"Apocalypse Now" never appealed to me. There are probably five or more Vietnam War movies that I like better. The main reason I didn't do back flips for the movie like so many have is that it was too psychedelic, esoteric, artsy, and dare I say pretentious. Now, after having watched "Hearts of Darkness" I see why.
I do commend Francis Copolla for putting his heart, soul, time, and money into his work--I give him that. At the same time I can see how he would've been difficult to work for: an ever changing script, improv scenes, and dozens of takes. In many ways he was the proverbial artist never satisfied with his work until his idea of perfection--which is indecipherable to everyone else--had been attained. "Hearts of Darkness" seems to give the viewer an inside look of Copolla's head as well as his making of the movie "Apocalypse Now."
I do commend Francis Copolla for putting his heart, soul, time, and money into his work--I give him that. At the same time I can see how he would've been difficult to work for: an ever changing script, improv scenes, and dozens of takes. In many ways he was the proverbial artist never satisfied with his work until his idea of perfection--which is indecipherable to everyone else--had been attained. "Hearts of Darkness" seems to give the viewer an inside look of Copolla's head as well as his making of the movie "Apocalypse Now."