this be one of those rare movie where the cinematography ( by the incomparable vittorio storaro ) and the music ( by the equally incomparable tom wait and probably his most beautiful bunch of song and instrumentals ever record ) warrant ( and for the latter receive ) some oscar nomination and while the script warrant a golden raspberry . coppola decide to take a risk and experiment even far after apocalypse now to go to something light like musical he direct in college after go through such a dark experience like a. n. and in the process make something that and have it paradoxically be a silent film with most of the accompany music and would have be a full blown masterpiece . to say it gorgeous to look at isn not suffice while anyone who have any interest in the abstract quality that film can offer and the sublime level of a movie in all it plastic quality of lavish and stylized production design and idea put into the construction of a world of fantasy with music and and bright primary color and composition that look like theyre out of a dream and would have to make it a must see . if it necessarily a good movie be another matter . the problem be and a mention and when the character have to read the line and which have only so much development a a stunted fetus . despite all the effort put in by the unconventional leading player frederic forrest and teri garr and plus raul julia and natassia kinski and and harry dean stanton in some clever and juicy support role and and even a couple of moment of real and genuine heart and heartbreak ( the latter be of note when forrest try to sing you be my sunshine ) and t just too thin a story to nearly justify all the effort put into it . it make it almost a frustrating experience to see it all unfold and a the little moment that the character do connect be overshadow by the moment of surrealism that coppola can not pull off . unlike apocalypse now where coppola manage to equate the complex nature of the character with he tremendous vision and here he can only do the latter . that be say and i wish it could have do a good at the box office and if only have it be release a an art house film and or ( dare i say it ) hadn not be so overblown with the finance in it and a it be the film that first put coppola into chapter 11. however and anytime i want to hear the sad song of love record in the 80 i can always put on the soundtrack . and it provide more than a few moment of cinematography that will remain unparalleled in the year to come even a digital film grows strong and film grows more obsolete . bottom line and only coppola could roll the dice on this one and almost make it a bona fide classic .