Babylon Is a Brilliant Mess

Babylon Is a Brilliant Mess | Movie Review

Рет қаралды 53,771

Жыл бұрын

Babylon, the latest film from Whiplash, La La Land and First Man writer/director Damien Chazelle, explores Old Hollywood in all of its glory and decadence. Margot Robbie, Brad Pitt and Diego Calva star in this film that epitomizes the clashing concept of a brilliant mess. Here's my video review. Have you seen Babylon? Let me know in the comments below!
► The Real Old Hollywood Stars That Inspired Babylon (IndieWire): www.indiewire.com/gallery/bab...
► What's Fact and Fiction in Babylon (Slate): slate.com/culture/2022/12/bab...
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Written, Narrated & Edited by J.S. Lewis
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#Babylon #DamienChazelle #MargotRobbie
______________________________________
MUSIC CREDITS:
♪ “Walk Through the Park" - TrackTribe
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Пікірлер: 247

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Babylon Ending Montage | Annotated: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aLapZLt6qZuUoKM.html

@afonsolucas2219 Жыл бұрын

When Manny cried in the end, I too cried. It was overwhelming and I loved being a part of it. A movie that does that... that's something.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I love how he experiences a full spectrum of emotions in that final scene. Calva is incredible in this film.

@malayjoshi225 Жыл бұрын

@David Lynch's Cow I think Robbie stole the show

@hyperballadbradx6486 Жыл бұрын

This 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

@jabroniii3547 Жыл бұрын

😂

@christophertadeo6120 2 ай бұрын

Guess he works in a gas station too😳

@marcc.m.1726 Жыл бұрын

Watching this one in the theatre was truly a fun experience! With little to no CGI, I think the filmmakers made something they could be proud of (despite the movie’s poor box office performance).

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I'm hopeful this one will stand the test of time and get its due someday.

@meropetied Жыл бұрын

Got to see this thing in a theater!

@guyferraro7575 Жыл бұрын

Bizarre.

@lockekappa500 Жыл бұрын

When you win an Oscar, they give you a blank check. This was Damien's chance to make the huge epic he always wanted to, and he knocked it out of the park. This movie didn't need to do well at the box office, and all I can hope is more people get to experience it.

@alexvc23 Жыл бұрын

I watched it yesterday and I am still overwhelmed by it. It blew my mind. I loved it and want to see it again. For me Justin Hurwitz's work will also be on repeat for a while

@delix787 Жыл бұрын

Same! Such a masterpiece. 🤯🤯🤯🤯

@Ryan-mn7gm Жыл бұрын

A lot of the problems people have with this film aren’t necessarily flaws but artistic choices they didn’t agree with. As a craft, this film was well above average. As a story, that’s up to you on wether or not you enjoyed it. There were moments where I cringed and moments where I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen due to amazing performances and breathtaking cinematography. It isn’t as clean as other 3 hour films like apocalypse now, the godfather or the Irishman but it is one of the only “epic” artistic films I’ve seen of late. The final sequence is something out of an experimental film, and I think some of the more vulgar moments could be viewed as an expression of his view on Hollywood at that moment, such as the elephant scene, Margot Robbie cake scene, etc. there were some real lows within this film but also some major highs. All I know is it definitely doesn’t deserve a 50% on rotten tomatoes

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Well said, Ryan. I agree with you for the most part, though I actually think a 50% makes a whole lot of sense for a film like this. It takes big swings, a lot of them in fact, and I'm sure many of them won't work for many people.

@perkristianbroberg Жыл бұрын

I loved this movie. After watching everything everywhere all at once I thought to myself: this is gonna be the movie of the year for me, but then I saw Babylon. It is truly a masterpiece, Justin Hurwitz’s catching music, the cinematography, the characters and the overall experience. For me it was first time I went to the cinema alone (19), and there was like 9 others there, but still Babylon made me feel something special. I couldn’t care less about the other audience. I could av been alone in the room. The amount of details and Intertextuality is incredible. And you get that satisfaction when you are able to catch multiple references. My last year of high school I had this big project where I analyzed La La Land and it’s Intertextuality. After watching a dozen musicals and classic Hollywood movies, you truly begin to admire Damien Chazzeles work. La La Land went from a 9/10 to a solid 10/10 after all the time i put into the movie. I’m telling you guys this because of all the time I spent analyzing La La Land made be understand a lot of Babylons references and it’s tribute to Hollywood. Chazelle is a genius and I can’t wait to see more from him. Before you comment this, let me just excuse my English and the overall flow of this text. I wrote it on my phone and I am not a native English speaker.

@MetroplexBias Жыл бұрын

You speak better English than most Americans lol

@perkristianbroberg Жыл бұрын

@@MetroplexBias I appreciate it!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

@@MetroplexBias Haha, seriously!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience and you're English is great, don't sweat it. I love what you wrote about intertextuality. Chazelle is a deep-fried cinephile and his films are steeped with references. Have you seen FIRST MAN?

@perkristianbroberg Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect not yet, but it is on my to watch list!

@dhritidutta6231 Жыл бұрын

NOW, I understand what Babylon is about... The movie needed better marketing...

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I'm glad this helped.

@Taco1011 Жыл бұрын

I have to be honest, I damn near walked out. I genuinely almost did. But because it was Damian Chazelle, I stayed. And man oh man am I glad I did. It was a chaotic mess, but one of my absolute favorites of last year with a beautiful ending that got me feeling hyped about going to the movies.

@Legault6789 Жыл бұрын

I’ve never once seen a movie that’s made me think about it as much as this one has, I’ve seen it twice in theaters and just want so badly to go see it again. Can’t wait to grab it when it comes out😊

@kyovibe Жыл бұрын

ikr i loved seeing it

@t.williampleasant4240 Жыл бұрын

I feel the exact same way about it. It's one of the best told stories on the big screen. Very visual.And I actually cared for the characters in their individual experiences.

@blakewakan7489 Жыл бұрын

1:24 that transition tho damn

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I’m glad somebody noticed 😅

@sigelsegal2297 Жыл бұрын

At first I felt like the ending fell flat. But after thinking about it for a while this film defines the saying " It's about the journey, not the destination "

@Joselitty Жыл бұрын

Calling this movie a mix of Hail, Caesar and Caligulia is perfect

@marcor7044 Жыл бұрын

I haven´t seen it as Im only 15 and my mom and I decided to trust the canadian 18A rating and wait until Im 18 to watch it. But based on the reactions I have seen even though it´s one of the best of the year already, with time people will call it a masterpiece

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Depending on who you ask, it’s one of the best or one of the worst. In any case, I think it will be worth that wait. I agree with your judgement. Frankly, I was surprised it got away with an R rating here… 👀

@marcor7044 Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect Damn straight, I thought Wolf of Wall Street (also 18A but my parents dont need to know that) and Blonde (rated R in Canada meaning 18 and under are a no-no) would be the most graphic things I´ll see but I guess not

@NicholasVargo Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect Ironically enough, I found an article where Damien Chazelle talked about the opening scene with the elephant and how the only issue he had with the ratings board was the scene that came right after, which I call the “golden shower” scene. Chazelle basically said they have no issue with excrement but have plenty of issue with the other scene. And in that scene, you don’t see much. Just enough to make you either cover your eyes or wince.

@lockekappa500 Жыл бұрын

@@marcor7044 I'd argue Blonde was more disturbing in some of its scenes, but definitely more subtle. Babylon has a sense of showmanship with its debauchery that makes it more palatable than some of the scenes in Blonde.

@jasonfoster3111 Жыл бұрын

I absolutely loved it, the entire concept and stories of all the characters stuck with me. Me and a friend went to see it, actually, and we had the entire theatre to ourselves. The entire time, we were basically giving eachother a verbal analysis of the movie. It was really engaging! I just gave it a rewatch, and I didn't even notice at first the parallels between the first party scene and ending party scene. Give it a rewatch, you'll hear a lot of the same lines, but because of the different tones the effects are different. Brilliant.

@alexanderleutloff1719 Жыл бұрын

I believe this is what it must have felt like to watch a movie like Casino or Goodfellas back in the day. Full of excess and probably a bit too long, but with a raving energy that can only reall be channeled in the cinema It was visceral and also frustrating but it reached an absolutely wonderful conclusion They actually do make them like they used to 🙂

@lockekappa500 Жыл бұрын

It is WILD to think a movie like this could be made in this day and age, where almost no one takes risks on huge blockbuster films. I think that only makes it that much more impressive.

@deepbluesea1887 Жыл бұрын

It seemed like the beginning took place at Hearst Castle. The long road, the cars. I plan to watch it at least 4 more times, as I could not keep up the first!!! Very sad as everyone in life meets their own twilight, this movie brought especially to me that cold feeling?

@jessjess23brooks89 Жыл бұрын

As someone who has been fascinated by the trials and tribulations of silent film stars since I was a girl who discovered TCM, this movie was an absolute gem to me. To see the scenes I imagined stars experience before the Hayes code was thrilling for a true old hollywood cinaphile.

@user-th8qx4tx4y Жыл бұрын

They turned up the lights in the middle of the epilogue, lol I think the people working at the theatre were tired and wanted us to go home. Anyhow, I came out of the theatre not knowing how to feel about the film, which is strangely enough something I liked about it. The butterfly/sunset scene and the journalist-Conrad scene were my favourites. I still don't really know how to process the epilogue's film history collage. Although I understand why it's supposed to be there/what it stands for, I still find it dissonant... a predictable dissonance which keeps on bothering me somehow. There's also a Nellie scene that I found utterly irritating, the one when she's forced to flirt with the snobs... not the situation itself, but rather how it's portrayed. I just felt like it was unnecessarily over the top, even just plain ridiculous. We can argue that it goes along with her character which I totally agree with, but I think they could've made the same argument in a different way. That's the only moment I sort of lost my patience with the film and became aware of the time. I don't think it's an absolute masterpiece, but I'd certainly watch it again.

@mikeyfrederick1232 Жыл бұрын

First, I really enjoy your content sir.. always well-produced and interesting... The Nellie college scene lol... I have not had a movie make me that tense in a very long time..the anger..the sweat.. the absolute infuriating desperation.. when they finally got the clip I stood up on my chair and cheered with them.. We never consider how much work went into making a movie back then...

@davitbaghdasaryan3616 Жыл бұрын

I have been literally listening to babylon soundtrack for 3 days non stop😂after watching the movie

@amjh4lah809 Жыл бұрын

Saw it today. Absolutely loved it. Even more than I thought I would, mainly because of the mixed and negative-ish reviews. Brilliant film.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I’m so glad you were able to see it and loved it. I have a feeling this one will be reevaluated years from now and be considered a misunderstood masterpiece.

@ozymandiasultor9480 Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect That is true...All who think it is bad will change their opinion, I am sure of that.

@AScreenwritersJourney Жыл бұрын

It was in my local theatre for only one weekend and I wasn't able to see it. I look forward to catching it on streaming.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Bummer! Let me know what you think when you get around to seeing it.

@cnmrosko Жыл бұрын

One of the best films I’ve seen with great sound track too. Pretty damn incredibly awesome from beginning to end. Wow!!!

@Tubeflux Жыл бұрын

Hello, I liked it, saw it yesterday. Beautifully shot, reflection on the Hollywood movie history. And at the same time a homage to movies.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Glad you dug it, Duilio. I couldn't agree more.

@burrahobbithalf Жыл бұрын

I agree - it was a wild ride. Though I think it should have been sold and cut as a comedy, and was not enamored of the attempt at a "meaningful" ending, which killed the comic momentum.

@mchirag 11 ай бұрын

thank you for not trying to box Babylon in a 2-bit narrative and just seeing it as it is, a really fun experience with a lot to say.

@MsDgirard Жыл бұрын

Excellent, excellent movie! I immediately favorited the soundtrack on Spotify! I thought Babylon gave us a conglomerate view of Hollywood the way that Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story gave us insight into multiple tragic singers' biopics.

@libelulaojo Жыл бұрын

Thank You Cineflect. I was impressed you listened to and appreciate the soundtrack too. Cheers to your good taste. Babylon is my favorite movie, as is it's soundtrack, my favorite.

@Tadpole909 Жыл бұрын

Was initially keen to catch this in theatres, but after the divisive reviews, I’m not sure I could stomach this intensity for 3 hours straight. So I’ll be waiting to catch it at home. Btw will you be doing a Top 10 Films of 2022 video?

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

That’s fair. Let me know what you think when get a chance to see it. And yes, I plan to have my best films of 2022 list out by the month’s end-though I doubt I’ll be able to keep it just 10…

@marcosg.6535 Жыл бұрын

No friend of mine who saw it at home found it nothing more than tedious. It's really a movie meant to be seen in the theater in all its glory, i myself recognize that i don't want to watch it again on tv, it would be to much of a chore. Take the time, head downtown and put yourself through the event, it pays the price

@nikokaapa Жыл бұрын

6:09 where are the links to these articles?

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Thank you for asking, I've added them to the description!

@martinsorenson1055 11 ай бұрын

It's as if Francis Ford Coppola remade Singin' In The Rain.

@mista_yann462 10 ай бұрын

I loved it. While I can understand why some wouldn't enjoy it, I have a hard time understanding why it got the low reviews it currently has. This was a nice breakdown!

@newhorizon4066 Жыл бұрын

Maybe it would help for Chazelle to take a look at any of Fellini flicks. There are more undercurrents in an undertaking of Hollywood nostalgia than meets the eyes. The Coen bros once came close...

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I'm sure Chazelle has seen them all. The guy's a capital c Cinephile. There's definitely some shades of Fellini in here too, especially 8 1/2 and LA DOLCE VITA.

@newhorizon4066 Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect Well, "has seen them all" is one thing, learning anything at all from said experience is another. I can always put a few grotesque looking characters in my experimental short, in the hope that someone would recognize them as "shades" of Satyricon...

@KidFresh71 Жыл бұрын

Loved this movie- but the middle act meandered and dragged. Alternatively, would like to see Babylon presented in an extended "chapter" style - like Tarantino did with the Hateful Eight.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Yeah, the middle is definitely weakest link of the film, especially following that exhilarating first hour. While I doubt BABYLON would ever get that treatment, I'd love to see it happen too.

@vax31j Жыл бұрын

I thought the movie was an amazing anthology touching on many historical aspects of the time. I also felt cheated with so many parallels to other movies. At the beginning, I kept thinking I'd seen this before. The plot line was sooooo familiar. Then at the end, they had the gall (or openness of full disclosure) to actually show nearly identical clips from "Singing In the Rain." Babylon had too many remake scenes., that quite frankly were not as good. The prolonged barfing scene from "Stand By Me." It was embarrassingly over the top for Margot. Later, essentially the same scene of Margot conniving free entrance to her movie and being enthralled seeing herself on screen from "Once Upon a Time In Hollywood." Brad hit by a car in "Meet Joe Black;" albeit barely winged this time. And one upping "The Artist" by finishing the suicide. Then the snake bite. Margot was more energetic resulting in complete chaos, but Brad had her beat in "Bullet Train." Had I not seen the other movies, "Babylon" would have fresh and 5 stars!

@abel2088 9 ай бұрын

Loved it! Reminds me of Once upon a Time in Hollywood Minus all the over the top Violence lol

@noahlisious7890 Жыл бұрын

I just watched Babylon tonight. It’s one of those movies that I’ll forever not forgive myself for not seeing it in theaters. For every amazing, original, beautiful piece of art like Babylon that fails, it just gives Hollywood another reason to stick to simple, unoriginal, soulless films that they know will make money. So please God forgive me for not seeing it in theaters and I hope we get many, many more films like this

@describedby_3953 Жыл бұрын

I really liked it but just couldn’t really suspend disbelief during the last half hour or so and by the time of the retrospective ending the last half hour had made me too cynical and too desensitized to really respond to the that emotionally. Amazing watching experience but I feel that the ending missed the landing unfortunately.

@calamityjean666 Жыл бұрын

I just came back from the cinema. I'm exhausted and confused but I love it!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's how I felt when I first saw it. I couldn't stop thinking about it and listening to the soundtrack. I went to see it a second time and fell even deeper in love with this film.

@t.williampleasant4240 Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect I had the same response. I equate it to how I fell in love with Star Wars in 1977 at 15 y.o.a. Babylon is my Star Wars at 61🎥😆

@nikokaapa Жыл бұрын

9:23 and "even […] Boogie Nights" there are two big, fat "Boogie Nights" homages in Babylon.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

You're not wrong. I thought of BOOGIE NIGHTS while it was happening 😅

@maggierr8938 Жыл бұрын

what I did it for me was how shocking this movie was. so disturbing, but beautifully so

@joshuathompson3966 Жыл бұрын

I loved this movie so much! its defintely not as good as whiplash or la la land (I havent seen first man) but I thought it was still amazing. I can see how so many wouldnt like this movie. Its not an easily digestible movie and it can definitely feel like a mess if you're not really into it. That being said, I was. Sad it did so bad at the box office but im already excited to see what damien chazelle does next.

@VikTheGreat360 Жыл бұрын

Lmfao I would totally go to that museum with Kenneth Anger

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Same!

@samgold7958 Жыл бұрын

Tempted to see it by this review.. THANKS!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Let me know if you do :)

@baberasta06ify Жыл бұрын

I had the weekend off and early Saturday I watched the film. In the afternoon I also watched Black Panther Wakanda Forever which was great btw, but all throughout I kept thinking I needed to watch Babylon a 2nd time lol. I had a fucking blast with this movie! The cinematography and acting was A1. I loved The Great Gatsby but it was nothing like this. The 3 hours were actually tolerable maybe because I was disgusted and repulsed yet mesmerized and couldn't look away lol. I was shocked in the beginning of the film, laughing in the middle and crying at the end. 👏 Damien Chazelle

@philguzzo Жыл бұрын

It was a maddening mess that I couldn't tear my eyes from. Equal parts frustrating as it was exhilarating.

@thejamnasium6447 Жыл бұрын

I got big time Boogie Nights vibes from Babylon as well. especially during the Tobey Maguire cash handover scene

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

100%

@monicamerle1417 Жыл бұрын

I didn't think Damien had this dark side inside him either. I was also expecting something lighter...even after watching the trailer. "Babylon" is a masterpiece that will be recognised as such in a few years time. The studio fucked it up with the promotion and marketing campaign. This movie should have premiered at Cannes film festival. It's a film that will be more appreciated by Europe film goes. It's a film for film lovers and filmmakers, who are cultured in the history of cinema. It's also a slap in the face to the Hollywood machine and the media, so I'm not surprised it was hated by Hollywood press. What I don't understand is how Damien's peers didn't back up this movie for the award season because in technical categories it's flawless. They'll regret it. The film late release in Argentina had me seeing it last week and again this week. "Babylon" is an experience for the big screen. I saw it twice and may go again. February is lacking in top notch releases and I've already seen some of the "darling crappy Oscar contenders" online for free 😊

@sinshenlong Жыл бұрын

in my top 10 for 2022. This was incredible and just entertaining on a base level.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Same and same!

@JohnMinehan-lx9ts Жыл бұрын

Interestingly, 1926 was the year The (Mostly Silent) Jazz Singer was made . . . .

@martingooding8989 Жыл бұрын

is this a reveiw or an advert?

@keiththompson713 Жыл бұрын

"A brilliant mess" is a perfect description. A movie about the excesses of Old Hollywood, it indulges in too many excesses itself. I think it would be a much better movie if they issued a "non-director's cut", and edited out about a quarter of it's 3 hour length.

@Causeitsells Жыл бұрын

hey cineflect I was wondering if this is a movie I could go see with my mum without it being super awkward since she would like to see it too and was thinking we could both go. what do you think? and thanks for really bloody good film/video essays you're helping me fuel my addiction lol thanks man

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

That's hard to answer without know what you and your mother would find comfortable, especially when watching together. Just know, this film has some very graphic gross-out moments in addition to sex and nudity, especially in the first half hour and the last half hour. Thank you for the kind words :)

@Causeitsells Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect thanks man

@burrahobbithalf Жыл бұрын

Don't go see this with your mother, especially if she's the type that wants to talk about it afterwards.

@phil6904 Жыл бұрын

All I can add is that if you can see this with your mom, and you are both cool with it, then you have a very cool mom. My mom is pretty cool, but I think she’d be pretty shocked by the movie. I loved it though

@donaldkoelper5807 Жыл бұрын

"Brilliant mess" sums up "Babylon" perfectly. It is a frenetic, alluring, exasperating and ultimately exhausting ride, which makes it such a captivating and fun movie to watch. But honestly, it could have benefited from some judicious editing as several extended scenes were rather excessive in length and lingered well beyond their proper shelf life. Personally, I thought its 3-hour running time was about 15-20 minutes too long, and it could have been tightened up a bit. All told, "Babylon" is a good film with an engrossing storyline that flirts occasionally with greatness, while never quite reaching that plateau.

@MsNationaltreasure Жыл бұрын

I have seen it and it was too wild for me it made me feel like they were preaching to me about how Hollywood is and that it's ok because of what they put out for us. Felt like a slap to my face 2/5 for me.

@magnus75damkier Жыл бұрын

It isn't about how that makes it "ok". It's simply that Hollywood produces both glory and demise. Sort of like the city of Babylon.

@JDdr86 Жыл бұрын

It was one of the most euforic experiences in my life.🖤💜💙💚💛🧡♥️❤️♥️🧡💛💚💙

@ashishgokavarapu3582 Жыл бұрын

It’s a freaking masterpiece!!! It was soooooo good ! And I thought everyone loved it when I saw the ratings I realised it was super divisive and realised it wasn’t for everyone..

@sylvaniaboi Жыл бұрын

Watched - it was trash. From the scenes / sequences that are just dumped out, to the scene where they visit someone in a mental hospital, to which the following is said "well that was a waste of time:" yes 189 mins. The whole thing is just terrible - the Hungarian wife smashing plates - why - the rattlesnake - why - and the ending - worse. Terrible.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I knew this film would be polarizing 😬

@oliverford5367 Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect I think it's polarizing because it's so uneven. There's great scenes in it, but the whole is barely coherent. This movie would be better if it picked one of its stories and focused on it

@lonellfletcher Жыл бұрын

Its interesting you say the film and its trailer know exactly what it is because a lot of people online complained that they couldn't tell what the film was about from the trailer and that the marketing was poor, which stunned me. Like, what didn't you get? The trailer and advertising were hardly mysterious.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Yeah, I've seen talk about that too. I thought it sold the premise, style and tone of the film very well.

@lonellfletcher Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect Exactly!!!!!!!!!

@akehaiov 11 ай бұрын

Manny can make a fabulous Gomes Adams... random trough

@larry1824 Жыл бұрын

Pitts walk up the stairs to his doom was epic

@hammertlme Жыл бұрын

Overall I would give the movie a 6.7/10, however there are certain parts that I'd give a 10/10, especially the scene where they're trying to get the sound right in the studio, that scene had me dying laughing.

@kathleenhartnellharper7234 Жыл бұрын

Poor box office = poor word of mouth. Curb the self indulgence , cut the shock value scenes of vomit, poo and extreme decadence. Parts of it were brilliant but the center does not hold.

@oliverford5367 Жыл бұрын

Instead of the elephant poo, they could have done something like had Manny smuggle alcohol to the party. Alcohol was illegal under prohibition, so why not show Manny getting his job by evading police to get some whisky to the party?

@deepbluesea1887 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely Amazing, gets better every time I watch it!!! Have watched about 8 times including last night, and you see so much and grasp the feelings of every character, even “The Count” view after view……

@andrewheaney4874 Жыл бұрын

I personally thought the movie was extremely well-made, with some of the absolute best art direction and score of the entire year, as well as excellent cinematography, sound design, editing, etc, and I actually quite liked Calva’s character and thought he was a likable lead, but I did not enjoy the movie overall. The film from the start just feels like it’s trying to be raunchy like Wolf of Wall Street, but unlike that film where it’s meant to be a cautionary tale, here it looks more like it’s for shock value. I can accept raunchiness to a point but this really crossed it. I also did not like any of the other main characters other than the lead. My rating is a 6/10, which is still a positive rating. If I was rating it for how well-made it is, I’d give it an 8/10, but for personal enjoyment I’d give it a 4/10. My least favorite Damien Chazelle movie, but I’d still recommend it to fans of the director and I might actually still see it again despite my massive problems. Thanks for your review!

@davidasher8718 Жыл бұрын

You, sir, are on drugs

@markbyfield8190 Жыл бұрын

Outstanding.

@jackdaniels2905 Жыл бұрын

I had to force myself to sit down and watch this one because of negative reviews. Man, I was so happy I watched it. It is a wild ride that reminds me of many movies. It seems like the distant cousin of Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Brad Pitt kicks ass yet again. Margot is a true star.

@JohnMinehan-lx9ts Жыл бұрын

Jack Conrad is a John Gilbert expy . . . . ?

@genevievemoore5101 Жыл бұрын

I saw this movie in theaters and for the most part was deeply uncomfortable and bored for three hours. I am not someone who I would consider repressed at all having been to a few similar wild parties myself however I just felt no draw to any of the characters personally. The one aspect that would have redeemed it for me personally would have been the historical and educational aspects but when I read online that it was poorly researched at best I truly felt like I had been robbed of three hours of my life. I felt that it was a spectacle seeking piece of trash movie that led me from one place I didn't want to be to the next. Full of characters I never was given the chance to connect with and scene after scene that was unnecessary and not world building. It was well shot and the acting was not bad but those aspect do not an enjoyable film make.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Thanks for weighing in. If you can't get behind the characters, it's hard to get behind the film. P.S. Can you invite me to some of those parties?

@petergardner3985 Жыл бұрын

The best review i have seen on youtube

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Thank so much, Peter!

@FoodforThought12345678dsds Жыл бұрын

anyone think the main music theme reminds them of indian One pound fish song?

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I had to look that up. Haha, what a music video. I don't hear the similarity though.

@sjelliott6660 Жыл бұрын

The Lobster is the most recent great movie I can recall being made.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I love THE LOBSTER. I have a video essay on it here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aplgiqZ0uJaulJs.html

@misjathecinemalover Жыл бұрын

I haven’t seen First Man, but I think I can safely say that all of his movies are masterpieces and that they should be experienced by everyone. Even Babylon, which is at number #3 in my ranking, is still a 9/10 and an absolute blast to watch. Whiplash sits at #2, and La La Land at #1, but that doesn’t mean anything because they’re all amazing and I know from deep down in my heart that Chazelle is gonna have a bright career in the future.

@delix787 Жыл бұрын

What a masterpiece film!! 🗣🗣🗣🎬🎬🎬

@JeffreyDeCristofaro 11 ай бұрын

I definitely enjoyed this one!! It's a masterpiece!!! Hopefully it will be inducted into the Criterion Collection!!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Have you seen BABYLON? Let me know what you thought of the film!

@orhanamin1347 Жыл бұрын

Nah, I'm too busy to see M3GAN!!

@reixx-_- Жыл бұрын

it was İNCREDİBLE

@renee6524 Жыл бұрын

Loved it. Interesting characters feels like a big party and felt like I was living it as I watched it. Amazing score.

@withered1453 Жыл бұрын

Babylon was great. If it was cut by maybe a half hour it could’ve probably contested with whiplash and La La Land. But overall it was a fun time and was not the play bringing my mother to watch it. Also the music was incredible, Hurwitz better not get snubbed

@Langston42 Жыл бұрын

Really liked this movie, I saw it twice and I plan to rewatch it probably a couple times a year. I always find myself drawn to secondary/background characters so Lady Faye/Sydney's stories really grabbed me. On the negative side, one thing that made me step out of the experience and go "... hmm." were Ellie in the bathroom overhearing the party-goers bag on her and her father (because it feels almost a 1 to 1 to a similar scene in La La Land) and parts of the score also brush against some similar motifs used in the same. Of all of the standout scenes the one were Pitt's character confronts the film critic and she lays out the big picture for him that resonates with his monolog to Manny in the beginning, but grounded in a very stark realism, punctuated with his almost defeated "... thank you for that." juxtaposing his characters optimism and bravado is in my top 10 favorite scenes of all time.

@sasazivanovic777 Жыл бұрын

Is this La Dolce Vita with Special Effects?

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Sure, why not XD

@petergardner3985 Жыл бұрын

Amazing movie, an experience masterpiece

@oliverford5367 Жыл бұрын

It needed focus. Unfocused ensembles are just not as powerful. Jack and Nellie are the same character, silent stars who can't move to talkies well. I'd have focused on Nellie and Manny's relationship, and had Pitt play Chairman Hays who censored Hollywood. Hays wants Manny to get rid of Nellie as part of his drive to clean up movies. But if your film is a mix of over 5 subplots, you don't have a story. There's two or three good movies in this, they needed to pick one.

@thomasdubuis3844 Жыл бұрын

Love it or hate it is worth watching

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

Amen to that.

@ldmrod27 Жыл бұрын

A MASTERPIECE

@Jack_Dab Жыл бұрын

saw it yesterday thought it was a 2023 movier, put it close if not better than avatar. amazing movie

@marcus_ohreallyus Жыл бұрын

It's a movie about indulgence made indulgently. If you accept that before watching it, you may enjoy it. I sure did.

@UndeadRising18 Жыл бұрын

a great experience watching it the day it came out. at the end it really makes you appreciate art and the mark it made in its time. how the world around you can be so superficial and how easy you can be exploited. i was very sad to see the ratings its getting as the themes are magnificent

@jackjones8363 Жыл бұрын

When critics say they watched it over a week, they shouldn’t be allowed an opinion. Unique film and so entertaining! Everyone was great… what an era it must have been for the stars of that time…wow!

@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy Жыл бұрын

Excellent film.

@netsR0T Жыл бұрын

Quite frankly: Is that film no. 10 Tarantino didn't do? Would be great if the iconoclastic eclectic would save us from his last movie, just declaring that he is godfather to Babylon - and turn it into a "financial success". A late exec producer, maybe?

@africanchina1 Жыл бұрын

This movie was a MASTERPIECE!!!

@ricsalas7310 Жыл бұрын

Masterpiece!!!!!!

@bardo677 Жыл бұрын

I couldn't get into lala land. I think I managed to watch as far as the bench scene

@KW-ov2dv Жыл бұрын

Severely underrated film

@nowthatscinema7410 Жыл бұрын

Movie of the year!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

It's definitely up there for me too.

@poetitlan9768 Жыл бұрын

I saw this on a flight from Frankfurt to Mexico City. I can see why it wasn't well received, but I don't think it's a bad movie....I actually enjoyed it and found it interesting. It is obvious to me that it's a film made by a filmmaker that loves film making and finds a particular era of his industry interesting. It's an exploration of a wild era of Hollywood, and not meant to be a comfortable watch because that era wasn't comfortable for anyone. So that alone is interesting, because it makes you feel part of this world. You don't belong, it's uncomfortable, and everyone else here feels that same. It's a movie for cinephiles, I really enjoyed and def wan to watch it again.

@snoopz8144 11 ай бұрын

Such an overhated movie

@cineflect 11 ай бұрын

Truly.

@zandanshah Жыл бұрын

One good movie.

@sortehuse Жыл бұрын

It was brilliant in places and messy in places. It was just way too long and it lost focus toward the end.

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

I don't disagree with any of that. The final sequence took my breath away though.

@sortehuse Жыл бұрын

@@cineflect I enjoyed that as well. The most recent clip in the sequence showed a good sense of humor.

@tonyroyal8449 Жыл бұрын

This shit was a MASTERPIECE PERIOD!

@cineflect Жыл бұрын

💩🥇

@treasey8655 Жыл бұрын

IT'S NOT UNFOCUSED

@tammyr1489 Жыл бұрын

Love this movie. Don’t get the hate.

@NicholasVargo Жыл бұрын

Babylon is a movie that I’m proud to say I’ve seen five times in the theater. And while I don’t think it’s the best movie of the year, it is still a sensational movie. When people wonder why all movies need to be seen on the big screen, this is the perfect argument for it. It’s a three hour roller coaster that puts every superhero movie (Save for The Dark Knight) to absolutely shame. I walked out of the theater totally blown away. Like many have echoed, I didn’t think Chazelle had it in him to make this movie, and I’m so glad he did. In theaters, there was an intro with Margot Robbie and Diego Calva saying how glad they were that we were there seeing it in “a theater with an energized crowd.” Save for one screening, which I saw it with about 30 people around me, all of my other screenings were sparsely attended (In fact, in one of them I was the only one in the theater). I still say people missed out on this in theaters, and I would love to see it in a 35mm print (Nothing like seeing a movie projected on film). It’s a great movie, and is #6 on my Best Films of the Year list. Oh yes, and I can’t agree more about the score. It’s the most addictive music I’ve heard in a long time!