Megalopolis

This long-gestating passion project from legendary Oscar-winning writer-director Francis Ford Coppola features Oscar nominee Adam Driver as a visionary architect whose utopian ambitions clash with the more earthbound demands of a modern city. Pivoting between political drama, philosophical science fiction, and star-crossed romance, Megalopolis considers the limits of genius and the fragility of empires.

Wracked with grief over the death of his wife, Cesar Catilina (Driver) pours all his energy into his startling new invention, megalon, a building material that is infinitely malleable and miraculously strong — and may just imbue its creator with the power to control time and space. The federal government grants Catilina permission to demolish large parts of New Rome to make way for his colossal building project, Megalopolis, outraging the city’s mayor, Cicero (Giancarlo Esposito), who clings to the status quo. Adding insult to injury, Cicero’s daughter Julia (Nathalie Emmanuel) falls in love with Catilina, positioning herself at the centre of a grand conflict between cynicism and lofty ideals.

Revisiting themes from earlier films such as Apocalypse Now and Tucker: The Man and His Dream while channelling Fritz Lang’s Metropolis, Coppola weaves together dreams of a glorious future with a profound lament for a world withering under the weight of its own corruption. Elevated by an astonishing supporting cast including Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, Jason Schwartzman, and Dustin Hoffman, Megalopolis is the work of an uncompromising artist whose understanding of history, mastery of filmmaking, and belief in civilization’s potential remain a beacon of light.

CAMERON BAILEY

Content advisory: violence, sexual content, nudity