58. Coppola Cast Redux: Sofia #4: Marie Antoinette (2006)

Thanks to the success of Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola was able to cash in her “I won an Oscar” chip and make an ambitious, big budget movie about Marie Antoinette. The catch…she did her way. This movie was booed at the Cannes Film Festival and was heavily criticized for its use of modern music, lack of French accents, and breaking from the traditional biopic format. However, it now seems that Sofia’s Marie Antoinette may have just been ahead of its time. Bryan and A.J. discuss the great cast, Coppola’s unique approach to a notorious historical figure, how the movie defies its grand scale to tell an intimate story, the great use of modern music, and ponder why Sofia’s movies stick so well in our memory. We also talk about Baz Luhrmann movies, bash Ridley Scott’s Napoleon, and, of course, talk about the 2006 Oscars. This episode’s themed drink was: Sofia Brut Rosè. 

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).

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

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.

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.