Megalopolis – A Chaotic Spectacle
Written by Mariane Tremblay
Someone told me, "You have to see Megalopolis to believe it."
Well, I saw it, and I still don’t believe it!
If you’ve ever wondered what it might look like if Spy Kids collided with the Roman Empire in a chaotic, futuristic 90s setting, then buckle up - this movie is for you. But fair warning, “WTF?” will quickly become your go-to phrase while watching it, rivaled by the iconic “Pop, Six, Squish, uh-uh, Cicero, Lipschitz” from Chicago's Cell Block Tango (Anyone? Just me?).
Set in a futuristic alternate America, Cesar Catilina (Adam Driver) is a visionary and ambitious artist, with dreams of transforming New Rome into a utopian society. His ideals come into conflict with the entrenched political system, embodied by the corrupt mayor, Franklyn Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who seeks to preserve the current order for his own benefit. In the middle of this feud is Cicero's daughter, Julia (Nathalie Emmanuel), who finds herself torn between her love for Catilina and her loyalty to her father.
With Megalopolis, Francis Ford Coppola attempts to mix science fiction, political dystopia, and tragedy, but the result is just a chaotic, disjointed experience that’s just as difficult to review as it is to sit through.
“What the hell did I just watch?” - despite relatively clear themes, the film spirals into a narrative that wanders in every direction, offering a patchwork of disconnected scenes and second characters that serve little purpose. It’s a confusing mess that leaves you detached from the characters and whatever is supposed to be happening on screen.
As for the cast, the performances were downright terrible, which is surprising given the impressive casting list - it's like if we got another version of David O. Russell’s Amsterdam (2022). By the time the credits rolled, it was hard to tell whether the acting got better or if I simply became numb to how bad it was. There was no emotional depth, no chemistry, just a bunch of people on screen delivering lines (not pointing at you, Aubrey Plaza - you were the exception).
And “New Rome”.... New Rome is portrayed as a dark, oppressive metropolis with a stark divide between the rich and poor in a fictional New York—I think we've all seen that film before, didn't we? And “New Rome”, really? While I can understand the intention and see the cleverness in name the choice, it ultimately felt dull and uninspired.
Overall, Megalopolis feels like a misguided mess. It’s ambitious but ultimately aimless.
Photo credits to Mad Man Entertainment and American Zoetrope.