Megalopolis (2024)

There's been a lot of bad films released this year and Megalopolis is undoubtedly one of them. I have to be honest with myself though. While this film is a pretentious, messy, unhinged attempt at creating a "fable" (as Coppola puts it), I still enjoyed it's insanity much more than the other bad films of the year. For instance, Aubrey Plaza as the deliciously evil "Wow Platinum" is a fever dream. This next level performance from her will surely be among the praise this film manages to squeeze out. Shia LaBeouf goes unchecked with his outrageous performance as Clodio, the bitter cousin and rival to Adam Driver's Cesar. The film was said to be filmed using an experimental style that allowed the actors and Coppola himself, to change lines or scenes on the whim. Plaza referred to the madness saying it was, "​Every man for himself; only the strong survive here." Arising from this chaos is some very memorable performances from the 3 main leads I mentioned as well as Nathalie Emmanuel as Julia Cicero. Francis Ford Coppola somehow spent 120 million dollars on an experimental movie about old Romans politics set to a futurist New York City. If that doesn't excite you, then you probably won't like this movie. If you're like me and you enjoy a challenge, if you enjoy watching a movie as a project and not a complete story, if you want to see LaBeouf and Plaza's awkward, dirty sex scene, then go watch this movie. Give the legendary Mr. Coppola his well deserved few bucks. Lets send the old man out with a thank you. It won't be great, but it should at least make you smile.

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