Paul Schrader: Coppola’s ‘Apocalypse Now’ Re-Release Got ‘Worse’

Paul Schrader warns of the “slippery slope” of filmmakers revisiting their work.

The Oscar winner cited the films of Terrence Malick and George Lucas and Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now as examples of why past films should not be recut or adapted for modern times.

“I think it’s a very slippery slope. Everything changes and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Schrader told “Card Count” star Oscar Isaac during the conversation. Interview magazine. “When people like George (Lucas) are working with CGI, you’re not going to rework the movie, you’re not going to rewrite the movie. You can fool around with color. I think Terrence Malick’s fooling around with color was wrong, and I think when Francis (Ford Coppola) made the longer version of Apocalypse Now, it was worse than before. So I think it’s better to leave them alone.”

Coppola released the final cut of Apocalypse Now in 2019 to celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary. He previously released ‘Apocalypse Now Redux’ in 2001. Coppola’s “Heart of Darkness”-inspired Vietnam War epic famously took nearly eight months to shoot and perilously moved across the Philippines as Coppola dealt with unpredictable weather, personal drama, destroyed sets, and a difficult Marlon Brando.

Scharder noted that his own films have smaller budgets than those of his peers, pointing to the “big games” and action scenes.

“I’ve never been drawn to the big games like George, Francis and Marty (Scorsese), and once you get into the big games, the budget skyrockets,” said the “Master Gardener” director. “By big games I mean crowd scenes, period wardrobe and more explosions.”

Speaking of some filmmakers, Schrader also added that he doesn’t do “whimsical.”

– No no. I never much cared for those cute things. Jacques Tati made these movies and many people love them. They are whimsical, so the definition of a room in hell would be where only Jacques Tati films are shown. Then go into the next room where they play Prairie Home Companion all the time,” he said.

His new film, “Master Gardener,” debuts May 19 from Magnolia Pictures.

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