Who'd have thought that the director of The Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation could have something as bizarre - and as bad - as Jack stuck to their filmography? Truth is, Francis Ford Coppola struggled to capture the magic of his '70s ventures throughout the '80s and '90s, and there are many oddities, successes and failures apparent throughout such a period... but Jack? Jack was the point at which Coppola presumably threw his hands in the air and said: "F*ck it. I'll direct whatever." It's not just that Jack is such a weird blend of comedy and drama that it's hard to know whether to laugh or cry, or the fact that the whole plot is downright creepy in general, but the idea that Coppola - arguably the greatest director of the 1970s - felt like he needed to helm a movie of such bland genetics - one that could have been helmed by pretty much anyone on Earth. There is nothing "of" Coppola inherent to Jack. And though he has defended his decision to direct the movie on a few occasions, there's no denying that it marks the point at which he sold his soul for a sizeable pay check. And with it, the last ounces of his dignity. Like this article? Let us know in the comments section below.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
