‘Babylon’

Bombastic, grotesque, overlong – yet strangely, for a time, compelling before outstaying its welcome, Babylon is 1920s Hollywood in all its braggadocio, coarseness and self-indulgence.

A fixer at wild parties and events, Manny Torres (Diego Calva) dreams of working on movie sets. The brash and outrageous Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie) dreams of stardom. Both find themselves at the outrageous excess of Babylon‘s opening bacchanal extravaganza hosted by superstar Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt): both find their pathways to their dreams.

Epic in content, epic in length (189 minutes), the feature from Damien Chazelle demands stamina and commitment from audience and players alike. It looks stunning in all its excess – vast desert film lots with multiple film scenes being simultaneously shot with orchestras, Irish jig and bluegrass renting the air (these movies are silent, after all!); extended bacchanalia, indulgence and the many shortlived marriages of Jack Conrad. But then the Babylon world changes with the New York premiere of The Jazz Singer. Sound has arrived. As Torres struggles behind the scenes to keep things going, his industry and those he has remained loyal to are falling by the wayside. As do the audience – at 40 minutes too long, the overstuffed Babylon struggles to maintain the required commitment.

Nominated for 3 Oscars in 2023 – score (Justin Hurwitz), production design and costume (Mary Zophres)

Rating: 63%

Director: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land)

Writer: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land)

Main cast: Diego Calva (Bird Box: Barcelona, Help Me Make It Through the Night), Brad Pitt (Bullet Train, Ad Astra), Margot Robbie (Barbie, Bombshell)

‘La La Land’

A gorgeous homage to 50s Hollywood musicals and French director Jacques Demy (Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Young Girls of Rochefort), La La Land is regarded by many as one of the best films of 2016 and a potential multiple Oscar winner.

Like those late ’50s/early ’60s musicals, the premise is simple enough – boy meets girl, they fall in love, they go their separate ways with lots of dancing in the streets and showstopping tunes. Ryan Gosling is the jazz musician down on his luck, Emma Stone the wannabe actress. Their chemistry is palpable with Stone a stand-out as the vulnerable yet determined Mia.

The hype is a little over the top for this throughly enjoyable but overlong celebration of its genre – it’s a good film rather than great. But as a follow up to the superb Whiplash, director Damien Chazelle is proving to be one of the most exciting writer/directors around.

Nominated for 14 Oscars in 2017 (including best film, best actor & original screenplay), won 6 (including best actress, director & original score – Justin Hurwitz)

Rating: 73%

Director: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench)

Writer: Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, 10 Cloverfield Lane)

Main cast: Ryan Gosling (Half Nelson, The Ides of March), Emma Stone (Birdman, The Help), Rosemarie DeWitt (Rachel Getting Married, Your Sister’s Sister)