Babylon

I think this movie might have cult following someday, even when I originally saw it in theaters I could not understand why it was such a flop. and I still can't. of course, even back then, when franky, I was not very savy as far as understanding films goes (not that now I'm very good lol) I could see it overstayed it's welcome, and was too long for it's own good, something I also felt rewatching the movie, feeling like it would do well to only have 20-30 more minutes to wrap everything up by the two hour mark, where the film felt like it already told it's story, and I do think the third act should have been handled better and is the worst part of the movie, though I did gain a lot more love for it this time around, mostly because the last time I didn't catch the similarities between Mckay's party with the party at the beginning of the film (already said I was pretty bad on that front). and I certainly see why the ending is as controversial as it is, however, even understanding and agreeing to some level with all of these things, I still can't take my eyes or ears away, and am left with no choice but sitting in awe in front of such an incredible work of art. so, so many things about this film are truly outstanding, the acting is nothing short of incredible, and it's clear the internet got the wrong movie in which Margot Robbie was snubbed for best actress, and there are frankly so many aspects in which the film excells to a level barely any others could. for me, this film is the epitome of Chazelle's filmmaking abilities. Everything from the editing, which is no doubt the best I've seen in a movie, to the cinematography or the writing or the use of music or a thousand and one other things that really show this man is one of the most talented people in hollywood (which, ironically, could've suffered the same fate as the characters in this film BECAUSE of it). seeing every main character get their dream come true in hollywood, but also how that also took everything away from them, making it clear just how incredibly dark it can be was truly incredible, which is why I can see the point of the criticism of the ending glorifing the industry that destroyed all those lives instead of being cynical, a criticism I certainly agree with to a point, but at the same time I can't stop myself from feeling like what I watched is magical, and that what gives the ending credibility in my opinion, even though in full honestly, in full contrast to the one in La La Land, the montage in this film really didn't make me feel much, and something it in didn't really work for me, hence why this film is 4.5 stars and not 5 out of 5. However, where it did work for me, especially so was in the first act, when we see the two film sets at the same time. for me, that sequence is the best part of the movie, and if that alone was the entire film I'd still be happy. seeing all of the horrible things happening on Conrad's set, the absolute chaos on Nellie's and all of the shitty things happening behind the scenes only to finish it up in the most epic way, when they are able to film that one shot of Conrad and everybody screams in happiness, and as a viewer I could sense their happiness and amazement of what they just created, the way they made something that might really impact people, and so in that moment I truly felt like Danny De Vito in a movie theater. So honestly, on all it's problems, there really is not enough praise in the world I could give this film and it would be enough.