Babylon
Babylon

Babylon

2022Movie189 minEnglish

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, tracing the rise and fall of multiple characters in an era of unbridled decadence and depravity during Hollywood's transition from silent films to sound films in the late 1920s.

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Insights

IMDb7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes56%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users72%
Director: Damien ChazelleGenres: Comedy, Drama, History

Plot Summary

In 1920s Los Angeles, a sprawling ensemble of ambitious, larger-than-life characters navigates the transition from silent films to "talkies." Amidst decadent parties and unchecked excess, stars and industry hopefuls alike experience the exhilaration and the devastating consequences of Hollywood's golden age. The film chronicles their rise and fall, ambition and sacrifice, and the intoxicating, destructive nature of fame.

Critical Reception

Babylon received mixed to positive reviews from critics, with many praising its ambitious scope, dazzling visuals, and energetic performances, particularly from Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. However, some critics found its length, excessive nature, and chaotic narrative overwhelming and lacking substance. Audiences were more divided, with some appreciating its audacious style and others finding it gratuitous and excessive.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visual spectacle and energetic direction.
  • Lauded for compelling performances, especially from its lead actors.
  • Criticized by some for its excessive runtime and over-the-top, chaotic storytelling.

Google audience: Google users generally appreciated the film's ambitious scale and visual flair, with many highlighting the performances as a strong point. However, a significant portion of viewers found the movie to be overly long and gratuitous, with its relentless depiction of excess proving to be a turn-off for some.

Awards & Accolades

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).

Fun Fact

The iconic, ear-splitting trumpet sound effect used for the transition to "talkies" in the film was created by deliberately overloading and distorting a microphone during recording.

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My Review

TMDB Reviews

5 reviews
tmdb55527033

tmdb55527033

_Babylon_ is a visually stunning and stylish film with it’s share of pros and cons. On the one hand, the performances by Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie were outstanding. They truly brought their characters to life and added depth to the story....
JPV852

JPV852

Some great production and costume designs and the performance from Margot Robbie was great while Brad Pitt was good but seen better from him, and the opening 30 minutes were wild but otherwise this was far too long and nothing terribly memo...
CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

It's a sort of triptych of stories of Hollywood, this. A tale that starts off with all the excesses and hedonism of the cocaine fuelled, sexually lascivious antics where even an elephant isn't too much for a party hosted by a movie mogul. I...
Nathan

Nathan

Babylon is debauchery at its finest. It encapsulates an era like no other and dares to be so different, yet so appealing. On the surface this film is a very straightforward plot, following our three leads and their attempts at success in th...
Chris Sawin

Chris Sawin

A fecal, anal honking, and vomit-infused tale revolving around orgy-driven slaphappiness and punchdrunk intoxication as the silent movie era disjointedly stumbled into sound and talkies. Channeling the likes of Michel Hazanavicius’ _The Art...