Auteur Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-in-the-making fable-like passion project has finally arrived with a resounding clunk, but does it deserve being panned? I mean, this is the director of The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation we’re talking about. He’s a certified genius. The only important question for you to answer is, “What kind of movie lover am I?”
Megalopolis is a sprawling, epic story that combines Greek mythology, Roman history, American excess, political demagoguery, wealth disparity, nepotism, hedonism, optimism, and more. Set in New Rome, which looks a lot like New York City, the story follows visionary architect Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver), who’s invented Megalon, a revolutionary building material from which he hopes to construct a utopian city that will fairly provide comfort to all, not just the ruling class. Mayor Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito) represents the status quo. Their power struggle is at the center of the story.
The visuals are stunning, the acting is potent, but the story is convoluted. If you’re the kind of filmgoer who doesn’t like to leave the theater confused, this may not be the film for you. If you like a challenging film, see this on the big screen. I was enthralled. (138 min.)
—Glen Starkey
This article appears in Oct 24 – Nov 3, 2024.
