Babylon - Movie Review

In ‘Babylon’ we explore the world of 1920s Hollywood which is as fascinating as its dark side, shedding light on Nellie LaRoy, Manny Torres, and Jack Conrad. In the field of film, their grand ambitions and the moving culture of promiscuous vulgarity of film making weave the vast and complex story in the film. It is a story of fathers and sons, and, to an extent of sons and fathers coming undone as this ensemble gets caught up in the machinery of the movie industry established around the creative act of filmmaking. This work contrasts the glamour of success with its disastrous consequences and the question of achievement as well as passion and vices of the art figure. The mood is both sensationalistically hedonistic, and thematically melancholic; it encapsulates the beauty in both success and decline. On the gender front, Robbie completely delivers as Nellie, a risky and unapologetically greedy character, and Calva as Manny is credible and realistically passionate. Steve’s performance of the character, Jack, which is a male lead whose career is fading with time, has elements of charm and despair. Every character is portrayed fully and once again, Hollywood’s quirkiness hits different notes in each character.

The movie direction is by Damien Chazelle, who provides both opulence and depth to the scenes. His direction also tries to achieve the spirit of the glamorous anarchy of the 1920s Hollywood while giving the audience the feel of the decadent chaos that was Hollywood in the 20’s.

The songs and music also reflect the energy of the movie; jazzy and fun, which accentuates the vive of a wild Hollywood in the 1920s. The music also rises and falls with it while making the joyous sequences in the movie as well as the thoughtful ones majestic.

It’s cinematic in its visual style, grand and flashy and sometimes gritty in its portrayal of 1920s film industry. Everything is beautifully shot, from astounded parties to personal character study; the glamour of the show’s period is captured in vibrant cinematic strokes.

The production is as well designed as it could be: the 1920 Hollywood element is depicted with highly accurate detail. In this grand film, excessive does not equal excess, as non-linear imagery and creative costuming return the audience to a time of excess.

Special effects are moderately employed and add to the film’s showier scenes while not overpowering the plot. They build upon the fabulous dimension of the story that contributes to the aspect of the movie’s glamour and opulence.

A complex combination of narrative strands is successfully narrated by editing that brings a comprehensible flow of the film. Nevertheless, at some point, the flow of the events presented can be somewhat slow and affect the pace. However, it consistently holds the viewer’s attention for most of its runtime mainly due to the strong narrative and well-developed characters.

The dialogue in ‘Babylon’ is very intelligent and provocative, it sets the atmosphere of the motion picture while telling the characters’ major spiritual crisis. It provides both the humor and sadness of the characters, making them believable in the midst of the movie’s opulence.

Nevertheless, the story of ‘Babylon’ is as ambitious as the movie itself where grandeur overwhelms the substance at times. There are pacing problems that take away from the movie’s overall potency and render certain sequences less about profundity and more about perfunctory tedium.

‘Babylon’ is a decadent journey through the glory and decadence of Tinseltown’s golden age. Though its themes of egos and decadence in 1920s CA are intriguing for the modern viewer, it is the beauty of the movie, both in visuals and performances that dazzles and makes you think. Overall, one may note certain flaws in the pacing of the picture, but then in conclusion, the film really leaves a distinct thought which makes people think over their successes and the essence of their successful fame.