Adam Driver leads this plodding drama that cant find its center.
Francis Ford Coppolachanged cinema as we know it, and hisGodfatherfilms will remain hallmarks of American filmmaking.
But his latest film (and possibly his last) is a stain on his legacy.
Adam Driver in ‘Megalopolis’.American Zoetrope
SomehowMegalopolismanages to be both chaotic and unspeakably boring.
Its a noble aspiration, if only the film actually said anything coherent.
American Zoetrope
Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) is at war for the soul of his city.
Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’.American Zoetrope/Megalopolis/Mihai Malaimare
But his dream depends on a murky property battle between him and Mayor Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito).
Somehow, Coppola also manages to cultivate horribly wooden performances from his stable of talented actors.
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Francis Ford Coppola at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival premiere of ‘Megalopolis’.Kristy Sparow/Getty
And all that is without mentioning the films troubling gender roles and gross sexual dynamics at play.
The moment is the first of many unintentional laughs and cringey moments.
Something so bad its good, an experience you could give yourself over to.
But instead, it only prompted me to check my watch.
His vision for the possibility of a utopia and human collaboration for good is admirable.
ButMegalopolisgrants Coppola a dubious honor.
