Who says that winning a Razzie is a bad thing? After being named Worst Director for “Megalopolis,” legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola fully embraced the dishonor and used the opportunity to criticize Hollywood for producing formulaic movies.
“So few have the courage to go against the prevailing trends of contemporary moviemaking,” he shared on Instagram on Friday.
“Megalopolis” was nominated for six Razzies altogether, including Worst Director, Worst Screenplay and Worst Picture. Alongside Coppola, Jon Voight took home the Razzie for Worst Supporting Actor (he was also given the award for his roles in “Reagan,” “Shadow Land” and “Strangers”).
“In this wreck of a world today, where ART is given scores as if it were professional wrestling, I chose to NOT follow the gutless rules laid down by an industry so terrified of risk that despite the enormous pool of young talent at its disposal, may not create pictures that will be relevant and alive 50 years from now,” Coppola wrote. “What an honor to stand alongside a great and courageous filmmaker like Jacques Tati who impoverished himself completely to make one of cinema’s most beloved failures, ‘PLAYTIME!’”
Coppola ended his post by thanking his colleagues who helped him make “Megalopolis.” “Let us remind ourselves us that box office is only about money and, like war, stupidity and politics, has no true place in our future,” he concluded.
The director is expected to accept his award in person on Saturday, putting him on a very short list. Despite the fact the film was largely panned by critics, “Megalopolis” premiered In Competition at the Cannes Film Festival last May.
Though “Megalopolis” took home two Razzies, it wasn’t the “worst” movie of the season — that distinction belonged to “Madame Web,” which won for Worst Picture, Worst Actress and Worst Screenplay.
