By Elliot Lines October 2, 2024
How many times do you think about ancient Rome in a day? Well, in Francis Ford Coppola's case, it seems like the subject has been on his mind for a long time. Megalopolis has finally hit our screens after being in the works for nearly 50 years. The legendary director presents his idea of a new world and what becomes of the people in it. Megalopolis is an ambitious project, but does it work as a movie?
Synopsis
A conflict between Cesar, a genius artist who seeks to leap into a utopian, idealistic future, and his opposition, Mayor Franklyn Cicero, who remains committed to a regressive status quo, perpetuating greed, special interests, and partisan warfare.
Review
The concept of Megalopolis has been in Francis Ford Coppola's mind since 1977, and this is something that shows quite prominently in the film. There are so many ideas crammed into its two-hour runtime, none of which come together coherently, ultimately making this an absolute mess from start to finish.
Stylistically, the film is all over the place. It's a concoction of styles that, at times, make this a tough watch, often changing from scene to scene and never settling on one look.
With it being a film made by a legend such as Coppola, I found myself trying to find something to enjoy. There were times when the film slowed down and sat with its ideas for small spells, and in these moments, I found some semblance of enjoyment.
Megalopolis also looks incredible at times, though this is once again undermined by some shoddy CGI work in occasional scenes that look like they came from a B-movie budget rather than the millions of dollars spent here.
Megalopolis includes some big names in its cast line-up. One of the biggest names in Hollywood right now is Adam Driver, who is the star of this movie. His role as Cesar Catalina is comfortably the most fleshed out, setting him worlds apart from the rest of the cast. Wow Platinum (Aubrey Plaza) and Clodio Pulcher (Shia LaBeouf) feel like, at times, they are in the same crazy film that is unfolding before your eyes, providing the mental instability that mirrors the film's own chaos. Nathalie Emmanuel character Julia Cicero, feels a little underwritten, and when up against Driver, she becomes somewhat lost. However, this reflects a larger problem with female characters in films over the years, where the men often outshine the women. Giancarlo Esposito and Jon Voight, who play Mayor Cicero and Hamilton Crassus III respectively, are also severely underutilised in their roles.
You'll need to concentrate throughout your time with the film's ideas as they try to unfold on screen. Blink, and you may miss key information that not only explains what is going on but why and how it's happening. I feel these explanations are key to understanding the movie; however, when they come in such short, sharp bursts, it's difficult to catch them. A rewatch may be necessary, but I struggled to find the motivation to spend another two hours with this film.
With its many themes and ideas, Megalopolis feels like an incoherent mess. It may find its audience, and in years to come, we may look back and think differently. I admire the ambition from Francis Ford Coppola and managed to find a small amount of enjoyment in moments of Megalopolis, but this 47-year project just doesn't work.
Star Rating
Megalopolis is out now in cinemas
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