Review - Megalopolis (2024)

       Hey guys, Chuck here. Megalopolis is the latest film from legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, and it boasts an impressive ensemble cast, which includes the likes of Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Giancarlo Esposito, Aubrey Plaza, Jason Schwartzman, Talia Shire, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Grace VanderWaal, Chloe Fineman, James Remar, and Dustin Hoffman. 

       The movie is set in the city of New Rome, which is part of an alternate present day "American Republic," and we see a clashing of ideologies between idealistic architect Cesar Catalina, who has the power to stop time, and New Rome's conservative Mayor Franklin Cicero. Caught between the two is Mayor Cicero's daughter Julia, who also happens to be Cesar's love interest. Cesar has created a bio-adaptive building material called Megalon, which he hopes to use to construct the city of the future: Megalopolis. 

        Okay, so Megalopolis explores many themes that involve diametric opposition. The themes of Idealism and Futurism vs. Conservatism and Traditionalism, which is something showcased in the opposition of Cesar and Cicero. There's also the idea of the financially oppressed vs. the financially influential, which comes up when the character of Clodious, who is Cesar's cousin, attempts to rally the downtrodden against the likes of Cesar and Cicero. And, the key theme on display is the power of influence. Clodio attempting to influence the downtrodden to rise up against the powerful, Cicero attempting to influence the people that his traditionalist ways are still good, while Cesar's futuristic idealist views are too vague, but Cesar attempts to influence the masses that his view of the future will carry the world forward. 

       Unfortunately, the exploration of these themes and ideals opens the door for a decent amount of symbolism and pretentiousness. Most of the symbolism comes from the visual storytelling, which is really good, and I really liked the idea of Madison Square Garden being equivalent to the Roman Colosseum, complete with a full-on chariot race inside of Madison Square Garden. But, much of the pretentiousness come in the dialogue, especially in the very long monologues and diatribes exposited by the characters in the movie. 

       So, how was the acting? Well, Adam Driver and Giancarlo Esposito definitely work well as Cesar and Cicero, and really showcase their diametric opposition with brilliant acting. Nathalie Emmanuel and Aubrey Plaza as Julia and Platinum were also fantastic as two women looking to influence the future, with Platinum looking to rise up the influential ladder by any means necessary. Jon Voight as Hamilton Crassus was also brilliant, showcasing a banker in a high position of power. Others like Jason Schwartzman as Jason Zanders, Talia Shire as Cesar's mother Constance, Chloe Fineman as Clodia, Dustin Hoffman as Nush Berman, and Grace VanderWaal as Vesta Sweetwater were also really good. Laurence Fishburne's Fundi Romaine was really fantastic as both Cesar's driver and assistant, as well as the film's narrator. Unfortunately, the one performance I couldn't get behind was Shia LaBeouf as Clodio, as he came of as a massive douche with envy issues. 

         Overall, Megalopolis wasn't perfect, but it was fascinating. The best way to describe it would be to combine a mix of the works of Shakespeare (such as Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and Macbeth) with the works of Ayn Rand (such as Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead). A entertaining theatrical experience, but probably better to wait for this one to come out on either streaming or home video. I'm giving Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis a rating of 4/5. 

      Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll be back tomorrow for the start of HallowScream.