A commemorative command wanted to know again: In 2024, “Megalopolis” started a new monumental film by “Der Pate” and “Apocalypse Now” maker Francis Ford Coppola. Now the much-discussed epic has also arrived in streaming subscription.
It took a long time: “The godfather” and “Apocalypse Now” director Francis Ford Coppola Had the idea to ultimately too “Megalopolis“Already in 1977. The concept for “Megalopolis” is as old as “Star Wars”! But while George Lucas founded an empire in the same time, enlarged and sold, Coppola worked irregularly on his idea. So he only wrote an early version of the sci-fi epic in 1983.
Coppola’s intention was to mix thoughts about futuristic technologies and worries about the status quo of the USA. These first drafts have had to be revised since then, because it was not until 2022 that the first flap for the official main turning work fell. In the cinema the Coppola Passion project had little success, but maybe there is now more recognition: From now on is “Megalopolis” at Netflix available! Meanwhile, fans and Coppola-Sammeligige take to the DVD or Blu-ray …
“Megalopolis” at Amazon*
It is impossible to predict whether you will like the cash flop – because international press reception makes it clear that this is a decent splitter is where the camps “Great!”, “Grauen!” And “What do you all have, is it okay?!” It is unusually difficult to understand the other sides. However, one thing is certain: you have not yet seen a film like this $ 130 million mammoth project.
Because the prominently occupied epic has an unusual look, idiosyncratic dramaturgy and many striking ideas. Or to Film start chief critic Christoph Petersen To quote: “If ‘Megalopolis’ had actually been created as originally planned in the early 1980s, then he would certainly have called one of the most legendary flops in cinema history – as well as the undisputed cult film!”
“Megalopolis”: Back then it is tomorrow
A near future that has massive parallels to the (late) Roman Empire: inventor, architect and celebrity Caesar Catalina (Adam Driver) plans to build the ultimate city of the future with the help of his new material Megalon. Because of his radical ideas, however, he rattles with Mayor Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito) together who wants to stick to old standards – as well as on steel and concrete.
The fronts are enormous that the ex-chief prosecutor is also convinced that Caesar has murdered his own wife. And then there would be a round of love complications: Caesar has an affair with news moderator WoW Platinum (Aubrey plaza) that plans to frail banking mogul Hamilton Crassus III (Jon Voight) to get married – even though they from his vengeful son Clodio Pulcher (Shia Labeouf). Meanwhile, Caesar falls in love with the mayor’s daughter, the contemptuous occasional sniffer Julia Cicero (Nathalie Emmanuel) …
“Megalopolis” does not hit every taste, but is an absolute gain for the cinema!
The villains from “Star Wars: The Awakens of Power” and “Breaking Bad” as rivals, a popular “Game of Thrones” actress as the hero, questioning object of desire, the changing controversial voight and Labouf as father and son and in the middle “Agatha All Along” funling plaza: This cast alone would be strange.
But also play in other roles Laurence Fishburne“The godfather” and “Rocky” veteran Talia Shirethe multiple WESDELSON collaborator Jason SchwartzmanSinger-songwriter Grace Vanderwaal“Saturday Night Live” star Chloe Fineman as well as “the ripening test” main actor Dustin Hoffman with.
A colorful mix of stars. How suitable for a film that revolves around a city, the architecture and culture of which are a jewelry Art Deco nostalgia, antique pomp, argumentative US presence and (retro) futurism Represent!
A flop with well -known fans
The supporters of the whole include the director’s greats Guillermo del Toro, Steven Soderbergh, Spike Lee, Spike Jonze and Oliver Stone-who did a similar change to Coppola and, after some popular masterpieces, delivered many spliters and finally increasingly caused controversy.
About Coppola’s heart project “Megalopolis” Stone enthused: “You can make fun of it, but I deeply admire his commitment to his vision. In visual terms, there is One breathtaking scene after the other – more than in ‘Apocalypse now’ or its exotic ‘One with heart‘”.
By the way: If you don’t know “one with heart” (or have not seen it for a long time), you should definitely change that. The author of this article is a fan of the image-powerful Coppola Kleinjuwels, which was created with immense devotion and therefore highly recommend the 4K restoration:
This is a revised re -publication of an article already published on film start.
*The links to Amazon offer are so-called affiliate links. When buying on these links or when completing a subscription, we receive a commission. This has no effect on the price.
