'Megadoc' offers a glimpse into Francis Ford Coppola pursuing art independently, financed by himself.
In the world of filmmaking, few productions have been as fraught with challenges as Francis Ford Coppola's ambitious project, Megalopolis. The documentary Megadoc, directed by Mike Figgis, offers a captivating glimpse into the creation of this self-financed film, which stars Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, and Aubrey Plaza, among others.
Megadoc does not delve into the autopsy of a disaster like Hearts of Darkness or Burden of Dreams. Instead, it presents a portrait of an artist at work, wrestling with the bureaucracy and machinery that often accompany such grand endeavours. Coppola, in a nod to his earlier film Apocalypse, expresses concern about being fired from the production of Megalopolis.
Shia LeBeouf, who plays a significant role in the film, was surprised to be cast and at times pushes Coppola to the brink of exasperation. Aubrey Plaza, on the other hand, approaches the project with joyful, anarchic glee. The documentary captures a moment when Coppola fires his VFX supervisor and the art department walks off the picture, but it does not address the allegations of inappropriate behaviour during a party scene.
Megalopolis is a fantastical allegory of wealth, power, and politics, set in near-future New York City and drawing from ancient Rome. Coppola financed the film with money from the sale of parts of his wine business, reportedly for $120 million. The finished Megalopolis has moments of beauty, tenderness, and transcendence, but also a debilitating air of too-muchness.
Coppola insists on capturing a theatrical lighting effect in camera, resulting in one of the most astonishing shots in Megalopolis. Despite only getting about 70% of what he was hoping for during the production, Coppola still considers it worth it. The film concludes with the premiere of Megalopolis at Cannes, skipping over the early screening that resulted in negative word of mouth and scared away distributors.
A run of shows for Megalopolis has been announced at Eastwood Performing Arts Center, and Megadoc is playing in limited release on September 19. While Megadoc is not a comprehensive guide to understanding Megalopolis, it is useful and insightful, offering a unique perspective on the trials and triumphs of bringing a visionary project to life.
Tragically, Eleanor Coppola, Francis Coppola's wife, passed away in April 2024 before the premiere of Megalopolis. Her absence no doubt adds a poignant layer to the already compelling narrative presented in Megadoc.
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