63. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #7: A Very Murray Christmas (2015)

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, Happy Everything! For our first ever Christmas special we review a Christmas special: Sofia Coppola’s A Very Murray Christmas (2015). At first glance, this Netflix musical Christmas “TV” special about putting on a musical Christmas TV special seems like it is soaked in holiday melancholy but Bryan and A.J. find that it is filled with holiday joy and many of Sofia’s favorite themes and trademarks. We go through the songs and delightful cast, talk about other Christmas specials of the past, and notice how this 2015 special about people making the most of being stuck in a place because it is too dangerous to leave makes it feel like a pre-COVID COVID movie. We also bemoan the mysterious Netflix algorithm and streaming in general and Bryan suggests a Bill Murray holiday trifecta. Tangents include: the Star Wars Holiday Special, our favorite Christmas movies, the Vulcan Video holiday section, and George Clooney’s pranks. We also briefly discuss the early ‘90s Dave Markey short Burning Palms on Jennifer’s Coffee Table, featuring a young Sofia Coppola. This episode’s themed drink was: Soiled Kimono. 

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.

34. Coppola Cast #16: One From the Heart (1981)

This episode is from the heart, because the movie we’re talking about today is One From the Heart, Francis Coppola’s romantic pseudo-musical drama. Coppola didn’t bet the farm on the success of this movie, but he did bet his new studio, Zoetrope Studios, and, unfortunately, lost. One From the Heart was a massive flop and now we give it a reassessment. We discuss the cast, Tom Waits and Crystal Gale’s score, the intentional artificial aesthetic, and how a young Nicolas Cage helped out his uncle Francis. This episode’s Coppola wines were: Diamond Collection Chardonnay 2018 and Pinot Noir 2017.

25. Coppola Cast #7: Finian's Rainbow (1968)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! It’s only appropriate that Bryan and A. J. discuss Frances Coppola’s roadshow musical flop Finian’s Rainbow. There’s so much wrong with this movie we don’t have much time for tangents. We talk about the death of the Hollywood musical, how this movie led to the friendship of Coppola and George Lucas, Bryan singles out the funniest moment in the movie, and A.J. compares this movie to Mallrats. The movie was a slog to watch but fun to talk about. Enjoy! This episode’s Coppola wine was: Coppola-Becker Unita Blend Cabernet Sauvignon 2017.