46/50
The city of New Rome is facing a duel between Cesar Catilina, a brilliant artist who preaches a utopian future, and the greedy mayor Franklyn Cicero. Between them is Julia Cicero, whose loyalties are torn between her father and her lover. Francis Ford Coppola wrote the screenplay in the early 1980s, but the film was shelved in part due to his financial debts. Pre-production finally began in 2001, after 30 hours of second-unit footage had been shot and a cast of Paul Newman, Uma Thurman, Robert De Niro, James Gandolfini, Nicolas Cage, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Edie Falco, and Kevin Spacey were cast, but the project was shelved after the September 11 attacks because a scene in the script (p. 166) “predicted” the attacks. Coppola abandoned the project entirely in 2007 and only resumed development in 2019. At 9:40 PM, Catilina’s character utters the phrase “Holy Jesus Christ!” in astonishment! But in this universe, the city of New Rome is derived from a culture based on Roman mythology (example: 54:47, dedication to Vesta; 01:55:51, someone says “The Testament of Kronos” or 01:56:49 the statue of Saturn is clearly visible, while many other Roman deities are also visible. Christianity does not exist in this universe. There is no reason for Catiline to use the phrase “Holy Jesus Christ!” in such a context. Cesar Catilina: You want to help me? Julia Cicero: Yes. And I… well, I want to study. Cesar Catilina: And you think a year of… medical school qualifies me to delve into the riches of my Emersonian mind? Julia Cicero: Does it? Cesar Catilina: Yes. Julia Cicero: [sneers] Does that entitle me? Cesar Catilina: Yes! Julia Cicero: Does it entitle me? Cesar Catilina: YES! Julia Cicero: You have no idea about me! I Do you think I’m nothing, just a socialite? Cesar Catilina: No, I’m nothing, but I reserve my time for people who can think. About science. And literature and… architecture and art. Do you think I’m cruel, selfish and uncaring? I am. I work in a way that I don’t care what happens to any of us. So go back to the club, drop everything, and find people you love. Julia Cicero: Okay! I will. Cesar Catilina: Come back when you have more time! In the “Ultimate IMAX Experience” version of the film, a live actor asks questions at the filmed press conference. Amanda is seen in the Jedi Show: MEGALOPOLIS is My Nightmare | Explanation (2024). My Promise Written by Grace VanderWaal Performed by Grace VanderWaal Courtesy of Columbia Records In association with Sony Music Entertainment. Produced and arranged by Kris Kukul. Full disclosure: This movie is a disaster of epic proportions—an absolute train wreck that derails, crashes, and then somehow catches fire. It’s so bad it’s almost brilliant, a terrible, brilliant nightmare that future cult fans will rave about. And guess what? I have a lot of respect for Coppola for that. The guy is a film legend who decided to throw caution (and coherence) to the wind and act like a mad scientist. It’s glorious, unfiltered chaos from the mind of a genius who clearly didn’t care what anyone else thought. Bravo, you big madman! 👏🏻. From Alien: Romulus to Road House, take a look back at some of our favorite posters from 2024.