Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse (1991)
Francis Ford Coppola, Elanor Coppola, John Milius; d. Elanor Coppola, Fax Bahr, George Hickenlooper; A-

In his review, Washington Post critic Desson Howe claims that Apocalypse Now, by way of Francis Ford Coppola telling Martin Sheen and co not to look at the camera, is about "a filmmaker desperately searching for something great, but never quite finding it." But why, pray tell, get an artistic message about Coppola's struggle to make Apocalypse Now from Apocalypse Now when you can watch the documentary instead?

There's nothing I have to say about Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse that hasn't already been said before. Regardless of whether or not you thought Apocalypse Now was a masterpeice, there's no doub that this documentary is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the film. On-set footage shot by Coppola's wife, Elanor, and secret recorded conversations shows a director not in search of something great, but in extream denial that he was making an apocalyptic failure. This is mingled in with modern-day interviews with Francis and Elanor Coppola, as well as screenwriter John Milius, George Lucas, Martin Sheen, Laurence Fishburn, and many others. The documentary also features footage from the film, including two clips from deleted scenes that showed up in Apocalypse Now Redux. What makes this documentary so fascinating is the emotions conveyed through Elanor Coppola's footage as well as the amazing facts brought up in the documentary. You'll laugh, you'll emote with the seemingly eternally complaining Coppola, and you'll feel for Martin Sheen's thumb. In any case, there's no doubt watching this documentary will be a, let's say it again folks, fascinating experience that will take you deeper into the heart of Apocalypse Now.