Fake Reviews in Megalopolis Trailer: “We Screwed Up!”

Distributor Lionsgate has apologized profusely and removed the trailer posted online last night, which blasted film critics for the visionary Coppola.

But what was going through the minds of the promoters of Megalopolis ? Last night, a new trailer for the next film by Francis Ford Coppola was released by the American distributor Lionsgate and relayed by their official social media accounts. A scathing video, contrasting the genius of the avant-garde filmmaker with film critics. A way of defending the master's latest work, not really well received in the spring, during its first screenings, notably at Cannes.

Except that, a few hours after its publication online, the trailer was removed in a hurry. The reason? All the quotes from critics included in the trailer were completely fabricated…

Yes, for a minute this new trailer of Megalopolis scrolled through the filmmaker's previous films chronologically, accompanied by negative reviews attributed to journalists of the time (most of whom are now deceased). For example, we saw the famous review of New YorkerPauline Kael, consider that The Godfather was “diminished by its artistic side.” Likewise, Apocalypse Now And Dracula would have been panned and misunderstood when they were released in theaters.

The aim of the video was clear and effective: to temper criticism of Megalopolis. If The Godfather, Apocalypse Now And Dracula were considered small films when they were released, without interest, and are today recognized as masterpieces of the 7th art, this will probably also be the case for Megalopolis !

Francis Ford Coppola Deflects Negative Reviews in New Megalopolis Trailer

A classic marketing stunt, which allowed the film to be defended. Yes, but the problem is that all these criticisms mentioned never actually existed. Pointed out by Vulture and subsequently verified by several media outlets, the quotes are not found in any original review. The one attributed to Roger Ebert for the Chicago Sun-Times – “the triumph of style over matter” concerning Dracula – is even a quote from a review on the Batman by Tim Burton released in 1989!

Similarly, a journalist working for Variety saw one of his quotes change in this trailer, which upset him. For the others, it is difficult to get a feeling, since, as the American media points out, most of the journalists quoted are deceased.

Following the scandal, Lionsgate chose to remove the video and the studio had to issue a public apology (via Variety) :

“We sincerely apologize to the critics cited, to Francis Ford Coppola and to American Zoetrope (editor’s note: his production company) for this inexcusable error in our verification process. We screwed up. We're sorry.”

The distributor did not state the reasons for this manufacturing, and did not explain the bug. History will tell later whether the fault was intentional or not.

In fact, it must be remembered that The Godfather received mostly positive reviews upon its release. Pauline Kael, although quoted in the trailer as leaning towards the detractors, wrote in her original review that it was: “an epic vision of corruption in the United States.”

As for Apocalypse Nowit is well known that the film presented at the Cannes Film Festival in 1979 received its share of negative reviews. Frank Rich declared in the Time at the time the film was “less an epic tale of grueling war than an incongruous and extravagant monument to artistic self-sabotage.” For The GuardianRichard Roud began with “Apocalypse Now is not the greatest film of the decade, or even of the year.”

So it was not difficult to find genuine negative quotes. Will a new attempt be made in the coming days?

In France, Megalopolis will be released in theaters on September 25, distributed by Le Pacte.