its current state as it was before the disaster. The summary can be restated as: Megalopolis highlights the conflict between a forward-thinking visionary, Cesar Catalina, who envisions New Rome as a utopia post-disaster, and Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Esposito), who opposes change and seeks to preserve the city in its previous state.
In the city known as New Rome, celebrated artist Cesar Catilina, an advocate for a utopian society, stands in opposition to Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who is driven by greed. Caught in the middle of this power struggle is Julia Cicero, whose allegiance is torn between her father and the one she loves.
Megalopolis
releases in theaters on September 27, 2024.
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2024-09-12 16:31