Megadoc review absorbing account of an impressive and indomitable Francis Ford Coppola at work

"When Francis Ford Coppola finally started work on his retrofuturist ancient Rome drama-parable Megalopolis (the self-funded passion project he had been nurturing for decades), he invited another director to be a fly on the wall and make a record of his work in progress. This was Mike Figgis, whose limber digital film-making skills were ideal for the task. The result is a thoroughly watchable, respectful, valuable and intimate account of a great film-maker at work particularly rehearsing actors, a part of directing very rarely shown."

"It's always impressive to see the indomitable Coppola in full rhetorical flow: holding forth, opining, schooling one and all on what happens when a film is made and how glorious it is to spend and even lose money in the service of cinema. Coppola is always entrepreneurially magnificent on this subject. And before this documentary, I had thought that Alfred Hitchcock was the last director on earth who came to work in a collar and tie. No: it's Coppola."

"Figgis is tactfully silent over reports of Coppola's inappropriate behaviour with female supporting actors on set that is a flaw, though he does cover Coppola sacking his entire VFX team midway through the shoot. Megalopolis cost $120m (98m) (at least) that Coppola put up himself by selling part of his wine business, and Figgis shrewdly breaks down these eye-watering costs up to $20,000 (15,000) a day on catering for big crowd scenes."

Mike Figgis filmed Francis Ford Coppola during production of the retrofuturist ancient Rome drama-parable Megalopolis, capturing rehearsals, actor coaching, and behind-the-scenes dynamics. Figgis's digital filmmaking provides an intimate, watchable account that emphasizes Coppola's rehearsal methods, rhetorical presence, and entrepreneurial commitment, including his willingness to self-fund the project. The record shows Coppola dismissing his VFX team and reveals eye-watering expenses—Megalopolis cost at least $120m, with catering for crowd scenes reaching $20,000 a day. The footage includes tender moments with Eleanor Coppola on set and heated arguments, including conflicts with Shia LaBeouf. Figgis largely remains silent on reported inappropriate behavior toward female supporting actors.

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