Megalopolis... Hummm

So I went and saw Megalopolis yesterday. I went alone as Ed had no desire to see it. I don't even think I invited him as I went to see what I wanted to be: a fever dream of images, analogies, and a love story. I saw One from the Heart, another Francis Ford Coppola written, produced, and directed as an act of love from Coppola. 

What I got from Megalopolis was an overwhelmingly beautiful movie, obvious but toothless analogies, and great actors wasted. I also got not one, not two, but 5 or 6 different movies and themes trying to pull out of the mud. It was like Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead smushed over a simplistic commentary on the current US political and social fabric via Shakespeare. Fascinating and grotesque. There might be too many images here, so feel free to skip this post if it takes a while to load images (Montanta :-)

Let me set the scene in the shortest possible way. An architect (Adam Driver) blows up a block of public housing to build a vast portion of New Rome (New York in all but name) to rebuilt with "megalonium." Which is someone a semi-alive metal that can be used as a building material, dress material, and facial reconstruction material - all rolled into a goldish material that acts like a kaleidoscope on screen.

The architect is supported by the local Roman Leader, opposed by the Mayor of New York, hated by the Leader's heir, and loved by the Mayor's daughter. More confusing than entrancing - very reminescent of vintage Shakespeare without the warmth.

Below is a random order of images and what I was impressed (or not) with.

The first image of the New Rome Mayor as his daughter first opens the office door. When she looks back at the scene it is resolved back to normal without the sand of skewed desk.

The Architect and Mayor's Daughter dancing above the city as he stops time.

Aubrey Plaza, who first is a TV anchor, then the architect's lover, then the wife of the Roman Leader. She is in her own little movie - one assumes Copolla gave almost no direction, and so she decided to be an exaggerated bitter and sexual Megan Kelly.

The Architect with his T-Square and Megalonium (which rotates and grows in this shot).

One of the most beautiful sets, this clockwork on the top of the Architect's offices is gorgeous.

This was an interesting use of the widescreen. A triptych image with Shia LaBouef as the future want-to-be leader inciting the public to disrupt order and elections. 

And odd thing about the Triptych use. Frances Ford Copolla once restored the triptych film Napoleon, which was a one-time used widescreen film shoot with 3 different cameras, for which his father had written a new film score. See bottom picture

Shia LaBouef in drag (he wore this for a long time) to piss off his uncle, but an obvious analogy to Trump and how his personal life does not reflect his public persona.

Jon Voight as the Roman Leader - who FFC want to present as confused Joe Biden figure, but we all know Voight just can't act anymore.

Napoleon: 1927 silent film by Able Vance, restored, and with Frances Ford Copolla's Dad's new score. 

Note: Tinted in the Original

Often used in widescreen as well

One last comment on the acting:

Shia LaBouef - your schtick is not good

Aubry Plaza - your schtick is wonderful - if hammy

Jon Voight - that is not acting, that is too much secondall

Adam Driver - We don't need to see his face quite that close. However, you do a good job in carrying your part of the movie.

Giancarol Espostio seems to have channeled Oliva Pope's dad from Scandal. Less homage than lack of creativity

Laurence Fishburn - FFC made you alternate between Morphius in the Matrix and the Narrator in nearly all Shakespeare shows. You did a fine job.

Nathalie Emmanuel - (Mayor's Daughter) You were one of the only one to come out of this well

Dustin Hoffman - still miss the old days when you worked sober

Grace VanderWaal - Sorry you had to sub for Kristen Dunst

Jason Schwartzman and Talila Shire   - you were forgettable. Lucky for you two.