34/44
The city of New Rome faces a duel between Caesar Catiline, a brilliant artist who is an advocate of a utopian future, and greedy mayor Franklyn Cicero. Between them is Julia Cicero, with her loyalties torn between her father and her lover. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the script in the early 1980s, but the film was put on the back burner partly due to his financial debts. Pre-production finally began in 2001 after shooting 30 hours of second unit footage and holding a table read with Paul Newman, Uma Thurman, Robert De Niro, James Gandolfini, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Edie Falco and Kevin Spacey, but the project was scrapped after the 9/11 attacks, because a scene in the script (page 166) “predicted” the attacks. Coppola completely abandoned the project in 2007 and did not begin developing it again until 2019. At 21:40, the character of Catiline says the phrase “Holy Jesus Christ!” in awe. However, in-universe, the city of New Rome comes from a culture based on Roman mythology (example: 54:47, the dedication to Vesta; 01:55:51, someone says “The will of Cronus”, or at 01:56:49, a statue of Saturn is prominently displayed, while there are many more depictions of Roman deities). In this universe, Christianity does not exist. There is no reason why Catiline would use the phrase “Holy Jesus Christ!” and in such a context… Caesar Catiline: *You* want to help me? Julia Cicero: Yes. And, well, I… well, I want to learn. Caesar Catiline: And you think a year of… medical school gives you the right to explore the riches of my Emersonian mind? Julia Cicero: Does it give me the right? Caesar Catiline: Yes. Julia Cicero: [scoffs] Does it give me the right? Caesar Catiline: Yeeees! Julia Cicero: Does it give me the right? Caesar Catiline: YEEEEEEES! Julia Cicero: You have no idea about me! Do you think I’m nothing, just a socialite? Caesar Catiline: No, nothing at all, but I reserve my time for people who can think. About science. And literature, and… architecture and art. Do you find me cruel and selfish and insensitive? I am. I work without caring what happens to either of us. So go back to the club, strip naked, and stalk the kind of people you like. Julia Cicero: Fine! I will. Caesar Catiline: Come back when you have more time! The “Ultimate IMAX Experience” version of the film features a live actor asking questions during the filmed press conference. Featured on Amanda the Jedi Show: MEGALOPOLIS is my Nightmare | Explained (2024). My Promise Written by Grace VanderWaal Performed by Grace VanderWaal Courtesy of Columbia Records By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment Produced and orchestrated by Kris Kukul. Full disclosure: This movie is a disaster of epic proportions — an absolute train wreck that runs off the tracks, crashes, and then somehow catches fire. It’s so bad it’s almost brilliant — the kind of so-horrible-it’s-cool nightmare that future cult fans will rave about. And you know what? I have the utmost respect for Coppola for that. The guy is a filmmaking legend who decided to throw all caution (and consistency) to the winds and become a mad scientist. It’s a glorious, unfiltered mess from the mind of a genius who’s clearly stopped caring what anyone thinks. Bravo, you magnificent lunatic! 👏🏻. From Alien: Romulus to Road House, check out some of our favorite posters from 2024.