Megalopolis () (1 Viewer)

[Alex...]

Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis,’ Released in 2024, Will Also Have A Graphic Novel Accompanying it — World of Reel

A bit odd, but Syzygy Publishing, the new Image Imprint headed by Chris Ryall and Ashley Wood, announced they are collaborating with Francis Ford Coppola on a graphic novel tie-in to his upcoming film, ”Megalopolis”.

www.worldofreel.com

 

[Alex...]

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

Well, Coppola says we are just a few months away from this getting released. He's on this podcast discussing it:



Accutron is honored to have Francis Ford Coppola as one of the featured guests of the podcast. The renowned American film director is celebrated for his contributions to the New Hollywood movement. His most notable achievements include directing the critically acclaimed "The Godfather" series, which earned him consecutive Academy Awards for Best Director. Coppola also made a significant impact with the war epic "Apocalypse Now." With a prolific and influential career, he remains a key figure in shaping the landscape of modern cinema. On The Accutron Show he speaks about his new movie 'Megalopolis," his opinion on the future of the world as well as a special revelation about the Accutron watch. Tune in and enjoy this incredible ride!

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
14:15 I am extremely positive about the future. I am sure we will understand that we are in this together and that we are capable of solving the very difficult problems in the world today.
26:27 Everyone is one to a million shot. The fact that your mother and your father came together to produce you, means that the odds of you existing are a million to one. Since you are so unique, your work should be personal and hence unique.
44:05 Did you know that the Accutron watch was responsible for wireless sync sound in movies? In the past they used to have the camera and the sound unit connected by a wire. A filmmaker had the idea that instead of having audio and video connected with a wire, if each one would get its pulse from an Accutron watch then they would be in sync.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I have to admit, this a huge release for me as Coppola is one of the old masters and he is trying to work on a grand scale here again. I only saw three Kubrick films when they were released in cinemas, The Shining, Full Metal Jacket, and Eyes Wide Shut. Each was an event for me. This feels the same, even though Coppola worked more often and for hire. So, where each Kubrick film was a highly polished gem that took a great deal of time to create, Coppola made some films to recover from financial mishaps but, in my opinion, whenever he was making one he had really invested himself in, it was always a gem that I really enjoyed. So, needless to say, I am very excited for this picture. I know he's not done something "big" in a long time and generally people feel as Tarantino does, that older filmmakers fade at the end of their careers. I would not count out Mr. Coppola though, he may surprise you with his creativity and ability to visualize big ideas.

 

[TravisR]

I know he's not done something "big" in a long time and generally people feel as Tarantino does, that older filmmakers fade at the end of their careers. I would not count out Mr. Coppola though, he may surprise you with his creativity and ability to visualize big ideas.

I can't wait to see Megalopolis but I think it's impossible to say that, broadly speaking, Coppola's movies did not get worse as he went on. I'd say that he's a textbook case of what Tarantino talks about directors getting worse with time but once he started essentially making movies for himself late in his career, his work became interesting again. Even if this movie is lousy, it's heartwarming to see an old master taking a big swing near the end.

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

I can't wait to see Megalopolis but I think it's impossible to say that, broadly speaking, Coppola's movies did not get worse as he went on. I'd say that he's a textbook case of what Tarantino talks about directors getting worse with time but once he started essentially making movies for himself late in his career, his work became interesting again. Even if this movie is lousy, it's heartwarming to see an old master taking a big swing near the end.

I think when he was doing something that he felt was his, that he was really invested in, he always did a great job. He did slide in to for hire stuff, some of it was really good, some was OK, it often did not show off his personal touches but I think in those cases that is not what he was shooting for. I think for a while all he was doing was trying to get the picture done on time and have it be entertaining for an audience.

His real run of pictures that were really his masterworks runs from The Conversation to One from the Heart. That was his prime, he was making incredible and unique pictures. One from the Heart was not a success, it has issues, but still, what he did and what he was trying to do is really interesting. In the middle of that he has two truly epic pictures, The Godfather II and Apocalypse Now, these are stunning works that I believe, only could have come from him. He would slip into doing some small personal films and the experiment that was Twixt, and I enjoyed those, even though it was obvious he was taking much smaller swings, intentionally.

He's got other excellent pictures but in his "for hire" phase I think he reined himself in. I do love his Dracula picture, took me a while to really love it, but I think he was really creative with it. What I am hoping for in this new film is that he cuts loose again. Sure, he's much older and at the end of a career but it feels like he really has something he wants to say with this one. I like the message he is promoting, we are all in this together and we can do this.

 

[Alex...]

First look

 

[Alex...]

There was a screening this morning for industry insiders, here is a positive write up

Hollywood Elsewhere – Movie news and opinions by Jeffrey Wells

 

[Jake Lipson]

Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ Faces Uphill Battle for Mega Deal: “Just No Way to Position This Movie”

The self-funded epic is deemed too “experimental” and “not good” enough for the $100 million marketing spend envisioned by the legendary director.

www.hollywoodreporter.com

 

[Alex...]

First look

Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’: An Exclusive First Look at the Director’s Retro-Futurist Epic

Adam Driver and Nathalie Emmanuel scan the horizon, and Coppola explains his sprawling influences for the utopian drama.

www.vanityfair.com

 

[Alex...]

First teaser

 

[Alex...]

New trailer

 

[Winston T. Boogie]

That trailer looks quite interesting.

 

[TravisR]

Unless Coppola is asking for too much money, I can't understand how this movie doesn't have a US distributor yet. The respect for Coppola, the whole "He's invested his own money!" behind the scenes tale and the internet buzz is going to make this an arthouse hit.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Unless Coppola is asking for too much money, I can't understand how this movie doesn't have a US distributor yet.

I think either Variety or Hollywood Reporter indicated that money is the sticking point. Coppola spent over $100+ million producing the film, and he’s asking that any deal for distributing the film also include a commitment to spending an additional $100+ million for advertising. Coppola apparently is aspiring for something much bigger than an art house release and believes this film is deserving of a Marvel tentpole/Christopher Nolan-esque major release (it was shot with an IMAX release in mind) and the studios that have seen it don’t believe the film is at that level.

Apparently the major studios have balked at spending over $200+ million to acquire the film as they do not believe, after seeing it at industry screenings, that it has the audience potential to gross the $500+ million that it would take to recoup that kind of spending. They don’t think it has tentpole appeal. And the smaller distributors don’t have the funds to make that kind of an investment.

The buzz from the industry screenings - and those are always worth taking with a grain of salt as anonymous studio sources can have their own agendas - is that the movie plays more like one of Coppola’s smaller passion projects that typically don’t garner audience appeal and has characters and plotting that would be difficult to sell to a wide audience.

 

[Malcolm R]

Coppola spent over $100+ million producing the film, and he’s asking that any deal for distributing the film also include a commitment to spending an additional $100+ million for advertising.

Apparently that's just his requirement for US distribution, as sources report a number of European distributors have already bought theatrical rights to the film. I'd find it hard to believe they're all ponying up excess promotional money.

 

[SD_Brian]

Given Coppola's box office record (unadjusted average domestic gross of $33m over 24 pictures as director), I can certainly understand why that $ figure would give most distributors pause.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

Apparently that's just his requirement for US distribution

Agreed. Coppola isn’t wrong in the idea that that’s what it takes in a promotional spend to open a high budget film in the U.S., but the studios probably aren’t wrong that this movie will likely not gross the $500 million or so domestically that a $200 million investment would require to break even.

 

[Malcolm R]

Given his track record as noted by Brian, above, I'm surprised that Coppolla is surprised that he's having difficulty finding distribution under those terms.

 

[SD_Brian]

Given his track record as noted by Brian, above, I'm surprised that Coppolla is surprised that he's having difficulty finding distribution under those terms.

It would just have to outgross all of his other movies combined--while appealing mostly to a limited arthouse audience--in order to break even. No problem!

I suppose stranger things have happened.