You're a Big Boy Now (1966)

In Bernard Chanticleer's quest for adulthood, his father's terse advice, "Grow up," proves more complicated than anticipated. Bernard's initial strategy involves securing a girl, a seemingly straightforward plan that quickly unravels when he prioritizes the enigmatic go-go dancer Barbara Darling over the readily available Amy Partlett. His path is fraught with peculiar impediments: a smothering mother who sends him hair clippings as tokens of her misplaced affection, a bizarrely aggressive rooster tasked with terrorizing pretty girls in his apartment building, and the formidable emotional armor of Barbara herself. Barbara's deep-seated animosity towards men stems from a traumatic experience with a manipulative hypnotherapist, adding another layer to Bernard's already bewildering journey into manhood. While "You're a Big Boy Now" is a bold departure from the gritty realism often associated with Francis Ford Coppola's celebrated works, its inclusion on a list of his best films is warranted by its audacious artistic vision and its exploration of universal themes through a uniquely offbeat lens. Coppola, even in this early, somewhat experimental phase of his career, displays a distinctive flair for character development and a willingness to push conventional storytelling boundaries. The film's surreal humor, its vivid portrayal of adolescent confusion and longing, and its exploration of the complex, often contradictory nature of human connection all hint at the directorial prowess that would define his later masterpieces. "You're a Big Boy Now" showcases Coppola's nascent talent for crafting visually arresting narratives that delve into the disorienting experience of coming-of-age, making it a significant and often overlooked entry in his filmography.