Francis Ford Coppola’s dream movie, which has unfortunately turned into a controversial nightmare, Megalopolis, is finally out in the theatres. Plagued by its highly polarising critical response at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, a series of controversies, and low box office expectations, things are seriously not looking good for the Adam Driver starrer at all.
Following its theatrical release, audiences and critics have opened up about how they feel about Megalopolis. And it’s safe to say that Coppola’s dream project is well on its way to becoming one of the greatest financial disasters in the history of Hollywood. Most viewers have slammed the movie, with criticism mainly directed towards its bizarre and messy storyline, insufficient visual effects, and clumsy dialogues. However, the performances of the cast members received praise, emerging as one of the few good things about the movie.
Here are some of the reactions that have absolutely butchered the latest Coppola movie.
When it comes to #Megalopolis, it's impossible to be neutral. I'm on the side that absolutely hated it. My @CGMagonline review: https://t.co/WIP61y7OMh
— Shak Lambert (@ShakExcellence) September 27, 2024
MEGALOPOLIS is admirable for its towering audacity, but it also exposes the troubling hollowness of its core. Has neither the narrative cohesion nor the emotional richness to sustain a scattershot smorgasbord of a storytelling. No heft, resonance, or staying power whatsoever. pic.twitter.com/J3XUpoUUtl
— Juan Carlos Ojano-Leone 🌷 (@juancarlosojano) September 25, 2024
"Every minute and every second of this folly is felt, excruciatingly, by the audience."@martintsai reviews Francis Ford Coppola’s "Megalopolis." https://t.co/EdfmN79TYJ pic.twitter.com/fvTWzvcYE5
— Critic's Notebook (@criticsnotebook) September 25, 2024
However, not all reviews have turned out negative. Some viewers, in fact, have praised Megalopolis and Coppola’s “bold” and “audacious” vision for the movie.
#Megalopolis was ambitious, meditative on the human/societal condition , and hilariously insane. This film is for cinephiles only, and must be seen with a large crowd. Editing was clumsy, with spotty dialog, but gorgeous imagery of a new world. We had a live interviewer. 3/5 pic.twitter.com/eCteL0X0Uu
— Simone Cromer 📽 (@TheatreofZen) September 24, 2024
Some viewers have singled out Aubrey Plaza’s performance as Wow Platinum in the movie, declaring her one of the best things about the film.
Perhaps #Megalopolis will be re-evaluated over time, but right now it comes across like a wildly expensive, self-consciously arty high school play written by one of Coppola’s precocious grandchildren, starring some of Coppola’s friends. That said, Aubrey Plaza steals each and… pic.twitter.com/G49NgRf6Up
— James Hancock (@colebrax) September 24, 2024
Given the audience’s response to Coppola’s Megalopolis, one thing is certain: this film is bound to be widely discussed in the years to come. It’s also possible that opinions about it could improve over time, as has been the case with several of Coppola’s other works. Iconic films like The Godfather Part II (1974) and Apocalypse Now (1979) initially faced divided reactions from critics, but their reception became more favorable over the years. However, whether Megalopolis will follow a similar path remains uncertain. Stay tuned for more updates.
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