56. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #2: The Virgin Suicides (2000), Playground Love (2000), Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)

Sofia Coppola’s debut feature, The Virgin Suicides (2000), certainly stood out from other movies about teenagers when it was released and remains just as enigmatic today giving us a lot to talk about. Bryan and A.J. discuss the movie’s background (including the Making Of, directed by Sofia’s mother, the late Eleanor Coppola), its arthouse approach to teenagers on film, and the great performances from Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnet, and Giovanni Ribisi’s moody, pensive narration. Other discussion points include: the original music by the band Air, similarities to Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975), and the peculiar list that is Cahiers du Cinema’s ten best films of 2000. We also briefly discuss Sofia’s blink and you miss it appearance in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and the Air: Playground Love music video she co-directed with her brother, Roman. This episode’s themed drink was: Peach Schnapps.

55. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #1: Early Sofia

At long last we begin Season 3 and our journey through the filmography of Sofia Coppola, an obvious but natural follow up to our Francis Ford Coppola season. Bryan and A.J. go through Sofia’s early career from her roles in her father’s films and other productions, working as a costume designer, acting in and directing music videos, creating the frenetic and odd TV series Hi Octane, and writing and directing the short film Lick the Star (1998). We talk about the “nepo-baby” issue, how Sofia’s style as a director is evident even in the music videos she directed, nerd out over Udo Kier's appearance Madonna’s Deeper and Deeper music video, and scratch our heads and marvel at the most 90’s time capsule ever, Hi Octane (available to watch on YouTube). 

54. Coppola Cast #34: Twixt (2011) & B'twixt Now and Sunrise: The Authentic Cut (2022)

At long last we arrive at Francis Coppola’s (as of now) most recently released film Twixt (2011) and close out season 2. We discuss Coppola’s return to the horror genre, the great, eerie dream sequences, what aspects of Twixt remind us of the films of Coppola’s early mentor, Roger Corman, and how this is a surprisingly personal film for Coppola. We also pick out all of the references to Edgar Allan Poe and to other Coppola movies. Then we review Coppola’s recent re-edit of Twixt titled B’twixt Now and Sunrise: The Authentic Cut, which we thought was called Re-Twixt, and have a few issues with. Finally we announce the director we will be covering in Season 3, beginning soon (probably).

53. Coppola Cast #33: Tetro (2009)

The second of Francis Coppola’s late career indie films is perhaps one of his least seen and least talked about: Tetro (2009). There isn’t much plot but a lot happens in this surprising and lively black and white movie about a teenager tracking down his long lost brother. We found plenty to talk about from the cast (Vincent Gallo, Alden Ehrenreich, Maribel Verdu), screenplay, and cinematography to the valuable input of editor Walter Murch and the possible (but unlikely) parallels to Coppola’s own career and family. We also talk about other films that directly or indirectly influenced Tetro, including Coppola’s own films and the films of his kids, Sofia and Roman. 

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52. Coppola Cast #32: Youth Without Youth (2007)

On this hot, humid summer day, Bryan and A.J. discuss Francis Coppola’s return to the director’s chair after a decade away, Youth Without Youth (2007). This thematically ambitious, low-key arthouse film about an elderly man who regains his youth, and supernatural powers of sorts, after being struck by lightning is not only a curious choice for a comeback but also marks the beginning of a distinct career phase for Coppola. We talk about the beginning of Coppola’s late career indie phase, what is interesting and what is confusing about this movie, the performances of Tim Roth and Bruno Ganz, the makeup choices (or lack thereof) for Alexandra Maria Lara, and we try to pin down whether there is anything to pin down. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Diamond Collection Pinot Grigio 2022.

51. Coppola Cast #31: The Fantasticks (2000) & Supernova (2000)

A peculiar grab-bag episode for a peculiar time in Francis Coppola’s career. After The Rainmaker Coppola would not direct another movie for 10 years but he was involved in the post-production of not one but two movies released in 2000: The Fantasticks, based on a long running musical, and the quasi erotic sci-fi thriller, Supernova, starring James Spader and Angela Bassett. Coppola acted as a sort of post production supervisor/fixer for the two troubled productions which their studio, MGM, was skeptical of at best. Bryan and A.J. go over what background they could find on each film and differ on which is the better made film vs which is the more entertaining film. Also discussed is the answer to how Knock at the Cabin came to have two cinematographers, Megalopolis rumors, and the best short film of the year, Romy Mars [Sofia Coppola’s daughter] Makes Vodka Sauce Pasta. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Diamond Collection Red Blend 2018.

50. The M. Night Shift #20: Knock At The Cabin (2023)

A Knock at the Cabin (2023) from M. Night Shyamalan brings us out of hiatus and we return to being The M. Night Shift to discuss his latest horror/thriller. Bryan and A.J. talk about what works (stylistic choices, the cinematography, but most of all Dave Bautista’s excellent performance), what doesn’t work (nearly everything else), and how Shyamalan put his stamp on yet another adaptation. Naturally, we get into major spoilers and compare the ending of the movie to the very different ending of the novel. We also talk about “cabin” movies as genre and A.J. eventually says the title of this movie correctly. Tangents include a talk about novelizations, Avatar: The Way of Water, and Peter Bogdanovich. This episode’s Shyamalan Scotch was: Dewar’s White Label.

49. Coppola Cast #30: John Grisham's The Rainmaker (1997)

This episode we are joined by special guest Andras Jones (of Radio8ball and co-host of The World is Wrong podcast, along with Bryan) to discuss Francis Coppola’s adaptation of John Grisham’s The Rainmaker (1997). More than just a courtroom drama, this overlooked entry in Coppola’s filmography represents the end of a chapter for Coppola’s Hollywood career and provides a lot to discuss. We begin by going through the works of John Grisham on film, how they changed the legal thriller and courtroom drama, and how The Rainmaker stands apart even from other Grisham novels and films. Then we move on to The Rainmaker and its amazing cast, Coppola’s approach to working with the actors, how Coppola channels Frank Capra, why The Rainmaker reminds us of The Godfather, and much more. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Rosso & Bianco Pinot Grigio and Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2018. This week’s non-Coppola wine was: Wycliff Brut Champagne. 

6:00 The Rainmaker plot summary & reactions

15:15 Grisham on film

56:35 The Rainmaker discussion

48. Coppola Cast #29: Jack (1996)

It’s time for Bryan and A.J. to make sense of perhaps the oddest movie in Francis Coppola’s filmography, Jack (1996). We break down what works and what doesn’t as this kids movie swings from silly kid friendly comedy to heavy themes of mortality and whether or not Jack, a child who ages rapidly, will have a full life. Of course we talk about the career and performance of the late and forever great Robin Williams. We are surprised by how much there is to discuss about Jack and how it surprisingly ties into the rest of Coppola’s filmography. Our conversation leads to an unexpectedly emotional tangent about The Coneheads and a discussion of the 1996 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Diamond Collection Pinot Grigio 2019 and 2020.

47. Coppola Cast #28: The Offer (2022)

Paramount+ made us an offer we took reluctantly: The Offer (2022), a 10 part limited series dramatizing the production of The Godfather. Bryan and A.J. review the series as a whole and wonder if, given all the other books, documentaries, and DVD bonus features about the behind the scenes of The Godfather that already exist, this series needed to be 10 hours long, or is even necessary. The highlights for us included: scenes involving Francis Coppola (Dan Fogler, in a solid performance) and Mario Puzo (Patrick Gallo), Mathew Goode’s performance as notorious Paramount production chief Robert Evans (making us wish Paramount+ has just made a movie version of Evans’s autobiography, The Kid Stays in the Picture), and the movie nerd catnip of scenes of cinematographer Gordon Willis (T.J. Thyne) and Production Designer Dean Tavoularis (Eric Balfour) arguing over blocking. However, neither Coppola nor Evans is the focus of the series. The actual main character is producer Albert S. Ruddy (Miles Teller), on whose memories the series is based. Unfortunately, his character is the least engaging element of the series. It’s probably not a good sign when a TV series just makes you want to watch other things (like The Kid Stays in the Picture, The Sopranos, or The Godfather itself). Also joining the conversation are two very rowdy dogs. This episode’s Coppola wine was: 2019 Pinot Noir Oregon.

46. Coppola Cast #27: Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992)

We’ve crossed oceans of time to talk about Francis Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992). At first glance Coppola’s follow up to The Godfather Part III seems like just a job for hire, and that is how the project came to him, yet Coppola couldn’t help but find interesting ways to make his version of Dracula distinct from all the others. Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula was a box office hit allowing Coppola to finally climb out of 10 years of debt and its influence is still felt on the horror and vampire genre today. It gets dismissed by some as either unnecessary or pure spectacle (the same criticisms it received when it was released), but we find Coppola’s Bram Stoker’s Dracula not only stylish but very effective and scary. We discuss the cast and their eccentric accents, the unforgettable look of Gary Oldman as the Count, the award winning costumes by Eiko Ishioka, the spectacular, old-fashioned practical visual effects, the influence of Coppola’s time working for Roger Corman, and more. There’s so much to talk about that there’s not much time for tangents, but there is time for an anecdote about David Paymer. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Diamond Collection 2018 Black Label Claret.

45. Coppola Cast #26: The Godfather Part III (1990) & Mario Puzo's The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020)

At last we come to the end of Michael Corleone’s story and then we come to the end of his story again as we discuss The Godfather Part III (1990) and Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone (2020). Bryan and A.J. talk about the movie’s long production history, what motivated Francis Coppola to finally agree to make another Godfather movie, and speculate on what really makes this sequel stand apart so much. We also review Coppola’s recent re-edit of the movie, titled Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone. Of course, we discuss the story behind the surprise and controversial casting of Sofia Coppola, her much maligned performance, and the overly harsh criticisms lobbed at her. Other topics include the 1991 Oscars, Catherine Scorsese, and A.J. finds a more relevant way to talk about The Irishman. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Sofia Rose Monterey County 2018 and Sofia Blanc de Blanc

44. Coppola Cast #25: New York Stories (Life Without Zoe) (1989)

Francis Coppola closed out the 1980’s with a contribution to the omnibus film New York Stories, along with Martin Scorsese and Woody Allen. Coppola’s segment, “Life Without Zoe” has long been derided as the worst of the 3 short films and Bryan and A.J. discuss it perhaps more than it has ever been discussed. We also review Scorsese’s “Life Lessons” and Allen’s “Oedipus Wrecks” and look at where each filmmaker was at this point in their careers. We talk about the origins of New York Stories, the original choices for directors, why Coppola maybe wasn’t the best for this project, and how “Life Without Zoe” is secretly a Sofia Coppola film. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 and Rose of Pinot Noir 2019.

43. Coppola Cast #24: Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)

This Christmas you get a Tucker car! and you get a Tucker car! ,,,and that’s it because the upstart automobile designer Preston Tucker was only able to make 50 and in this episode Bryan and A.J. find out why. Francis Coppola’s biopic of Tucker, appropriately titled Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), chronicles his attempt to build the “car of tomorrow” with unheard of features like a third headlight that turns with the steering wheel, seatbelts, pop out glass, and an engine in the rear (where it belongs!). As you might imagine, Tucker (played by Jeff Bridges) ran afoul of the Big Three automakers in Detroit and their cronies in Washington. We talk about the crossover this film has with Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator (2004), the change in the dynamic of Coppola and George Lucas’s professional relationship, Martin Landau’s Oscar nominated performance, and Jeff Bridges’s charming screen presence. We also ask Robert Zemeckis for a sequel to Romancing the Stone with the original cast. This episode’s Coppola wine was Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2018 Black Label Claret.

42. The M. Night Shift #19: Old (2021)

Happy Shocktober! For October (or as we call it, Shocktober) we’re taking a break from Coppola to revisit M. Night Shyamalan and review his latest, Old. We discuss the movie’s similarities to a classic episode of The Twilight Zone, themes and plots that Shyamalan revisits from his previous movies and perhaps improves on, share similar reactions to some of the stylistic choices, and wonder: is this Shyamalan’s best film in nearly two decades? Our conversation includes major SPOILERS. Tangents include candy corn, which directors are also good actors, and Tom Cruise’s COVID safety rant. This episode’s Shyamalan scotch was: Chivas Regal 12 Year Blended Scotch.

41. Coppola Cast #23: Gardens of Stone

We’re back from summer hiatus to discuss Francis Coppola’s little seen Gardens of Stone (1987). This Vietnam War drama is about as far from Apocalypse Now as a movie about Vietnam could get. The plot follows Sergeant Hazard (James Caan), who runs the “Old Guard” that performs military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and takes a young recruit (D. B. Sweeney) under his wing. We discuss the differences between Gardens of Stone and other Vietnam War movies of the era, whether the appearances by actors from Apocalypse Now are distracting, and try to figure out why, despite the talent in front of and behind the camera, the individual aspects of the movie don’t seem to add up. We also talk about the tragedy that occurred during filming: the sudden death of Coppola’s son, Gio. Finally, we get started planning our Shocktober schedule. This episode’s Coppola wine was: 2018 Black Label Claret 1910 Type.  

40. Coppola Cast #22: Faerie Tale Theatre (1987), SNL (1986), and Captain Eo (1986)

This episode we review 3 very different Coppola short projects. In the mid 1980’s, Francis Coppola, laden with debt from the collapse of Zoetrope Studios, found some short projects that would help pay down his debt but also provide some room for artistic experimentation. First up we discuss “Rip Van Winkle” (1987), his contribution to Shelley Duvall’s excellent Showtime series for children, Faerie Tale Theatre. Next we talk about maybe the weirdest episode of Saturday Night Live ever, season 11 episode 13 (1986), hosted by George Wendt with Coppola playing the director of the episode. Though it’s clear Coppola didn’t actually direct this SNL episode and George Wendt is officially the host, Coppola is clearly the focus. We also discuss the talented but peculiar cast. Finally we review Captain Eo (1986), the Disney 3-D theme park experience starring Michael Jackson and directed by Coppola. We delve into the troubled and intricate production history of the 3-D music video which brought Coppola and George Lucas together in their first professional collaboration since Apocalypse Now. As a bonus, we also talk about the Captain Eo Grand Opening TV special, an hour long parade and concert to launch the new Disneyland attraction featuring: Coppola, Lucas, Patrick Duffy, Justine Bateman, Angelica Huston, Robert Palmer, Dolph Lundgren, John Ritter, Esther Willaims, Starship, and the cavalcade only goes on and on. This episode’s Coppola Wine is: Francis Coppola Diamond Collection Zinfandel 2017.

39. Coppola Cast #21: Peggy Sue Got Married (1986)

For this episode we’re whisked away to 1960 for a second chance at high school senior year in Peggy Sue Got Married (1986). Francis Coppola was a director for hire on Peggy Sue Got Married, replacing Jonathan Demme and Penny Marshall, but still committed fully to the project turning in a memorable picture. This time travel fantasy that takes the main character back to 1960 hit theaters a year after Back to the Future, which takes its main character back to 1955, but audiences were still in the mood to time travel. Peggy Sue Got Married was a hit with audiences and critics ending up on Siskel and Ebert’s Best of 1986 list and earning 3 Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Kathleen Turner. We talk about Kathleen Turner’s great performance, the emphasis on the wistful, melancholy side of nostalgia, Nicolas Cage’s peculiar performance, and find out about the Edsel. We also take detours to discuss the 1986 Oscars and compare Peggy Sue Got Married to George Lucas’s American Graffiti. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 and Sauvignon Blanc 2019

38. Coppola Cast #20: The Cotton Club (1984) & The Cotton Club Encore (2019)

Robert Evans needed a hit. Francis Coppola needed a job. The result of the bitter rivals teaming up again to make another gangster movie, this time set in Harlem in the 1920’s and 30’s: The Cotton Club, starring Richard Gere, Gregory Hines, and Diane Lane. Their contentious working relationship had previously resulted in The Godfather, with each claiming to be the real cause behind the movie’s success. Neither wanted to work with the other again but both were at points in their careers where, for better or worse, they needed each other. Like many Coppola films The Cotton Club had a troubled production. Evans secured financing though some unsavory channels and found himself tied up lawsuits and police investigations. Coppola expanded the scope of the story running overschedule and over budget. The film flopped at the box office and was hit or miss with critics. In 2019, Coppola reworked the film releasing The Cotton Club Encore, adding and expanding scenes (such as musical numbers) and deleting others. We discuss the differences between the two versions, like pacing and which characters got more scenes to develop, the problems with each version, characters we wish had more screen time, the unexpected and incredible duo of Bob Hoskins and Fred Gwynne, and, of course, the musical performances. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Rose of Pinot Noir 2019 and Rosso Bianco Rosso.

37. Coppola Cast #19: Rumble Fish (1983) w/Shane Hazen

The Motorcycle Boy Reigns. To help tackle Francis Coppola’s “art film for teenagers” we’re joined by Shane Hazen of the Phi Phenomenon podcast for a special crossover episode! Though this S.E. Hinton adaptation is light on plot there is a lot to discuss. We delve into the philosophical and existential themes, the experimental approach taken by Coppola and the rest of the crew, and begin to wonder if the 1980’s was a more interesting decade for films than it gets credit for.

In addition to hosting the Phi Phenomenon podcast Shane Hazen has also worked as an editor on films like To the Wonder and The First Girl I Loved. Check out more of Phi Phenomenon here: https://phiphenomenon.com/ and wherever you find podcasts.