Babylon

I love Babylon. Damien Chazelle’s love letter to cinema is everything I cherish about the world of movies. Movies are messy, bold, chaotic, and deeply human. It’s an absolute masterpiece that celebrates the birth of Hollywood displaying both the glamor and haunting darkness behind the curtains. Babylon throws you into a world of drugs, sex, parties, and the chaos of an industry full of change. The vulgarity is not uncalled for, it’s essential. If the film’s excess upsets you, that’s the point. Early Hollywood was infamous for this kind of degeneracy. Chazelle doesn’t just expose the glamor, he pulls back the curtain revealing a dark, but transparent visual of Hollywood. The movie even draws from real events and scandals, including the brutal transition from silent films to talkies. The film’s exaggeration helps create a dark, but often hilarious comedy. The soundstage meltdown scene with Margot Robbie was perfect and one of my favorite scenes. Chazelle makes you laugh so the emotional weight is more impactful. This blend of humor and tragedy makes the film’s emotional tone way more effective. Chazelle’s direction never loses control. The camera spins and follows the energy of the movie. The design and color of the movie immerse you into the 1920s Hollywood world. And have I mentioned how good Justin Hurwitz’s score is? Truly an underrated composer and I absolutely love the soundtrack here just like I did in La La Land. It’s beautiful, but also haunting, and it perfectly compliments the themes of the movie. The performances were outstanding. Brad Pitt’s character was probably my favorite performance by him. Margot Robbie is gorgeous and dazzling. Diego Calva manages to bring it all together. Like I said, there’s a perfect blend of comedy and tragedy, and these actors understood their role in that. The film balances its glamor with deeply human stories especially through characters like Sidney Palmer whose story adds emotional depth. The introduction of Technicolor symbolizes change, complicating the careers of actors. Many characters were inspired by real life actors who struggled to survive the reality of Hollywood. The story reaches a heart breaking climax without feeling forced. The final montage is a tribute to cinema and to immortalize those who give their life to this industry. Their devotion might be forgotten in their own time, but will be experienced and enjoyed by generations to come. Babylon is flawed and unapologetically vulgar, but that’s its core. It’s a passionate letter to the power of cinema: the beauty, the flaws, and the dream. If you only look for polish and perfection, you lose the messiness that makes it human. This film reminds me why I watch movies in the first place, and that’s beautiful. Easily one of my favorite films and I will cherish it.