Behind-the-Scenes Glance at Francis Ford Coppola's Megaflop, 'Megadoc', Reveals elder film directors seeking enjoyment in their work
In the world of cinema, the name Francis Ford Coppola is synonymous with ambitious and groundbreaking projects. His latest endeavour, "Megalopolis," is no exception. The film, which boasts a budget of over $120 million, was produced by Coppola, Fred Roos, and Barry Hirsch.
The film is an Ayn Randian tale set in a city planner named Cesar Catalina, played by Adam Driver, who attempts to save New Rome from a conspiracy led by Shia LaBeouf's character, Clodio. Originally, Ryan Gosling was cast as Clodio, but was later replaced.
Coppola, aged 85, returned to the Cannes Film Festival with "Megalopolis," a project that he funded himself using a significant stake from his family's wine business. The documentary "Megadoc," which offers insights into the production of "Megalopolis," demonstrates Coppola's audacity in wagering his own capital to make an original film in a time when Hollywood is averse to anything but sequels and superhero movies.
"Megadoc" provides a glimpse into Coppola's rehearsal process and his vision for the finished film. It also reveals the chaos and disputes during its filming, with Coppola coming across as a magnanimous and not unreasonable director despite frustrations with LaBeouf and the film's spiraling budget.
The film "Megalopolis" somehow anticipated 9/11, but was also undone by it. Dustin Hoffman stepped in to fill James Caan's shoes after the actor's death. The film features unconventional audition methods, such as Nathalie Emmanuel's request to be filmed only from the waist up.
Despite Coppola's commitment to the craft and his desire for fun and creativity in the filmmaking process, "Megalopolis" has been met with criticism. Critics find the film clumsy and tonally inconsistent. George Lucas, Coppola's longtime friend, had promised a return to bold, experimental filmmaking but never followed through.
The film's release was met with confusion and questions about Coppola's motivations and the film's message. "Megalopolis" is considered one of Coppola's most significant career failures, surpassing "One From the Heart" in both ambition and disappointment.
Despite the negative reception, "Megadoc" closes with the red-carpet premiere of "Megalopolis" in Cannes. However, the film had many more steps to climb, dealing with negative reactions and a lack of distribution interest. Coppola remains undeterred, insisting that the production of "Megalopolis" was "fun."
The saga of "Megalopolis" serves as a testament to Coppola's unwavering commitment to his craft and his willingness to take risks, even in the face of adversity. Whether the film will find its place in the annals of cinema history remains to be seen.
