[[{“value”:”A fascinating movie, far more interesting than most of the slop they send your way. And it is visually stunning, with an excellent cast to boot. One is never quite sure how to feel about what is shown on the screen, but one side of forces here are pro-growth, pro-billionaire, pro-YIMBY, and pro-science. The film
The post *Megalopolis* (only modest spoilers) appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION.”}]]
A fascinating movie, far more interesting than most of the slop they send your way. And it is visually stunning, with an excellent cast to boot.
One is never quite sure how to feel about what is shown on the screen, but one side of forces here are pro-growth, pro-billionaire, pro-YIMBY, and pro-science. The film itself is strongly anti-crowd and anti-populist. Contra some other recent trends, there is one trans character and that person is a villain.
It is all set in a future “alternate universe” America, where something like the Roman Senate rules and society is falling apart, both stagnant and decadent. Exactly who or what was at fault? In this parallel universe, there is no internet, few immigrants, and very little feminization. Women are sexually attractive and voracious, yet kept in their place. Some other technologies are quite advanced — physical technologies — so that a miracle city can be built. Should it be built? Can it be built? That is a central theme of the plot.
To be sure, the film has flaws galore. Some parts of the plot make no sense, and Coppola repeatedly chooses to go “over the top,” when most of the time he did not have to. Periodically the characters lapse into Latin or quote Shakespeare. The plot at some points ceases to be linear. I am uncertain how to interpret the implied politics, but I am pretty sure they are not mine.
I was never tempted to walk out, nor did it ever drag.
Matt Yglesias has a good and perceptive review.
Meta-lesson: Don’t let them tell you when to retire.
The post *Megalopolis* (only modest spoilers) appeared first on Marginal REVOLUTION.
Film, Uncategorized
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