There are veteran directors who should never stop working, like Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen and Martin Scorsese. Then there are the old hands who should have long retired, like George Lucas, Brian De Palma and, yes, Francis Ford Coppola.

Francis's first film in 10 years is so dull and pretentious, it makes you wonder if he's the same man who made The Godfather movies. Youth Without Youth tells the story of a man (Tim Roth) ageing backwards — meaning he gets younger every day. The premise is, of course, intriguing. But it is probably much better told by David Fincher's upcoming The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Brad Pitt, and by Andrew Sean Greer's beautiful 2004 novel The Confessions of Max Tivoli.

Francis's film, on the other hand, is ridiculous and boring. It lacks the very life and vitality that his character seems to gain more of everyday.