Megalopolis: Francis Ford Coppola’s four-decade project unfolds as a cinematic fever dream

WEB DESK: The trailer for Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ released on Tuesday, delivering an experience that feels like a surreal fever dream.

Imagine the grandeur of the Roman Empire colliding with the mind-bending future of science fiction. All wrapped up in a visually stunning Tarantino’s signature colour palette with a world of Matrix-style action. The trailer teeters on the edge of a psychedelic trip, transporting viewers to a world where ancient history meets futuristic technology.

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Francis Ford Coppola has always been known for his surrealism and boundary-pushing. The dreamer whose successful experimentation worked so well in the 1970s. Maybe the 85-year-old director can still surprise us.

The director behind the iconic Godfather trilogy and the visionary who brought us Bram Stoker’s Dracula in the 90s. The man who stands among the greatest directors in cinematic history. Has the legend lost his touch, or does this upcoming project signal a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Could it deliver a psychedelic journey so profound and earth-shattering that nothing else will ever compare?

The man from the famous Coppola family, the five-time Oscar winner. Francis Ford Coppola has carved out a legendary status in the world of cinema. While the Godfather trilogy remains iconic, it was his Apocalypse Now released in 1978 that cemented his legendary status.

Delving into Apocalypse Now, a nearly five-decade-old film, may prompt the question: why is it still relevant? The answer lies in its magic—or perhaps in Coppola’s stubbornness. This Vietnam War-era movie is gritty, insane, and beloved precisely for those qualities. Critics and audiences alike hailed its accurate portrayal of the Vietnam War, far removed from the romanticised versions often seen in Hollywood. It dared to depict the brutal reality of war, capturing the war as authentically as possible on screen.

Everything that could go wrong on a movie set reportedly went wrong during making of Apocalypse Now. In Coppola’s own words, “We were in the jungle, there were too many of us, we had access to too much money, too much equipment, and little by little we went insane.” Every imaginable obstacle seemed to plague the set, from unpredictable weather to logistical nightmares. Yet, despite the chaos, the film ultimately emerged as a masterpiece.

The trailer of Megalopolis is a feverish journey through a cocktail of mind-altering drugs. It offers glimpses into a world both terrifying and fantastical. It reveals nothing yet hints at everything—a potential Matrix-like dystopia or perhaps a utopian paradise. It’s a cinematic roller-coaster, the duality of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in less than two minutes of teaser trailer.

Megalopolis is a passion project from one of cinema’s greatest directors. However, it languished in development hell for nearly four decades before finally coming to fruition. It could either be the triumphant final offering from Coppola or the disappointing swan song of a once-great director. — Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Disappointments and mega flops can haunt even the most accomplished directors. They’ve cast shadows over the careers of revered filmmakers like Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, and even Stanley Kubrick.

Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon” released in 1975 is often considered his greatest flop. Interestingly, Barry Lyndon was released just three years before Apocalypse Now and was also a war-adventure movie.

Coppola’s latest offering Megalopolis reportedly carried a hefty price tag of over $120 million, with a significant portion of the funding coming from Coppola’s own pocket. It’s said that Coppola financed the film’s production by selling his expensive winery.

Coppola is still seeking distributors for his latest film. There are rumours that potential distributors are sceptical of its box office potential. Despite that, the film will screen at the Cannes Film Festival on Friday.

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With this movie, Coppola could “create” his “future”, or it may go down in history as his worst offering. Again — Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.