Megalopolis (2024)
5.5 /10
469 Reviews
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Genius artist Cesar Catilina seeks to leap the City of New Rome into a utopian, idealistic future, while his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare. Torn between them is socialite Julia Cicero, the mayor’s daughter, whose love for Cesar has divided her loyalties, forcing her to discover what she truly believes humanity deserves.
Videos & Photos
cast
... Cesar Catilina
... Mayor Cicero
... Julia Cicero
... Wow Platinum
... Clodio Pulcher
User reviews
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/megalopolis-review-admirable-ambition-meets-chaotic-execution-in-francis-ford-coppolas-epic/
"Megalopolis is an ambitious epic that attempts to examine numerous thought-provoking themes, but Coppola's vision of societal reconstruction reflects both its grandeur and the inherent flaws of its chaotic execution.
Despite immersive visuals and a talented cast, the narrative becomes overloaded with metaphors and philosophical analogies, resulting in an experience that, while provocative, feels confusing and scattered. The central conflict between Cesar and Cicero offers intriguing moments, but the richness of the ideas often gets diluted by the film's excessive complexity.
A frustrating disappointment that, even as the creation of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, still falls prey to the common pitfalls of contemporary cinema."
Rating: C-
Director:
Writer:
Francis Ford Coppola (Writer)
Genres:
Release Date:
2024-09-25
Run Time:
138 min
MMPA Rating:
R
Reviews of
Megalopolis
FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://fandomwire.com/megalopolis-review-admirable-ambition-meets-chaotic-execution-in-francis-ford-coppolas-epic/
"Megalopolis is an ambitious epic that attempts to examine numerous thought-provoking themes, but Coppola's vision of societal reconstruction reflects both its grandeur and the inherent flaws of its chaotic execution.
Despite immersive visuals and a talented cast, the narrative becomes overloaded with metaphors and philosophical analogies, resulting in an experience that, while provocative, feels confusing and scattered. The central conflict between Cesar and Cicero offers intriguing moments, but the richness of the ideas often gets diluted by the film's excessive complexity.
A frustrating disappointment that, even as the creation of one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, still falls prey to the common pitfalls of contemporary cinema."
Rating: C-
In the interest of full disclosure, it pains me to write this, but I feel I must be honest. Legendary writer-director Francis Ford Coppola’s long-awaited epic cinematic fable is, regrettably, a major disappointment. After decades of stop-and-start development, the filmmaker’s metaphorical opus about a renowned, idealistic architect (Adam Driver) seeking to build an ambitious utopian development in a modern-day version of New York inspired by ancient Rome follows the protagonist’s often-frustrated efforts to get the project off the ground (not unlike the production of this movie itself). Thematically speaking, the picture addresses a number of thoughtful, significant issues about the roles of greed, corruption, politics and agenda-based motivations in matters of public welfare, as well as the importance of enabling the expression of inspired creative freedom. It also delves into the relevance of love and support in fueling the success of such ventures. However, these notions are severely undermined by an overwhelming abundance of narrative clutter and style over substance. While it’s true that “Megalopolis” is gorgeous to look at with its inventive and impressive cinematography and production design, these visual aspects become so dominant that they vastly overshadow the coherence and intelligibility of the story. Admittedly, a greater sense of clarity begins to emerge as the picture unfolds, but, unfortunately, by that point, it’s difficult to imagine almost anyone genuinely caring about what ultimately happens. There are also many less-than-subtle parallels between the plot of this film and the screen adaptation of author Ayn Rand’s best-selling novel “The Fountainhead” (1949), raising some questions about the authentic originality of this work. Given that this could well be Coppola’s final film, it’s a shame to see the director wind up his repertoire with such a disappointing and underwhelming effort, and some reviewers (myself included) have tried mightily to avoid being unduly unkind, perhaps delivering more generous ratings than might ordinarily be the case. Nevertheless, it would appear that this allegorical undertaking was more than the filmmaker could manage, and it shows in the finished product, quite a letdown from the director known for such classic offerings as “The Godfather” (1972) and “Apocalypse Now” (1979). Yet, if you’re determined to see it, in light of the stunning visuals, this is probably a production best viewed on the big screen, but don’t be surprised if you walk away from this one disappointed overall.
So imagine that the Roman Empire survived the turbulent treacheries of the original Caesars and made it to third millennium. (New) Rome has miraculously relocated to the United States (of course the greatest country the world has ever known) and the city is run by mayor "Cicero" (Giancarlo Esposito). He's not without his detractors, though, and one of them is the ambitious "Cesar" (Adam Driver) who has ambitions to reinvent their city, Nero-style, by demolishing the run down slums and replacing them with an idealistic utopia constructed of his new, eternally lasting, "Megalon". The city's vested interests are lined up against this young man though, all except the mayor's daughter "Julia" (Nathalie Emmanuel) who has taken a bit of a shine to the ambitious "Cesar" - and that's much to the chagrin of his previous squeeze "Wow" (Aubrey Plaza) who decides that she will seek some vengeance by marrying the enormously wealthy, and aged, "Crassus" (Jon Voight). Add to this already rather cluttered mix, the personality of "Clodio" (Shia LaBoeuf) who is determined to bring down "Cesar" and see himself in public office - and inherit the "Crassus" fortune, and we have the makings of an internecine intrigue that ought to have made Suetonius and Machiavelli blush. Instead, well, we get a rambling drama that hasn't a clue where it's going - nor for whom it is for. It tries to mix a bit of the ancient Shakespeare (and Marcus Aurelius) into the dialogue to lend some gravitas and sense of history to the plot, but for the most part this is just a confused mess of a film. It's a toss up between LaBeouf as the the over-the-top, hammy, "Clodius" and Voight's doddery old gazillionaire as to who takes what acting plaudits there might be here, but the rest of the cast look like fish out of (CGI) water and though the production makes the odd to nod to cinema history - there's a tiny bit of Fritz Lang here, I though - the rest of this comes across as an ill-inspired vanity project for Francis Ford Coppola that can't decide if it's "Romeo & Juliet" or "Spartacus" and in the end doesn't deliver the potency, emotion, intensity or humour of either. It is a good looking film and the production designers have imaginatively created a city-scape that is ripe for the story, it's just that the story isn't ripe for the audience. It does need to be seen on a big screen, but be prepared to be underwhelmed as it starts strongly then simply peters out into a wordy melodrama with a few clumsily delivered messages about the nature of greed and the fecklessness of humanity lightly woven into the weak storyline. Beware, it ends tentatively enough to scream sequel at us, too!
**_Colorful, eccentric, intellectually heavy and full of pizazz, but not for the masses_**
A brilliant architect (Adam Driver) is determined to recreate a core section of New Rome in the later 21st century with a revolutionary bio-adaptive material called Megalon. But the new mayor resists these creative plans because he’s content with the way things are (Giancarlo Esposito). As such, the mayor’s not happy when his daughter (Nathalie Emmanuel) starts to develop a relationship with the prodigy. Shia LaBeouf plays a decadent troublemaker while Aubrey Plaza appears as a scheming TV presenter drawn to the financial backbone of the city (Jon Voight).
Francis Ford Coppola first came up with the idea for “Megalopolis” in 1977. It was inspired by Lucius Sergius Catiline’s failed attempt to take control of the Roman republic in 63 BC, but lost to his rival Marcus Tullius Cicero. Even though Francis compiled hundreds of pages of notes and script fragments for the project in early 1983, the first serious attempt to go forward with making the movie was in 2001-2002, but the production eventually froze for various reasons, including the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
When Coppola turned 80, he decided to throw caution to the wind and finally make the film, financing it himself at a cost of $120 million, with shooting taking place between November and March, 2022-2023. So, is it any good? Some critics call it a “big mess,” but the plot is actually simple, as detailed above. It’s Francis’ artsy style that throws people off wherein he respects the intelligence of the viewer to put the pieces together. This approach was evident in his previous pictures, like “One From the Heart,” “Rumble Fish,” “Bram Stoker’s Dracula,” “Youth Without Youth” and “Twixt” (aka “B-Twixt Now and Sunrise”). Speaking of those flicks, if you liked any of them, or hated ’em, this is cut from the same artistic cloth.
As observed with “Tucker: The Man and His Dream,” “Tetro” and even “Apocalypse Now” (the character of Kurtz), Coppola likes to parallel aspects of his own life in his movies. Here, he’s Cicero (Driver), an award-winning genius who has an ambitious new project that will revolutionize the landscape if carried out, but those in power oppose his noble efforts. He’s constantly slandered or framed with his indiscretions not helping matters. He’s also troubled by the death of his wife and his unborn children (remember the tragedy of Francis’ eldest son, Gian-Carlo, in 1986?). Yet he presses on with his vision and ultimately changes the world with his art.
At the end of the day, the movie’s entertaining on several fronts and stuffed with quality mindfood, not to mention it has a welcome warmhearted close. I busted out laughing on several occasions in light of the creative madness of it all. For those who say the amusement was “unintentional,” I guess they never saw Coppola’s previous film “Twixt,” not to mention earlier ones like “You’re a Big Boy Now.”
I see the city of Megalopolis as a type of the New Jerusalem in the Bible, the eternal city described in Revelation 21-22 (awesome streets of gold and all that). "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" and so the impenitent in the movie reap the wages of their transgressions whereas those who change their minds/thinking/actions (that is, they repent) are able to enjoy the benefits of the amazing new city.
If you value it, this is a flick you’ll be able to go back to for gems missed on previous viewings.
It runs 2 hour, 18 minutes, and was shot in Manhattan and Trilith Studios, Atlanta.
GRADE: B+/A-
Cast & Crew of
Megalopolis
Cast
... Cesar Catilina
... Mayor Cicero
... Julia Cicero
... Wow Platinum
... Clodio Pulcher
... Hamilton Crassus III
... Fundi Romaine
... Constance Crassus Catilina
... Jason Zanderz
... Teresa Cicero
... Vesta Sweetwater
... Clodia Pulcher
... Charles Cothope
... Commissioner Stanley Hart
... Claudine Pulcher
... Huey Wilkes
... Claudette Pulcher
... Aram Kazanjian
... Girl Reporter
... Sunny Hope Catilina
... Nush 'The Fixer' Berman
... Zena The Model
... Dr. Lyra Shir
... Balin the Fractal
... Assassin Boy
... Felix the Butler
... General
... Cesar's Secretary
... Bandmaster
... Ringmaster
... Control Room Engineer
... Mrs. Gayle
... Laughing Man
... TV Newscaster
... Spanish-Speaking Protester
... Mr. Singh
... Servilia
... Non English-Speaking Driver
... Board Chairwoman
... Wall Street Lawyer
... Wall Street Lawyer
... Elvis Impersonator
... Sunny Puppet Dancer
... Townhouse Guard
... Dance Instructor
... Vesta Lookalike
... Vesta Lookalike
... Vesta Lookalike
... Fake Vesta in Bed
... Lady Justice Statue
... Mayor's Aide
... Mournful Lady Statue
... Jane Doe
... Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
... Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Crew
... Production Supervisor
... Assistant Accountant
... Assistant Accountant
... Unit Production Manager
... Production Accountant
... Controller
... Conceptual Illustrator
... Set Designer
... Art Department Coordinator
... Set Designer
... Art Direction
... Supervising Art Director
... Set Designer
... Set Designer
... Art Direction
... Set Designer
... Production Design
... Art Direction
... Concept Artist
... Storyboard Artist
... Location Manager
... Production Secretary
... Intern
... Location Manager
... Intern
... Production Coordinator
... Casting
... Transportation Captain
... Location Manager
... Location Scout
... Transportation Coordinator
... Assistant Location Manager
... Casting
... Second Unit Director
... Director of Photography
... Set Decoration
... Producer
... Original Music Composer
... Dolly Grip
... Rigging Gaffer
... Grip
... Lighting Programmer
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Gaffer
... Dolly Grip
... Rigging Gaffer
... Grip
... Key Grip
... Best Boy Grip
... Grip
... Extras Casting Coordinator
... Grip
... Camera Operator
... Gaffer
... Video Assist Operator
... Best Boy Electric
... Steadicam Operator
... Rigging Grip
... Second Assistant Camera
... Rigging Grip
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Extras Casting Assistant
... Editor
... Editor
... Concept Artist
... Additional Second Assistant Director
... Sound Supervisor
... Additional Second Assistant Director
... Supervising Sound Editor
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Assistant Sound Editor
... Production Sound Mixer
... First Assistant Director
... Second Second Assistant Director
... Second Assistant Director
... Special Effects Technician
... Boom Operator
... Dialogue Editor
... Additional Second Assistant Director
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... Special Effects
... Sound Effects Editor
... Special Effects Coordinator
... Special Effects Technician
... Additional Second Assistant Director
... Sound Re-Recording Mixer
... ADR Coordinator
... Production Sound Mixer
... First Assistant Director
... Second Unit First Assistant Director
... ADR Recording Engineer
... Dialogue Editor
... Special Effects Technician
... Sound Effects Editor
... Sound Designer
... ADR Voice Casting
... Sound Designer
... Special Effects Supervisor
... ADR Mixer
... Boom Operator
... Special Effects Technician
... Special Effects Supervisor
... In Memory Of
... Foley Recordist
... Writer
... Assistant Director Trainee
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Driver
... Utility Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Fight Choreographer
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Stunt Coordinator
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Utility Stunts
... Stunt Double
... Stunt Double
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Key Rigging Grip
... Underwater Camera
... Stunts
... Stunt Driver
... Stunt Double
... Utility Stunts
... First Assistant "B" Camera
... Electrician
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Stunt Driver
... Stunt Driver
... Stunts
... Stunts
... Grip
... "B" Camera Operator
... Stunts
... Electrician
... Second Assistant "A" Camera
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Key Hair Stylist
... Makeup Artist
... Hair Department Head
... Foley Mixer
... Foley Artist
... Foley Artist
... Co-Producer
... ADR Mixer
... Foley Recordist
... Foley Recordist
... Foley Recordist
... Hairstylist
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Foley Artist
... Makeup Department Head
... Makeup Artist
... Associate Producer
... Makeup Artist
... Hairstylist
... Hairstylist
... Makeup Artist
... Makeup Artist
... Foley Recordist
... Costumer
... Executive Producer
... "C" Camera Operator
... First Assistant Camera
... Executive Producer
... Costume Coordinator
... Costumer
... Set Costumer
... Electrician
... Original Music Composer
... Art Direction
... Grip
... Still Photographer
... Editor
... Associate Producer
... Costume Coordinator
... Set Costumer
... Grip
... Costumer
... Electrician
... Costume Design
... Grip
... Production Design
... Additional Grip
... Co-Producer
... Co-Producer
... Assistant Hairstylist
... Producer
... Producer
... Executive Producer
... Costume Supervisor
... Digital Imaging Technician
... Costumer
... Stunt Coordinator
... Art Department Assistant
... Director
... Producer
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Thanks
... Title Designer
... Choreographer
... Additional Photography
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Key Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Actor's Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Key Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Production Assistant
... Craft Service
... "C" Camera Operator
... Camera Operator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Modeling
... Compositing Artist
... Modeling
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Producer
... Visual Effects Producer
... Compositing Artist
... Compositing Artist
... Modeling
... Modeling
... Compositing Artist
... Compositing Lead
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Compositing Artist
... Compositing Artist
... Modeling
... Compositing Artist
... Visual Effects Editor
... Compositing Artist
... Compositing Artist
... Digital Compositor
... Compositing Artist
... Compositing Artist
... Modeling
... Modeling
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... VFX Artist
... Modeling
... Visual Effects Coordinator
... Visual Effects Supervisor
... Visual Effects Producer
... VFX Artist
... VFX Artist
... VFX Artist
... VFX Artist
... Assistant Editor
... Additional Editor
... Assistant Editor
... Additional Editor
... Additional Editor
... First Assistant Editor
... Orchestrator
... Music Editor
... Assistant Art Director
... Set Dresser
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Storyboard Artist
... Set Dresser
... Set Decoration Buyer
... Set Dresser
... Graphic Designer
... Storyboard Artist
... Set Dresser
... Construction Buyer
... Set Dresser
... Concept Artist
... Set Dresser
... Property Master
... Storyboard Artist
... Assistant Art Director
... Set Dresser
... Graphic Designer
... Scenic Artist
... Set Dresser
... Set Decorating Coordinator
... Construction Coordinator
... Construction Foreman
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Set Dresser
... Art Department Coordinator
... Set Designer
... On Set Dresser
... On Set Dresser
... Makeup Artist
Videos & Photos of
Megalopolis
Videos (4)
Photos 61
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