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)
In spite of knowing the outcome of Apollo 11 and Neil Armstrong’s walk on the moon, director Damien Chazelle and his taut telling of the historic moment teases out every thrill, tension and suspense.
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