Megalopolis is the worst movie I have ever seen that everybody should see. Terrible acting, terrible writing. But everyone should see it in a theater with an audience. A theater full of laughs beats streaming it on Criterion. It also needs to be seen in Manhattan. When you exit the theater, you think about all the insane fevered egos, all the Caesars that built the skyline. It is bad in the way Tommy Wiseau’s The Room was bad. Wiseau was caught up in his feelings over a break up. Coppola was obsessed with Shakespeare and Emerson when he made this. But this is a love letter to New York. A clumsy, halting love letter that deserves its mockery. But it takes up space and flys in the face all conventions in an inspired way. I have never felt so energized and blissful leaving such a spectacularly awkward turd. I can imagine the film being constantly shown at midnight cinemas, like an expensive Rocky Horror. I can imagine it having a permanent Showgirls-level status with gays. Aubrey Plaza might have reached Bea Arthur status with this. I liked Civil War more but I am a liar if I say it stuck with me like this did. I can imagine all the batshit directors wanting to make their Megalopolis. Why not? It was club footed, but it must have been fun to make. I don’t know how to end this…I guess just imagine an infant laying on a glass surface with time frozen around it.

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2:49 AM
Oct 11