Released: 20th January 2023 (UK)
Length: 189 Minutes
Certificate: 18
Director: Damian Chazelle
Starring: Diego Calva, Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo and Li Jun Li
Damian Chazelle has been on a roll for the last decade, directing and writing many successful projects. Following in the footsteps of modern peers, his latest release is a personal tribute to the western film industry.
Much like Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Babylon takes us back to an ancient yet well preserved time as the moving picture began to take shape. Five aspiring characters, Manny Torres (Diego Calva), Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie), Jack Konrad (Brad Pitt), Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo) and Lady Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li) are all keen to make their mark on showbiz. From the early 1920s to the early 1930s, these plucky film stars find their spark, struggle to adjust to the arrival of sound and get caught up in some dodgy business along the way. For the most part the plot is defined by this timeline; early on, filmmaking is a complete free-for-all with chaotic gatherings in the California desert; Babylon is at its best here as we rapidly cut between directors losing their patience, actors trying to nail a crucial expression and an army of extras getting hurt in a battle scene. We then move to sound production and the endless frustrations in its implementation. Where Babylon goes off the rails is the graphic content in-between; whenever it moves to twisted orgies and drug abuse the production comes to a halt, focusing more on the ugly spectacle and losing its momentum in the process. The plot of Babylon often boils over into complete insanity, but you can’t help but marvel at the decadence on display.
The cast of Babylon is quite large, but we mainly focus on three leads. Manny Torres is the story’s anchor, a simple camera boy captivated by the art form. As he works his way up through the ranks, he conveys the wonder of the silver screen as it advanced through the decades. Nellie LaRoy is a fairly typical part for Margot Robbie; she yearns for success but her personal background and upbringing often causes unstable trouble along the way. Jack Konrad on the other hand is a silent actor who regularly has a new woman round his arm for maximum attention. These performers easily match the over-the-top tone, but this comes at the cost of fellow actors. Sidney Palmer occasionally has some commentary on the attitudes of the time and Lady Fay Zhu’s arc doesn’t really go anywhere. Her climax comes in a ridiculous moment involving a deadly rattlesnake and afterwards she has very little to do. A very strange section for Tobey Maguire also comes out of nowhere towards the end of the film; he embraces it wholeheartedly but it feels too outlandish when compared with the lead characters. Every member of the cast does well in their role, but their individual stories and motivations spill out the side as the narrative races towards the next dose of excess.
Like Whiplash and La La Land before it, Babylon is packed with energised scenes, swinging camerawork and dazzling set design. The exaggerated take on early Hollywood is in full effect and this time Damian Chazelle goes much more over the top with the debauchery and gross-out moments cranked up to the max in the party scenes. Whether it’s an Asian elephant lumbering its way into the main hall or Nellie thoroughly trashing a diner full of rich patrons, the film wears its craziness like a badge of honour. When you take away the disconnect from the main story, the set design, props and costumes are all excellent, perfectly showcasing the more lavish side of the movies. Lively, classical music is constantly tying in with the character emotions while heightening the energy of the sequences. Sidney Palmer’s trumpet leads the charge with a series of brilliant flourishes and the camerawork is equally engaging, often homing in the old cameras and tech used to make early cinema.
Babylon’s brand of vibrant madness is a love letter to film you can’t look away from, even if it does trip over itself with random pacing and underdeveloped characters. The capable directing and lead performances work well enough to carry it through. Some will find themselves swept up in its speed and ludicrous scenarios; others will be left baffled and confused.
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)
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