Babylon USA

In 1920s Los Angeles, a sprawling ambition to create a new form of entertainment called "the movies" leads to a decadent, tragic, and ultimately doomed era of Hollywood history. The film chronicles the rise and fall of ambitious individuals, showcasing the unbridled excess and ruthless ambition that defined the early days of the film industry. It's a chaotic, drug-fueled, and often brutal look at the birth of a dream factory, exploring the human cost of chasing stardom and artistic fulfillment.

Babylon received generally mixed to positive reviews from critics, who praised its ambition, visual spectacle, and performances, particularly from Margot Robbie. However, many found its excessive runtime and unrelenting depiction of debauchery to be overwhelming and gratuitous, leading to divisive opinions on its artistic merit and narrative coherence. Audiences were similarly split, with some embracing its audacious scale and others put off by its controversial content.

• Praised for its dazzling visuals, ambitious scope, and electrifying performances, especially from Margot Robbie.

• Criticized by some for its excessive length and relentless portrayal of decadence, which was deemed overwhelming.

• Divisive for its bold, often shocking exploration of early Hollywood's dark side.

Google audience: Google users largely appreciated the film's stunning visuals and the powerhouse performances from its lead actors. However, many found the nearly three-hour runtime to be excessive and the explicit content to be gratuitous, leading to a polarized reception.

Nominated for 3 Academy Awards (Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design) and 5 Golden Globe Awards (including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy).

The film's director, Damien Chazelle, originally envisioned 'Babylon' as his first feature film after 'Whiplash,' but struggled to get it greenlit due to its large scale and controversial subject matter, eventually making 'La La Land' and 'First Man' first.