Babylon

Damien Chazelle’s Babylon is a classic Hollywood reflection on itself at a pivotal point in its history, chronicling the rise and subsequent fall of a series of characters at different points in the journeys to stardom. It’s a glitz-and-glamor-driven tale focusing on the critical transition of Hollywood from silent films into sound. Chazelle’s film simultaneously captures the desire to do anything to get to the top, and the scramble to stay there when footing starts to slip.

Instead of focusing on the intriguing histories of existing early stars and executives, most characters—like that of the budding starlet Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie), the aging icon Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), and the newcomer production virtuoso Diego Calva (Manny Torres)—are composite characters comprised of elements of early Hollywood stars like Clara Bow, Joanne Crawford, and John Gilbert. Incorporating a series of lavish set pieces, Chazelle guides us along the individual paths of our characters who continue to intersect throughout their careers.

Babylon is a film obsessed with the consistent struggle to stay relevant in a world, and obsessed with the idea of change, though admittedly it doesn’t particularly exhibit much penchant for change or innovation itself. While the last several years have been filled with lament over the death of the cinematic art form, even the golden years of American cinema were occupied by an unstable position in the culture of the country, fighting accusations of debauchery and immortality while trying to muscle into validity and status. In its best moments Babylon is a truly engrossing film and a reminder of the ways in which the medium has enthralled viewers for generations. R, 188 min.

Wide release in theaters

Read More