Babylon

White boys got their “literally me” characters with Patrick Bateman, literally any Ryan Gosling character, or Tyler Durden, but I got Diego Calva as Manny Torres Even though it’s not my birthday anymore (it was yesterday), I haddd to watch something for my birthday just as a comfort thing and nothing seemed more appropriate than diving back into the twisted world of Hollywood in Babylon. This movie is still a masterpiece and I will always hail it as five stars no matter what criticisms come its way. Sure, it’s a bit messy in the editing front, hell, even in the plot. It doesn’t have the most original takes on the parasitic lifestyle that Hollywood imposes on its innocent victims, but my god, does it not pull it off in such a unique style oozing with style and shine. Damien Chazelle has mastered the ability to merge his influences in a style that only you can pin him to, and even then I struggle to believe he pulled off a movie this larger-than-life after blowing up with indie hits like Whiplash and La La Land, RIDICULOUSLY different movies from this. The performances are on point here, too. Margot Robbie brings a top three performance here, and it ain’t three. Brad Pitt also brings his best performance this decade so far and Diego Calva is delightfully captivating in every scene he’s in. And I don’t want to forget my boy Jovan Adepo. He plays the character of Sydney Palmer PERFECTLY and his scene with a… certain makeup choice… is still one of the best in the film. Perfect expression work, was SOO happy to see him nail a role in the new IT show. It will NOT be everyone’s cup of tea, and I’m more than welcome to those opinions (some criticisms are raised that do leave me raising an eyebrow or two at certain scenes) but I cannot be swayed. This is masterful. Still probably the greatest final sequence to a film I have seen maybe ever??? The type of movie that makes you want to make the damn thing. Brilliant in every sense of the word.