After watching Megalopolis, the latest from Francis Ford Coppola, you may find yourself asking a lot of questions. Primary among these may be: What the hell did I just watch? You see, while Megalopolis is a unique experience, it is also a confusing one. It is awash with themes and imagery that never all comes together. Although it has spent years in development, it seems not much of that was spent in creating a cohesive, let alone coherent, narrative. But it was interesting.
The story, such that there is one, takes place in New Rome, a city that is basically New York (especially if you’re poor) mixed with the Roman Empire (particularly if you’re rich and pretentious). The corrupt Mayor (Giancarlo Esposito) tries to keep the city together, mainly for his own personal gain, while an architect (Adam Driver) wants to bring it down to build a better, more utopian society. But there are many others also struggling for fame, wealth and control in New Rome.
The story is really a mess, but is more interested in its themes telling a story. Ultimately, I believe it wants to compare the falling of the Roman Empire with the current state of the US (or maybe civilization as a whole). But the movie wants to explore so many different angles (wealth, power, corruption, ambition, the struggle between classes, and the human spirit) that it never finds focus. It’s every philosophical thought on society Coppola has ever had thrown together into a messy mix. It jumps from one thought to another, sometimes so quickly that you could suffer whiplash. It’s ambitious, but messy.
The movie does pull together an amazing roster of actors. Unfortunately, they all appear to have been given different scripts with different stage directions. Many times they appear to be trying to achieve completely different things. The acting at times can be quite good, but at others, painful to watch. The characters are all paper thin and even calling them just archetypes might be giving too much credit. Characters are either ridiculously ideological or are just evil to the point that you expect them to twirl their mustaches or laugh maniacally. And the dialogue just gets absurd, jumping between grand, Shakespearean-like philosophical statements and pure drivel. It made me laugh quite a bit, but I don’t think that was the movie’s intent.
Visually, Megalopolis is stunning. What Coppola achieves on a technical level is amazing. The cinematography is outstanding, with views of the city being nothing short of spectacular. The special effects are incredible and blend seamlessly into live action. It’s truly a sight to behold. And while the visuals are the best part of the movie, it’s also a little too much. There’s just so much going on. Like other aspects of Megalopolis, it’s as though Coppola took every idea he had and ensured it went into the movie.
I’m sure there will be many who will love Megalopolis and will tell me that I just didn’t get it. And that’s likely true. But I’m not sure that anyone other than Coppola truly will. It’s obviously a deeply personal film to him considering that he is financing it all himself. And kudos to him for taking the steps necessary to achieve his vision. But I do believe it is his vision alone, and he’s not able to properly convey it completely through this movie. Many will take what they want from it, but I’ll be skeptical of anyone who tells me they understand it completely. While others may say that this is an example of the director’s vision exceeding his grasp, I believe this is a case where he simply has so much he wants to say, that there is no way to fit it all cohesively into a movie. I admire the ambition, but the final product leaves a lot to be desired.
While there are many things I admired about Megalopolis, the experience overall was frustrating. It is stunning visually, but the lack of a cohesive story with a mixed bag of acting and dialogue, make the experience both good and bad. It shows Francis Ford Coppola in full control, yet unable to show restraint, and becomes a muddled mess that will leave many scratching their heads. But it is a unique experience, and I am glad I saw it. So, when it comes to whether I would recommend the Megalopolis, much like the movie itself, I am confused. I’m reluctant to recommend it as the experience is certainly not for everyone. And yet, I don’t want to tell anyone to stay away as there is still a lot to like. So, if you were interested, give it a shot. But go for the visuals and the themes. Don’t expect great storytelling. And if you end up confused, just know that you’ll be part of part of a larger group.
Have you seen Megalopolis? Are you planning to? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.