Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis 2024″ is a film that tantalizes with its ambition and visual grandeur but ultimately falters under the weight of its convoluted narrative. Set in a futuristic New Rome (which really can appear to be in New York City), the film paints a picture of a society grappling with its past while striving for a utopian future. However, the path to this utopia is shrouded in confusion and riddled with narrative inconsistencies.
I had not seen the movie trailer before watching this movie, which is not uncommon for me. But, even after finishing the movie and watching the trailer still left me stumped if I was missing some sort of context for this film.
Adam Driver, as the enigmatic architect Cesar Catilina, delivers a commanding performance, embodying the arrogance and ambition of a man determined to reshape the world in his image. His ability to stop time adds an intriguing layer to his character, but the film never fully explores the implications of this power. Nathalie Emmanuel, as Julia Cicero, is caught between her love for Cesar and loyalty to her father, the mayor of New Rome. While Emmanuel delivers a solid performance, the character’s sudden shift from disdain to affection for Cesar feels abrupt and unconvincing.
Aubrey Plaza, as the audacious TV presenter Wow Platinum, steals the show with her sharp wit and captivating presence. Her character’s relentless pursuit of power and wealth provides a cynical counterpoint to Cesar’s utopian ideals. Plaza’s performance is a highlight in a film that often feels lost in its own complexities. She is the reason I saw this film and also the reason I sat through the whole film.
The film’s narrative is a tangled web of subplots and underdeveloped relationships. The introduction of an alleged incestuous siblings, played by Shia LaBeouf and Chloe Fineman, feels jarring and unnecessary. Similarly, the inclusion of Grace VanderWaal as a virginal teen pop star adds little to the overall narrative and comes across as cringeworthy.
While the film boasts impressive visuals and a talented cast, its convoluted plot and lack of clarity leave the audience grasping for answers. The utopian vision that Cesar strives for remains frustratingly vague, and the film’s ending, with its focus on a seemingly insignificant “escalator,” leaves a sense of bewilderment. I felt a film that the whole plot surrounded a Utopia, but the reveal of it seemed nothing more than a park where people couldn’t have been living, and seeing Cesar get along with Julia’s family at the end by hopping on the “escalator” to show a united front had me look at my invisible friend asking “are you seeing this?” and “what is going on here?”
“Megalopolis 2024″ is a film that is both captivating and frustrating. Its visual spectacle and strong performances are undermined by a narrative that is ultimately too ambitious for its own good. While it may appeal to those who appreciate experimental filmmaking, it is likely to leave many viewers feeling lost and unsatisfied. This did leave me wondering if more men think about the Roman Empire on the daily than originally admitted…
Rated: R (USA)
Runtime: 138 minutes
Release Date September 27, 2024 (USA)
My rating: 5.0 Mainasty Masterpieces 
| Directed by | Francis Ford Coppola |
|---|---|
| Written by | Francis Ford Coppola |
| Produced by | Barry Hirsch Fred Roos Michael Bederman Francis Ford Coppola |
| Starring | Adam Driver Giancarlo Esposito Nathalie Emmanuel Aubrey Plaza Shia LaBeouf Jon Voight Laurence Fishburne Kathryn Hunter Dustin Hoffman Chloe Fineman |
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