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Coppola Rescued Some Hollywood Outcasts to Cast This Picture

posted 6 months ago by roger1 (3626)
13 replies | jump to latest

Coppola seems to have purposely hired some Hollywood outcasts for this movie, lifting some of their "cancellation" -- though one of them hasn't been THAT cancelled.

The three I am thinking of are Dustin Hoffman, Shia LaBouef, and Jon Voight.

The one who hasn't been THAT cancelled is Jon Voight, who has been expressing very conservaitive pro-Trump beliefs for some time now but seems to keep getting work. Perhaps it helps that his daughter is Angelina Jolie(they may be estranged, but she is an important person), perhaps it helps that he is a Best Actor Oscar winner(for a very liberal film, playing a very liberal role, in Coming Home, with Jane Fonda. Voight was different back then.)

At a press conference, Coppola opined on American politics(adding his voice to those worried about a Fall of the Roman Empire style collapse) and called on Voight to opine, saying "You have a somewhat different political view, Jon -- what do you think?" Very open minded of Coppola! (Also , Voight played the attorney villiain in Coppola's very mainstream, very entertaining version of John Grishham's The Rainmaker back in 1997.)

Dustin Hoffman seems to have been flat out cancelled a few years back over "MeToo" allegations. The fellow couldn't do the usual rounds of "retrospective celebrations of his work and Q and A" without being confronted on his alleged harrassments, he finally just ducked out of the spotlight (I won't say entirely, he has some credits post MeToo, but nothing big.) Of course, Hoffman is in his 80's now, he doesn't NEED to work. But I guess its nice that Coppola gave him a job. Of course, he might be just the monster they say he is...

As for Shia LaBouef, I'm not really much interested in his acting , his career, or his persona, so I don't "know him" (ha) as well as "prestige superstar" Dustin Hoffman and the long-lived Voight. But I've read that Mr. LaBouef had some personal behavior scandals so I guess.. Coppola rescued him too. And just like Hoffman...HE might be just the monster they say he is.

Perhaps Mr. Coppola...under some fire from the beginning as to his own wisdom in making this "personally financed folly" decided to bring some other pariahs on board.

Still, I see that, to cover his bases, Coppola also managed to hire the hot and constantly working Adam Driver and Aubrey Plaza for lead roles, too. Proving "Coppola's still got it," clout wise.

[–] christomacin (4656) 6 months ago

[–] roger1 (3626) 6 months ago

Coppola himself has been in the hot seat recently for his (alleged) pot-smoking and (alleged) sexual harassment on the set of Megalopololis, plus his support for former associate Victor Salva, a convicted sex offender.

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Yet another reason that Coppola may have "reached out" to offer work to some of those other outcasts.

[–] christomacin (4656) 6 months ago

Perhaps, although the on-set stuff hasn't yet been corroborated by any on-set cast member accounts- the claims were actually made in a magazine article. It's unclear the frequency and severity, even if true. His support of Salva is uncomfortable and shows bad judgment, and Salva was convicted after all.

[–] roger1 (3626) 6 months ago

Perhaps, although the on-set stuff hasn't yet been corroborated by any on-set cast member accounts- the claims were actually made in a magazine article.

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And, come to think of it, the rumors are about things that happened on set AFTER he hired the other outcasts.

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It's unclear the frequency and severity, even if true. His support of Salva is uncomfortable and shows bad judgment, and Salva was convicted after all.

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Hollywood and NYC people often get caught being compassionate for the wrong people.

Decades ago, a lot of celebs supported the release of a convicted killer who had written a book about his prison experience called "In the Belly of the Beast." The celebs said he was great writer, a true talent who deserved release. He got released early. Shortly after being released, he got into an argument with a waiter in a restaurant, stabbed the waiter to death...and went right back to prison. The celebs didnt support him after that.

I read somewhere that the bad stories on Coppola may be from studios angry with his usual rebellious ways and attempts to break with studio distribution. I have no idea.

[–] christomacin (4656) 6 months ago

Color me a bit suspicious of these claims as well. As a matter of fact, the Victor Salva story got revived about the same time it became clear Megalopololis was actually going to happen. In any case, if all Coppola did was bestow some sloppy Italian show biz kisses in an overabundance of enthusiasm I'm not all that concerned. Maybe not a good idea in today's climate... but not "SA" either. The Marijuana smoking... honestly couldn't care less. There were some other claims he "forced" presumably female cast members to sit on his lap while filming a night club scene. I haven't seen the film yet (would like to), and can't state what state of dress (or undress) they might have been in during that scene, or how aggressive he might have been if it actually happened. That would be worse than a kiss, I reckon (depending on just how sloppy or toungey), but again, the source is one magazine article so far.

[–] maximmm (3336) 2 months ago

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/09/13/francis-ford-coppola-variety-defamation-lawsuit-megalopolis/

He's suing the magazine

[–] bozo_500 (13118) 6 months ago

he shouldve put Spacey in this too

[–] roger1 (3626) 6 months ago

he shouldve put Spacey in this too

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Maybe in his next movie. It could become a "goodwill project":

"Kevin Spacey, Will Smith, and Johnny Depp in Francis Coppola's......"

[–] HarlemEagle42 (17745) 6 months ago

More likely than not, they’re probably cheaper. I mean, are Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman getting $20 million salaries for this?

[–] bozo_500 (13118) 6 months ago

Probably 1 million

[–] Wuchak (8737) 3 months ago

In other words, it was a frugal business decision: They're recognizable names in the biz (if currently out of vogue), but it wouldn't break the bank to hire 'em.

[–] roger1 (3626) 3 months ago

In other words, it was a frugal business decision: They're recognizable names in the biz (if currently out of vogue), but it wouldn't break the bank to hire 'em.

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One man's bravery is another man's ...budgeting.

And with Dustin Hoffman you get a two-time Best Actor Oscar winner(Kramer vs. Kramer, Rain Man) and with Voight you get a one-time Best Actor Oscar winner(Coming Home.)

...with Shia LaBoeuf...ya get nuthin'. Except younger.

[–] Wuchak (8737) 3 months ago

Oscar awards are tied to Hollywood politics and don't mean much to most people, including me. Shia has starred or costarred in enough blockbusters and is therefore a recognizable enough actor, still relatively young compared to Hoffman and Voight. Not that I'm a fan; I can take him or leave him.