Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis” still has no distributor, and time is running out for a decision to be made about a possible appearance at Cannes. This is coming after the film was screened in Los Angeles for a private audience of distributors and talent.
The word we’ve gotten thus far is that Coppola’s $120 million epic is a perplexing film. It’s already been described as “batsh*t crazy.” “baffling,” “downright confounding,” “undefinable,” “fit for a museum” and the “work of a madman.”
Another private screening of “Megalopolis” occurred on Wednesday, this time in London. As far as I can tell, this is just the second time the film has been screened, so far. Le Point’s Phillipe Guedj has a source who attended and sent him this reaction …
The film is like Einstein and relativity in 1905, Picasso and Guernica in 1937. Coppola has marked a historic new moment for cinema"
The more I hear about this film, the more I’m starting to think that maybe Cannes is indeed the best place to premiere it. The above reaction reads like hyperbole, but it’s also not totally unexpected given the previous takes we’ve had on this film.
There’s also “El Norte” director Gregory Nava weighing on “Megalopolis”. Again, it sounds like hyperbole, but fits in well with everything else we’ve heard (via IndieWire):
“I feel I was a part of history. ‘Megalopolis’ is a brilliant, visionary masterpiece”, Nava said in a statement to IndieWire about his experience. “I was so overwhelmed that I couldn’t do anything for the rest of the day but think about ‘Megalopolis’ and feel it’s powerful, uplifting message. Francis has taken cinema to a whole different level — the whole experience was profoundly moving. I still can’t stop thinking about the film and telling everyone I know – they all can’t wait to see it! It will blow people’s minds.”
As we speak, the film might or might not be premiering at Cannes. It was definitely screened for the festival, but Coppola has said that he’s waiting for a distributor to pick up “Megalopolis” before he officially premieres it anywhere. I say, f*ck it, just bring it to Cannes and polarize the Croisette. This is the exact type of film that can cause a stir of excitement and puzzlement. It will certainly have people talking about it.
Commercial prospects seem to be nil to none for “Megalopolis.” I don’t see any other option but to just take the chance and screen this film as soon as possible, while people are still talking about it.
