Coppola's 'Megalopolis': A Bold Departure from Hollywood Norms

Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary American director born in 1939, has once again stirred the film industry with his latest creation, "Megalopolis". This $120 million self-funded project, set to debut in U.S. theaters on September 27, 2024, represents a bold departure from conventional filmmaking.

Coppola, who contracted polio as a child and spent long periods bedridden, has always approached his craft with a unique perspective. In a recent interview, he expressed his belief that "Megalopolis" offers audiences a narrative vastly different from the familiar. He stated, "We're so used to seeing movies that are like other movies because they're financed that way. It's always something that's already proven that it will make money. 'Megalopolis' is new."

The film, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival earlier in 2024, stars Adam Driver as Cesar Catilina, an architect-scientist striving to improve a fictional New York City called New Rome. This concept echoes Coppola's own innovative spirit, reminiscent of his groundbreaking work on "The Godfather" (1972), which won three Academy Awards, including Best Picture.

Coppola's journey in filmmaking has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. He has won five Academy Awards throughout his career and received the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award in 2010. However, he also faced financial difficulties, filing for bankruptcy in 1992 before recovering.

The director drew parallels between his filmmaking experiences and the characters in his movies. He reflected, "When I was young and made 'The Godfather,' I had to be like Michael because I had no power and I had to be very Machiavellian. When I made 'Apocalypse Now,' I was in an absurd situation with helicopters and millions of dollars every week that I was paying for, so I had to become a megalomaniac like Kurtz."

Despite mixed reviews, with "Megalopolis" currently holding a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, Adam Driver remains optimistic about the film's potential. He believes it's a work that requires multiple viewings to fully appreciate, stating, "I think it does have legs and I think it is something that you want to return to and can return to and mine something else out of it."

Coppola's diverse career includes directing "The Outsiders" (1983), which launched the careers of several young actors, and "Bram Stoker's Dracula" (1992), which won three Academy Awards. His ability to adapt and innovate is evident in his ventures outside filmmaking, such as owning a winery in California's Napa Valley since 1975 and launching the literary magazine "Zoetrope: All-Story" in 1997.

As "Megalopolis" prepares to reach a wider audience, it stands as a testament to Coppola's enduring creativity and willingness to challenge industry norms, much like his daughter Sofia Coppola, who has also become a renowned filmmaker in her own right.

"It's [movies like other movies] always something that's already proven that it will make money. It's like a potato chip that you know is habit forming and 'Megalopolis' is new."