It’s hard to believe that Letterboxd’s thirteen-year anniversary is right around the corner, but, yeah, the social movie cataloguing service really is that old, and only just gaining steam in popularity. And Letterboxd isn’t just for cinephiles and casual moviegoers either. Actors, critics, and filmmakers have also joined the site over the years to much fanfare, including Martin Scorsese last October, “The Bear” star Ayo Edibiri, and recent Palme d’Or winner Sean Baker, to name a few.
But it’s Letterboxd’s most recent famous member making waves this week: New Hollywood legend and “Megalopolis” director Francis Ford Coppola. FFC joined the online community this week as his latest film approaches its theatrical release on September 27. And wouldn’t you know it? Coppola scored “Megalopolis” 5 stars, proving that after a five-decade career, the director still understands the truism that you’ve got to be your own biggest fan. Also of note: Coppola’s only other current Letterboxd rating is for his granddaughter Gia Coppola‘s “The Last Showgirl“; another 5-star rating.
Now, in all seriousness, FFC is 85 years old and probably only just made his Letterboxd account, so it’s not as if he’s sending a deliberate message to “Megalopolis” naysayers a week before it hits theaters. This situation is more likely what happens when an octogenarian uses a social media platform: an awkward circumstance. But it’s nonetheless refreshing to see Coppola give zero f*cks and stand steadfastly by his latest film, which has already provoked divisive, and, in some cases risible, opinions. At his age, why should FFC care about anything else in the movie business besides what he and his family members make? And considering “Megalopolis” was a passion project that took Coppola almost three decades to make, more power to him.
Whether Coppola remains active on Letterboxd remains to be seen, but it’s worth noting the director also made a couple of lists on his page for users to peruse. The first? “Movies That I Highly Recommend,” 20 influential films hand-picked by Coppola. But the second is more enticing: “16 Films That Inspired “Megalopolis.”” “Here are [16] films that inspired my new film “Megalopolis,” a dive into a world that exists more than it should,” writes Coppola in the list’s description. “Of course, it’s about loyalty, but ultimately in the end it’s a vision of hope.” Selections on the list include 1914’s “Cabiria,” 1945’s “Caesar And Cleopatra,” James Whale‘s Universal Horror “The Invisible Man,” and Kubrick‘s “Spartacus,” among other classics. In short, all movies cinephiles may check out before “Megalopolis” debuts next weekend.
Take a look at the latest trailer for “Megalopolis” below. And Coppola isn’t ready for what’s arguably his opus to be his final film. He’s prepping his next picture already: “Glimpse Of The Moon,” which the director says will feature “strong dance & musical elements.”
