This movie is so hard to talk about, because the question is: “What is it even about?”
I like movies with abstract themes and strange storytelling, but this was just incomprehensible. Its plot revolves around the machinations of rich men to control the future of their city “New Rome”, but the plot is kinda meaningless. There’s never any real threat to Caesar’s goal. Just plot events that could be obstacles but then are immediately resolved/neutered. Ok, fine! Surely then it’s an art-house piece with a deep message? The plot points must be there for the sake of a larger theme. I was waiting for everything to add up in the finale, but it just ends up with Caesar delivering a speech filled with platitudes so bland that I thought it was a joke. Then the credits rolled and the 2 of the other 5 people in the theater with me started laughing.
10 min: This should be interesting.
20 min: Why does this feel… off?
30 min: I must be missing a lot of historical references.
40 min: Wait, is the audience the butt of the joke here?
50 min - 90 min: confusion/anger
100 min: Holy shit Aubrey Plaza is hot
120 min: He made a whole movie for that one scene 🤣
It’s similar only in that it’s about a “Great man” remaking a society in collapse.
Really none of the themes are there. Nor is there any journey of discovery to understand who Caesar is, like you get in Atlas Shrugged where other characters learn who John Galt is.
Galt is “Self interest and belief in my vision will make society better”. Caesar is “McGuffin building materials and belief in my vision will make society better”. For all its flaws, one is at least a political statement, while the other is milquetoast hopium.
This movie is so hard to talk about, because the question is: “What is it even about?”
I like movies with abstract themes and strange storytelling, but this was just incomprehensible. Its plot revolves around the machinations of rich men to control the future of their city “New Rome”, but the plot is kinda meaningless. There’s never any real threat to Caesar’s goal. Just plot events that could be obstacles but then are immediately resolved/neutered. Ok, fine! Surely then it’s an art-house piece with a deep message? The plot points must be there for the sake of a larger theme. I was waiting for everything to add up in the finale, but it just ends up with Caesar delivering a speech filled with platitudes so bland that I thought it was a joke. Then the credits rolled and the 2 of the other 5 people in the theater with me started laughing.
10 min: This should be interesting. 20 min: Why does this feel… off? 30 min: I must be missing a lot of historical references. 40 min: Wait, is the audience the butt of the joke here? 50 min - 90 min: confusion/anger 100 min: Holy shit Aubrey Plaza is hot 120 min: He made a whole movie for that one scene 🤣
Idk, maybe you’ve sold me.
Got it. Show up 1:10 into it and leave after 10 minutes.
So it’s a condensed version of Atlas Shrugged, maybe with a sprinkle of The Fountainhead?
This sounds like a spin on Atalas Shurgged?
Which, ew…
It’s similar only in that it’s about a “Great man” remaking a society in collapse.
Really none of the themes are there. Nor is there any journey of discovery to understand who Caesar is, like you get in Atlas Shrugged where other characters learn who John Galt is.
Galt is “Self interest and belief in my vision will make society better”. Caesar is “McGuffin building materials and belief in my vision will make society better”. For all its flaws, one is at least a political statement, while the other is milquetoast hopium.