Babylon Is a Brilliant Mess | Movie Review

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....
► What's Fact and Fiction in Babylon (Slate): slate.com/cult...
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Written, Narrated & Edited by J.S. Lewis
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#Babylon #DamienChazelle #MargotRobbie
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MUSIC CREDITS:
♪ “Walk Through the Park" - TrackTribe
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[@cineflect]

Babylon Ending Montage | Annotated: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIHcYot_eZpjptE

[@afonsolucas2219]

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]

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

[@malayjoshi225]

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

[@hyperballadbradx6486]

This 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@jabroniii3547]

😂

[@christophertadeo6120]

Guess he works in a gas station too😳

[@marcc.m.1726]

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]

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

[@meropetied]

Got to see this thing in a theater!

[@guyferraro7575]

Bizarre.

[@lockekappa500]

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]

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]

Same! Such a masterpiece. 🤯🤯🤯🤯

[@Ryan-mn7gm]

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]

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.

[@dhritidutta6231]

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

[@cineflect]

I'm glad this helped.

[@perkristianbroberg]

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]

You speak better English than most Americans lol

[@perkristianbroberg]

@@MetroplexBias I appreciate it!

[@cineflect]

@@MetroplexBias Haha, seriously!

[@cineflect]

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]

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

[@Taco1011]

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.

[@blakewakan7489]

1:24 that transition tho damn

[@cineflect]

I’m glad somebody noticed 😅

[@sigelsegal2297]

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 "

[@Legault6789]

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]

ikr i loved seeing it

[@t.williampleasant4240]

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.

[@Joselitty]

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

[@jessjess23brooks89]

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.

[@marcor7044]

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]

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]

@@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]

@@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]

@@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]

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.

[@mchirag]

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.

[@alexanderleutloff1719]

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]

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.

[@amjh4lah809]

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]

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]

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

[@deepbluesea1887]

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?

[@user-th8qx4tx4y]

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.

[@davitbaghdasaryan3616]

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

[@cnmrosko]

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

[@noahlisious7890]

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

[@burrahobbithalf]

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.

[@mista_yann462]

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!

[@KidFresh71]

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]

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.

[@cineflect]

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

[@orhanamin1347]

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

[@reixx-_-]

it was İNCREDİBLE

[@renee6524]

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

[@withered1453]

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]

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.

[@newhorizon4066]

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]

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]

@@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...

[@kathleenhartnellharper7234]

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]

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?

[@describedby_3953]

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.

[@Tubeflux]

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]

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

[@vax31j]

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!

[@calamityjean666]

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

[@cineflect]

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]

@@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🎥😆

[@AScreenwritersJourney]

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]

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

[@martinsorenson1055]

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

[@mikeyfrederick1232]

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...

[@monicamerle1417]

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 😊

[@libelulaojo]

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.

[@sylvaniaboi]

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]

I knew this film would be polarizing 😬

[@oliverford5367]

@@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

[@donaldkoelper5807]

"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.

[@NicholasVargo]

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!

[@philguzzo]

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

[@nikokaapa]

6:09 where are the links to these articles?

[@cineflect]

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

[@maggierr8938]

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

[@keiththompson713]

"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.

[@MsNationaltreasure]

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]

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.

[@nikokaapa]

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

[@cineflect]

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

[@ashishgokavarapu3582]

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..

[@andrewheaney4874]

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]

You, sir, are on drugs

[@baberasta06ify]

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

[@thejamnasium6447]

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

[@cineflect]

100%

[@Tadpole909]

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]

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]

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

[@genevievemoore5101]

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]

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?

[@lonellfletcher]

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]

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

[@lonellfletcher]

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

[@ydiotboi]

Watched it yesterday. What a beautiful journey. Turned off the TV, Thought about it like 15 mins until fall asleep. Woke up..damn the movie was gooood.

[@cineflect]

Welcome to the Babylon hive. I just uploaded an annotated version of that ending montage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIHcYot_eZpjptE

[@joshuathompson3966]

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.

[@jackdaniels2905]

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.

[@MsDgirard]

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.

[@VikTheGreat360]

Lmfao I would totally go to that museum with Kenneth Anger

[@cineflect]

Same!

[@JDdr86]

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

[@hammertlme]

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.

[@misjathecinemalover]

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.

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

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

[@abel2088]

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

[@larry1824]

Pitts walk up the stairs to his doom was epic

[@oliverford5367]

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.

[@akehaiov]

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

[@jackjones8363]

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!

[@thomasdubuis3844]

Love it or hate it is worth watching

[@cineflect]

Amen to that.

[@marcus_ohreallyus]

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

[@yelenam8176]

EPIC FILM! Not sure why this movie was so misunderstood and low rated. To me it was one of those masterpieces that will go down in history! Absolutely loved it! Fantastic cast, acting, cinematography, stage design. A story about magic and harsh realities of majestic, dirty, inspiring, tragic, unforgiving Hollywood. Bras Pitt, Margot Robbie and Diego Calva did an excellent job at portraying their characters! I cant believe it didn't get more awards! I feel like this film made a lot of Hollywood feel uncomfortable with its honesty, exposing the underbelly and the tragedy of what we see as glamorous and dreamy. Highly recommend to watch!

[@petergardner3985]

Amazing movie, an experience masterpiece

[@netsR0T]

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?

[@martingooding8989]

is this a reveiw or an advert?

[@sjelliott6660]

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

[@cineflect]

I love THE LOBSTER. I have a video essay on it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/amSTiHZ5iJV9msk

[@sinshenlong]

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

[@cineflect]

Same and same!

[@deepbluesea1887]

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……

[@JeffreyDeCristofaro]

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

[@ldmrod27]

A MASTERPIECE

[@sortehuse]

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

[@cineflect]

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

[@sortehuse]

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

[@JohnMinehan-lx9ts]

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

[@poetitlan9768]

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.

[@ThatsJustMyBabyDaddy]

Excellent film.

[@delix787]

What a masterpiece film!! 🗣🗣🗣🎬🎬🎬

[@Jack_Dab]

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

[@samgold7958]

Tempted to see it by this review.. THANKS!

[@cineflect]

Let me know if you do :)

[@Causeitsells]

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]

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]

@@cineflect thanks man

[@burrahobbithalf]

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

[@phil6904]

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

[@KW-ov2dv]

Severely underrated film

[@dogtrainer4645]

This is a summary of the movie. Not a review.

[@snoopz8144]

Such an overhated movie

[@cineflect]

Truly.

[@treasey8655]

IT'S NOT UNFOCUSED

[@africanchina1]

This movie was a MASTERPIECE!!!

[@tammyr1489]

Love this movie. Don’t get the hate.

[@sasazivanovic777]

Is this La Dolce Vita with Special Effects?

[@cineflect]

Sure, why not XD

[@nowthatscinema7410]

Movie of the year!

[@cineflect]

It's definitely up there for me too.

[@Milksteak616]

This film did not deserve the hate it got. It’s not Chazelle’s best film but it was definitely a great movie!

[@markbyfield8190]

Outstanding.

[@mustafaal-qaseer7279]

This movie makes you feel everything! Maybe many don't like it because it exposes a lot, well maybe we need to get reminded of some annoying facts once in a while.

[@RedJet-bq6fq]

Absolutely robbed for Original Score, Production Design was great too all things considered

[@TheRealDarrylStrawberry]

i dont understand the hate for this movie. I loved it.