57. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #3: Lost in Translation (2003)

Bryan and A.J are enjoying relaxing times with Suntory Time and Scarlett Johansson and Bill Murray in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation. A hit with the critics, audiences, and the box office, this offbeat indie comedy earned 4 Oscar nominations (winning only 1 for Sofia Coppola’s screenplay), and more than 20 years later still provides us with a lot to talk about. We discuss Bill Murray’s career in the 90’s and his indie comeback, Scarlett Johansson’s breakout performance, the similarities between Sofia’s Lost in Translation and Spike Jonze’s Her (2013), and, of course, the 2003 Oscars. Tangents include: Bryan’s trip to Japan, A.J.’s rant about the 2003 Oscars and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and the Japanese version of Sideways. (Apologies for any background noise that was not detected at the time of recording but is very mild). This episode’s themed drink was: Suntory Toki (Time).

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

31. Coppola Cast 13: The Godfather Part II

It’s a prequel and a sequel in one movie: it’s The Godfather Part II. This episode we review the much acclaimed sequel to The Godfather, that, just like the first one, Francis Ford Coppola did not want to make. We work our way through the film’s parallel plotlines in different eras, dig into the themes, talk about the great performances, and much more. Once again we marvel at the lineup of the 1974 Academy Awards, spoil the less celebrated De Niro/Pacino movie Righteous Kill, and wonder who will be the next filmmaker to deliver two powerhouse films in the same year. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Director’s Coppola Sonoma County 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon and Francis Coppola Diamond Collection 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon.