61. Coppola Cast 35: Megalopolis: A Fable (2024) & One From the Heart: Reprise (2023)

We are in need of a great debate about…Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis: A Fable (2024). After literally decades in the making, Coppola’s ambitious passion project finally made it to theaters and gave us a lot to talk about. We (briefly) go over the long production history, the critical and poor box office performance, and how we were surprised by our own reactions. We also talk about the performances, the wild, random, and unforgettable plot points and dialogue (spoiler alerts!), Coppola’s big swings of the past, and why the best movies to understand Coppola’s style are Rumble Fish, The Rain People, and even George Lucas’s THX 1138 (which Coppola produced). We also talk about Coppola’s latest re-edit, One From the Heart: Reprise. This episode’s Coppola wine was: Francis Coppola Diamond Prosecco.

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

Episode 14: After Earth (2013)

We finally arrive at After Earth (2013) the would-be summer blockbuster created by Will Smith as a star vehicle for his son Jaden Smith, also... it was directed by M. Night Shyamalan. We try to figure out what "ghosting" is, talk about the weird but not too weird animals that populate future earth, and wonder if this is Shyamalan's least creative film. Tangents include: praise for Robocop, a minor rant against Netflix and Bright, and heaps of praise for Tom Cruise. This month's Shyamalan scotch was: Shackleton Blended Scotch. 

Episode 13: The Last Airbender (2010)

Just in time for Christmas we watch the big budget box office flop, The Last Airbender. Shyamalan’s attempt at a studio franchise did not go well. The movie was universally panned, earned Golden Razzie awards, and made many appearances on “worst of the year” lists. It probably didn’t help that this big studio movie was a watered down version of a much loved animated series. We ponder the state of Shyamalan’s career, try to figure out the intricacies of the Airbender universe, and are perplexed by James Newton Howard’s least memorable score. This episode’s Shyamalan scotches were: Macallan 18 Year Single Malt Scotch and Chivas Regal 12 Blended Scotch.