Film Review – Megadoc

Francis Ford Coppola isn’t afraid of having his moviemaking experiences documented. He welcomes the attention, becoming the focus of many fascinating studies of creative drive and its inevitable slide into madness. Perhaps most famously there was “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse,” a 1991 release that explored the pained process of bringing 1979’s “Apocalypse Now” to life. Various video releases have included behind-the-scenes journeys as well (including an excellent one for “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”), helping to remove the mystery of Coppola’s process for those interested in filmmaking achievements. “Megadoc” is the latest offering of observance, but this time the subject is “Megalopolis,” which debuted in 2024 to great hype and low box office, representing the end of a long filmmaking odyssey for Coppola, who poured his life and fortune into the bewildering endeavor. Director Mike Figgis was invited to capture the craftsmanship and camaraderie, and “Megadoc” provides a fascinating look at the experience of “Megalopolis,” where excesses clashed with ego, putting Coppola in the middle of another production whirlwind where his vision didn’t always mesh with reality. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com