Robert De Niro’s Provocative Remarks at Megalopolis Premiere

De Niro’s Hypothetical Scenario

Robert De Niro, the esteemed actor, sparked laughter from the audience with a hypothetical scenario, all while maintaining a poker face.

“Imagine if Donald Trump were to direct this film,” he proposed during the New York premiere of Francis Ford Coppola’s Megalopolis on Monday. “It would be a disaster, complete chaos. He is incapable of accomplishing anything. He can’t hold anything together… He has a destructive mindset. And he definitely wouldn’t be able to handle this movie. He can’t manage anything that requires structure.”

The Premiere Event

De Niro, Spike Lee, and Coppola participated in a 30-minute Q&A prior to the screening, hosted by the New York Film Festival at the AMC Lincoln Square Imax. The festival was set to commence on Friday, but was extended for the Imax event, an opportunity to bring together distinguished guests with the 85-year-old Coppola. The Q&A was broadcast to 65 locations in North America via the Imax Live network, following a red carpet event featuring cast members such as Aubrey Plaza, Dustin Hoffman, and Giancarlo Esposito.

Political Undertones

During the final moments of the Q&A, De Niro and Lee highlighted a parallel between the film’s fictional universe and the anxiety surrounding America’s election year.

De Niro’s Political Views

When questioned about his perspective on the future of cinema, De Niro steered the conversation towards politics, inspired by Coppola’s thoughts on the fall of civilizations and the rise of dictators. “I’m concerned,” De Niro admitted. “I see the parallels in Francis’ film. To me, it’s not over until it’s over and we must fight wholeheartedly to defeat the Republicans – those Republicans, they’re not genuine Republicans – and defeat Trump. It’s that straightforward. We can’t tolerate such a person. Everyone needs to get out there and vote.”

Lee’s Agreement

Lee was quick to concur. “As my sister says, move forward, not backward,” he stated. “It’s simple: Register to vote and show up. …. This election will be extremely close. I’m a huge sports fan and, as you said, it’s not over until it’s over. We can’t assume that the game is over when it’s not.”

Coppola’s Casting Choices

Coppola intervened to mention that he had “intentionally” cast actors who “are voting differently.” He didn’t specify who, but one notable Trump supporter, Jon Voight, has a significant role in the film. The filmmaker also expressed his hope that “we can disagree” on a film set but that humanity can triumph, another theme of the film.

De Niro’s Criticism of Trump

De Niro has been a vocal critic of Trump for years, publicly condemning the former president outside a Lower Manhattan courtroom earlier this year during Trump’s trial in the Stormy Daniels hush money case. His impassioned outburst even triggered the censor button at CBS in 2018 during the network’s live broadcast of the Tony Awards.

Reminiscing About the Past

Earlier, the three icons recalled their shared experiences in the New York film industry and their first connections. De Niro and Coppola reminisced about The Godfather and the 1970s era in the film business, frequently mentioning their mutual friend, Martin Scorsese. Lee recalled his time as an intern at Columbia Pictures in 1979 in L.A. and buying a ticket for the first showing of Coppola’s Apocalypse Now on its opening day. He later met Coppola when the filmmaker spoke to his class of graduate students at NYU.

About Megalopolis

Megalopolis has sparked curiosity, passion, and confusion across the film and cultural landscape, debuting as a completed work nearly two months before its world premiere in Cannes. Lionsgate secured U.S. rights last June and will release Megalopolis wide on Friday.

Funding and Cast

Coppola, through his American Zoetrope banner, owns the film and used his personal wealth to fund the $120 million project. It was screened for buyers last March, a significant milestone after a twenty-year journey to bring it to the screen. Coppola then personally assisted in securing Imax bookings for the film, which boasts a star-studded cast including Adam Driver, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Giancarlo Esposito, Jon Voight, and Shia LaBeouf.

Reviews and Reactions

The film received mixed reviews and reactions in Cannes, with some critics, including Deadline’s Damon Wise, praising the grand scope of its vision. Wise admitted the film is “somewhat of a mess; unruly, exaggerated and drawn to pretension” but is nonetheless “a pretty stunning achievement, the work of a master artist.” Others dismissed it as a self-absorbed puzzler or even an outright disaster, with The Guardian criticizing it as “megabloated and megaboring.”

Conclusion

The premiere of Megalopolis was not just a film event, but also a platform for political discourse. De Niro’s hypothetical scenario and political views, Lee’s agreement, and Coppola’s casting choices stirred conversation. The event was a blend of reminiscing about the past, discussing the present, and speculating about the future – both of cinema and politics.

FAQs

What was the hypothetical scenario posed by De Niro?

De Niro proposed a scenario where Donald Trump directed the film, suggesting it would result in chaos due to Trump’s inability to manage anything that requires structure.

What was the political view shared by De Niro?

De Niro expressed concern about the rise of dictators and the decline of civilizations, drawing parallels with the film. He emphasized the need to defeat Trump and encouraged everyone to vote.

What is Megalopolis about?

Megalopolis is a film that has sparked curiosity, passion, and confusion across the film and cultural landscape. It has a star-studded cast and was funded by Coppola’s personal wealth. The film has received mixed reviews, with some praising its ambitious scope and others criticizing it as a disaster.

Credit: deadline.com