Paul Schrader

1 hr · 

Watched Apocalypse Now tonight in Imax. The film remains as problematic as ever in terms of theme and intent. It's like vibrating under the spell of juiced up pro war amphetamines while, in the distance, hearing a dour somewhat confused country preacher declaiming war's evils. But visually and auditorily, man, it stands alone.

Added comment. The schizophrenic nature of the film goes back to the script itself. John's original script was all bravado and gung ho crazy. Francis has the opposite sensibility.. The Ride of the Valkyries, the surfers, the bunnies--that's Milius. The Michael Herr narration, the plantation exposition, the meditations on evil--that's Coppola.