Francis Ford Coppola Claims Audiences “Just Didn’t Understand” ‘Joker: Folie à Deux’: “Todd Phillips (…) he’s always one step ahead of the audience”
Moviegoers are currently watching two highly controversial films: Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis and Todd Phillips’ Joker: Folie à Deux. Both movies are unique in their own right, but they have struggled significantly at the box office, receiving negative reviews from both fans and critics.
Interestingly, both films started with high expectations. Megalopolis was meant to mark Coppola’s grand return to filmmaking, a project he had tried to bring to life for decades. Meanwhile, Joker: Folie à Deux was anticipated as the sequel to one of the most acclaimed comic book films ever made.
However, both films have failed to meet those expectations. Megalopolis has been labeled an unwatchable, incoherent mess, while Joker: Folie à Deux is criticized as a poorly written sequel that doesn’t live up to its predecessor. Amidst their struggles, one director has come forward to defend the other, adding another layer to this intriguing narrative.
If you recall our previous reports, Megalopolis is a sci-fi epic that was conceived back in 1979 while Coppola was working on Apocalypse Now, one of the greatest war films ever made.
Now, 45 years later, the film is finally released, but it’s hard to know what to make of this psychedelic mess that aims to impress with its philosophical themes yet falls short in almost every area.
Meanwhile, Joker: Folie à Deux was one of the most anticipated sequels of the year, premiering on October 4, 2024. Unfortunately, it too has disappointed fans hoping for a worthy follow-up to the original hit film.
As we’ve noted, both movies have underperformed, but it seems Joker: Folie à Deux has at least one notable fan. However, given his involvement with Megalopolis, it’s questionable whether this praise is what the sequel truly wanted. We’re talking about Coppola himself, who took to Instagram to commend Phillips’ film.
If you can’t access the link for any reason, here’s what Coppola wrote alongside a photo of the movie’s poster:
@ToddPhillips films always amaze me and I enjoy them thoroughly. Ever since the wonderful “The Hangover” he’s always one step ahead of the audience never doing what they expect. Congratulations to Joker: Folie à Deux!
I am also honored that the films DP, Lawrence Sher, mentioned that the film is visually inspired by “One From the Heart”
Coppola seems to suggest that audiences have simply misunderstood Phillips’ film. However, given the widespread reactions and criticisms, this seems unlikely. While Coppola’s own movie may also be misunderstood, it’s primarily due to its poor execution, leaving little room for a coherent interpretation.
We’re not entirely sure what inspired this post, but we felt it was important to share this alternative viewpoint, which you can now discuss.
Do you have any thoughts to share? Let us know in the comments below!
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