Movie Review - Babylon

Director: Damien Chazelle
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 189 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Jean Smart, Olivia Wilde, Diego Calva, Flea, Tobey Maguire
 
Description: A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

Review: The craziness in “Babylon” begins with bickering over the transport of an elephant. Manuel, jack-of-all-trades behind the scenes of Hollywood anno 1926, has arranged for the animal to be the summit of entertainment of an exorbitant party thrown by a movie studio boss.

Hollywood prodigy Damien Chazelle (of the fantastic personal favorites “La La Land” and “Whiplash”) creates yet another prologue in his bursting at the seams fourth film: a protracted orgy of sex, cocaine, booze, song and dance at the aforementioned party. Here Manuel meets the wildly charming aspiring actress Nellie LaRoy and the equally charming yet smug star actor Jack Conrad. Manuel and Nellie then work their way up at lightning speed, while Jack is overtaken by time.  

“Babylon” is a mesmerizing, merciless and remarkably cynical deconstruction of Hollywood’s golden years: the first great transition phase of the American film industry, spurred by the invention of the talking movie (in 1927, with “The Jazz Singer”). One of my other personal favorites, “Singin’ in the Rain” also did this and this movie eventually turns out to be a very important one in “Babylon” as well. And I really loved this take. The conclusion of “Babylon” was surprising and satisfying.

The scenes where we got to go behind the scenes of the making of movies, where without a doubt the best. Especially one wild scene where Nellie first steps onto a film set. The way this was filmed, cinematographically it looks perfect and all the chaos going on is felt in every bone of your body.

Where, in my eyes, Chazelle’s “Whiplash” and “La La Land” were perfect in every way, “Babylon” is more flawed. Some explicit scenes I could have done without. I don’t shy away from nudity in film, but it sometimes felt unnecessary and felt like it was only there for the purpose of shock. With that, the movie is a bit too long, it could have been at least 30 minutes shorter. And that one scene, with Tobey Maguire, which is the most insane bit of the film, felt ridiculous.

“Babylon”, ode to and reckoning with the film industry all in one, proves that that American dream factory still delivers colorful films. Not a film I would recommend to anyone, because I don’t think most people I know, would appreciate it as much as I did. A wild ride that stimulates all you senses.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 87: Baby Driver

Director: Edgar Wright
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Ansel Elgort, Jon Bernthal, Jon Hamm, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jamie Foxx, Flea

Description: After being coerced into working for a crime boss (Kevin Spacey), a young getaway driver (Ansel Elgort) finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.

Review: Before I start this review, I have to state that director Edgar Wright is a genius. And as for many geniuses, the big crowd doesn’t understand him. His previous films (like “Shaun of the Dead”, “Hot Fuzz” and “The World’s End”) are examples of how a movie is perfectly edited. His films are never box office hits and he never seems to click with the average moviegoer. In my opion: Edgar Wright is one of the best directors of the moment.
Because of a constant ringing in his ear, Baby listens to music non-stop. That makes music not only a big part of the film, but also the story. Everything is accompanied by the music: every shot, movement, rhythm. And because of Wright’s perfect editing skills, “Baby Driver” is an amazingly synchronized and choreographed film. And that without it distracting from the actual story. Every song fits the scene like a glove and sounds like it belongs there.
Does the film have flaws? Off course, but they are so miniscule. Probably the motives of the characters, but that would be nitpicking.
The film opens with an amazing chase scene, where we see what Baby can do. One giant chunk of adrenaline.
When I saw the trailer for “Baby Driver”, I was sceptic about Ansel Elgort as the leading man. But boy did he surprise me. In a good way! Jon Hamm as Buddy and Jamie Foxx as Bats (the last being one of the most annoying characters of this year, I constantly wanted to slap him in the face) are also worth mentioning. The chemistry between Ansel Elgort and his on-screen love interest Lily James is very strong. Some might say it’s a bit too sweet, but it’s forgivable.
The script is simple, yet Edgar Wright turns it into what I can call the best film of 2017 so far.

Rating: 5/ 5