Good Morning Lovelies,
It’s time to head back to the roaring 30s, with director Damien Chazelle’s epic Babylon. Starring Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt, the film tells the tale of how those who want to make it big will do anything to get on screen.
Sending audiences soaring into the action, the film opens at a party. An over the top one that lasts for 45 minutes and never ends. Full of sex, drugs and more jazz than rock and roll, it is a golden age delight from Chazelle and his cast. Before the fall inevitably happens.
Robbie’s Nellie’s tears reflect a lot. From the high moments launching her career to the darkness of Pitt’s Jack coming to an end. No character seems to know what Hollywood is going to throw at them and none of them ever seem prepared for the journey. Chazelle has captured the beauty of filmmaking with the heartbreak of how society embraces people, yet when they have had enough, spits them out again.
The film is not all glitz and glam. There are many moments where it seems like what you are witnessing could have been cut out. Especially when the film comes in at over three hours. However, it is an important and interesting watch no less.
Cast and script are the real winners here. No one is made to not be dramatic and this ultimately wins them the award nominations. Both on and off screen. Chazelle knows how to capture the beauty of the film world and he has obviously done it again here.
3 Stars
Joey X