Francis Ford Coppola has revealed the movie he is most proud of. The answer may surprise some.
In a Q&A session on X (formerly Twitter) today, the legendary filmmaker was asked by one fan: “Out of all the films that you’ve made, which one would you say you are the most proud of having made, or which one do you feel best captures your ideas of film as an art form?”
Few living filmmakers have a catalogue to rival Coppola: The Godfather films, Apocalypse Now and The Conversation, to name a few of his most acclaimed.
But those weren’t his choice today. The filmmaker was torn, but replied: “That’s like asking someone with 7 kids, who’s the best? I love them all, but if scratched deeper I might say RUMBLEFISH”.
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Interesting choice for sure. 1983 drama Rumble Fish is based on the 1975 novel of the same name by S.E. Hinton, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola.
The movie charts the relationship between a character called the Motorcycle Boy (Mickey Rourke), a revered former gang leader wishing to live a more peaceful life, and his younger brother, Rusty James (Matt Dillon), a teenaged hoodlum who aspires to become as feared as his brother.
Also starring are Vincent Spano, Nicolas Cage, Diane Lane, Chris Penn, Dennis Hopper and Diana Scarwid.
Coppola made the film back to back with the more obviously commercial, The Outsiders, and it was dedicated to his brother, August (Nicolas Cage’s father). The movie, which was well received by many critics at the time but didn’t get the awards or box office of some other Coppola movies, stands out for its avant-garde style and its nod to the French New Wave. It features an experimental score by Stewart Copeland, drummer from The Police.
Coppola has previously admitted in interviews to having “odd favourites” among his oeuvre. He has previously said a favourite of his was B’Twixt Now and Sunrise. The poorly received horror, first released in 2011, starred Val Kilmer, Bruce Dern, Elle Fanning and Joanne Whalley.
The ‘Ask Me Anything’ Q&A session today came as Coppola’s Megalopolis is on release stateside.
Another fan asked Coppola today: “What do you feel was the GREATEST LESSON you learned – whether as a director, an artist or a human being – from the production of Megalopolis & finally being able to bring your 40+ year vision to life?”
The filmmaker replied: “Do what you LOVE, you’ll never go wrong studying what you love, as later in life you come to understand what profession or work you want to do, those things you learned about because you wanted to, will become if not essential, useful.”
Coppola’s much-discussed Megalopolis was released stateside last weekend after debuting at the Cannes Film Festival in May. The big-budget, self-funded drama failed to ignite at the box office and has garnered wide ranging critical reactions. Coppola said on X ahead of his Q&A session today: “It should be reiterated that the core purpose of #MEGALOPOLIS was to spark a conversation and advance the art of cinema.”
During the session, the filmmaker also discussed inspirations for the movie and specific characters.
This is Francis Ford Coppola. ⁰⁰It should be reiterated that the core purpose of #MEGALOPOLIS was to spark a conversation and advance the art of cinema. Over the last 7 days I have been overjoyed by many kind words, realizations, and humble understandings of this piece of art.… pic.twitter.com/YQrzgxu5uW
— Megalopolis (@megalopolismov) October 4, 2024
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