Back in 2019, Francis Ford Coppola backed up cutting commentary from fellow filmmaker Martin Scorsese concerning the Marvel Cinematic Universe, deeming the films "despicable." Now, he has expanded on that belief in a new interview.
In a new profile from GQ, author Zach Baron writes that Coppola "does not particularly recognize or enjoy the modern movie industry" in spite of his love of film, leading the legendary director to characterize the MCU as one-dimensional.
"There used to be studio films," Coppola said. "Now there are Marvel pictures. And what is a Marvel picture? A Marvel picture is one prototype movie that is made over and over and over and over and over again to look different."
It isn't just the MCU heroes Coppola takes issue with, continuing to note similarities in films from directors he finds "talented," naming blockbusters like Dune (whose director has also taken aim at Marvel) and the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die.
"You could take both those movies, and you and I could go and pull the same sequence out of both of them and put them together," Coppola claimed. "The same sequence where the cars all crash into each other. They all have that stuff in it, and they almost have to have it, if they're going to justify their budget. And that's the good films, and the talented filmmakers."
In the name of creating something that, to him, is a little less formulaic, Coppola offers some advice form the heart. "I always tell my kids, like Sofia — 'Let your films be personal,'" he told GQ. "'Always make it as personal as you can because you are a miracle, that you're even alive. Then your art will be a miracle because it reflects stuff from someone who there is no other one like that.' Whereas if you're part of a school or 'Yeah, I'm going to make a Marvel picture, and that's the formula and I get it and I'll do my best,' sure it will still have your individuality, but as art, do that and do something else. But if you're going to make art, let it be personal. Let it be very personal to you."
You can read GQ's complete Coppola profile here. Speaking of "personal," the mind behind The Godfather also shared in the piece that he is preparing to begin work on Megalopolis, a film he has reportedly been trying to make for more than 40 years.
In a new profile from GQ, author Zach Baron writes that Coppola "does not particularly recognize or enjoy the modern movie industry" in spite of his love of film, leading the legendary director to characterize the MCU as one-dimensional.
"There used to be studio films," Coppola said. "Now there are Marvel pictures. And what is a Marvel picture? A Marvel picture is one prototype movie that is made over and over and over and over and over again to look different."
It isn't just the MCU heroes Coppola takes issue with, continuing to note similarities in films from directors he finds "talented," naming blockbusters like Dune (whose director has also taken aim at Marvel) and the latest James Bond film, No Time To Die.
"You could take both those movies, and you and I could go and pull the same sequence out of both of them and put them together," Coppola claimed. "The same sequence where the cars all crash into each other. They all have that stuff in it, and they almost have to have it, if they're going to justify their budget. And that's the good films, and the talented filmmakers."
In the name of creating something that, to him, is a little less formulaic, Coppola offers some advice form the heart. "I always tell my kids, like Sofia — 'Let your films be personal,'" he told GQ. "'Always make it as personal as you can because you are a miracle, that you're even alive. Then your art will be a miracle because it reflects stuff from someone who there is no other one like that.' Whereas if you're part of a school or 'Yeah, I'm going to make a Marvel picture, and that's the formula and I get it and I'll do my best,' sure it will still have your individuality, but as art, do that and do something else. But if you're going to make art, let it be personal. Let it be very personal to you."
You can read GQ's complete Coppola profile here. Speaking of "personal," the mind behind The Godfather also shared in the piece that he is preparing to begin work on Megalopolis, a film he has reportedly been trying to make for more than 40 years.
