Megalopolis really dropped during an end times week for New York City. The UN is in town, so every train is basically derailed, the word ‘traffic’ isn’t appropriate because it implies movement, and the noise levels had me plugging my ears while in a restaurant today, as some politician needed to get by while a fire brigade raced to do their thing and an old person was being carted into an ambulance amidst it all. It was beyond a charming New York chaos moment. It was apocalyptic. It will only be worse Friday with Netanyahu. The most New York moment of the day was the deputy mayor—not the actual Mayor Eric Adams who cannot be reached for comment—being hounded by reporters on the street about how boss being indicted and if he’s next…this absolute legend responded exclusively regarding the upcoming New York Knicks season “Go New York Go New York GO!” I’ve never cared less if this guy is bad or whatever. He can do whatever he pleases. Embezzle. Meddle. Manipulate. I’m a Knick fan I gotta stay true yes I do I get down with the orange and the blue. This man is my compatriot.
Much like Francis Ford Coppola and anyone associated with Megalopolis. Is it good? YO CHILL! That’s not what we’re talking about here why you all in my grill yo?!? Megalopolis is neither good nor bad. It’s just Megalopolis. Every citizen deserves to experience it as fully as possible, and just indulge in its indulgence. It’s an individual work by an individual for an individual. It stands outside of time and outside of the history of filmmaking…and at the same time is entirely about time, controlled and limited by time more than any other factor, and in sincere conversation with every moving image and art work that came before it. It’s a gargantuan text. The way they say Apocalypse Now was reconsidered post-release and called a masterpiece…that’s not this. This is something else. Apocalypse Now was a masterpiece that was ahead of its contemporary surroundings, and some illiterate people could not see for what it was. It was a movie movie, just more movie than people could read. Megalopolis is a thing. It’s a happening. It’s an invitation into the mind and experience of this guy Francis Ford Coppola. Take it as just that, and there’s many watches in it for you. And then take it as the sorta capstone project thing from a guy connected to soooo many of the movies that shape us. That’s another lens to view this through. The richness of this watch should satiate everyone. It’s not a regular movie, and I will not pretend it will satisfy you if you’re looking for a regular movie. It will not. You must attune your senses and your viewing to something else.
Continued at the bottom with thoughts on Eric Adams, Paul Schrader, Wolfs, and more + a brief NYFF preview.
— Sean Glass @sdotglass
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