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.

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.

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