Francis Ford Coppola says there are just a few too many awards shows for his taste. As the legendary director behind several highly influential films from the 1970s, including The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, Coppola is considered a central figure in the New Hollywood Renaissance that occurred during the decade. Thus, he has been showered with numerous awards throughout his career, beginning with an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 1970 for co-writing Patton. His trophy shelf also includes four other Oscars for The Godfather and The Godfather Part II, along with two Palmes d'Ors from the Cannes Film Festival and numerous other accolades.
Since making The Godfather Part III in 1991 (which has since been re-released as The Godfather, Coda: The Death of Michael Corleone), Coppola hasn't been in contention for any major awards. However, he did deliver a few career highlights within that timeframe, such as Bram Stoker’s Dracula and The Rainmaker, before taking a decade-long break from directing. After that, his more recent films Youth Without Youth and Twixt haven't been nearly as well-received as some of his past work. Coppola is currently looking to return to form with Megalopolis, which he put up $120 million of his own money to fund.
Coppola recently appeared at the 50th-anniversary screening of The Godfather and while on the red carpet, the legendary filmmaker shared his thoughts on the current state of Hollywood awards shows, which he thinks there are currently too many of. He reminisced about a simpler time "when it was just the Oscars,” though he's not too fond of what the Academy Awards have become today. Read what Coppola had to say below, per Variety:
I don’t like it so much as a big razzle-dazzle production. I like it more intimate, when they had a gentle quality that I think was nice. There are too many awards shows now. I liked it when it was just the Oscars.
Coppola's comments were provoked by the news that the Oscars will be cutting 8 awards from this year's live telecast. The categories that will be presented beforehand and edited into the broadcast include best documentary short, film editing, makeup/hairstyling, original score, production design, animated short, live-action short, and sound. Coppola shared his thoughts on the Academy's controversial decision, saying, "All those [categories] are important. It seems odd, but I guess they have their reasons.”
The number of awards shows has been reduced dramatically in the past few years due to the pandemic. The Golden Globes ceremony also wasn't aired on network television this year due to a controversy involving the HFPA. Still, Coppola finds there are too many for his taste, and he hasn't been afraid to speak his mind about matters involving the movie industry, including the effect Marvel blockbusters are having on other studio movies. Considering his vast knowledge and experience as a filmmaker, Francis Ford Coppola is always good for a few interesting takes whenever he speaks.
Source: Variety