Film Review: Babylon

Babylon

Marc Platt Productions, Material Pictures

Paramount Pictures

My Rating 

7/10

#whatonwhatsgood Rating 

74%

#whatonwhatsgood Express Review

Babylon is set during the final years of the silent era of Hollywood.  The movie begins with a party and you slowly are introduced to Manuel Torres (Diego Calva), Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie), Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), and Sidney (Jovan Adepo).

Throughout the film, you learn how these group of characters navigate their way through the changing world of cinema.

Overall, not a bad film.  I think my favourite character is Manuel Torres (Diego Calva).  I particularly enjoyed watching him go from a nobody to a Hollywood studio executive.

Release date

December 25, 2022

Directed by

Damien Chazelle

Written by

Damien Chazelle

Produced by

Olivia Hamilton, Marc Platt and Matt Plouffe

Starring

Brad Pitt as Jack Conrad

Margot Robbie as Nellie LaRoy

Diego Calva as Manny Torres

Jovan Adepo as Sidney Palmer

Li Jun Li as Lady Fay Zhu

Jean Smart as Elinor St. John

Tobey Maguire as James McKay

Cinematography

Linus Sandgren

Edited by

Tom Cross

Music by

Justin Hurwitz

Brad Pitt discusses Babylon at World Premiere

I feel really blessed to be part of this film with these people, and really blessed just to be able to do this, still, to tell stories.  And I think the movie points that out, too, that none of us are important.  It's the community, it's those that come before us.  It's those that come after us. That's what it's all about.

Director Damien Chazelle discusses Babylon at World Premiere 

We packed everything into this movie. So it's a full meal so there's a lot in it.  So I think you're gonna get something different every time you see it. 

It it took a while to assemble the cast. We were casting for about a year and a half, but it was worth it.

It's comedy and tragedy. It's got both in it. 

Today, all over the world, people are feeling like they're in some kind of transition, like the world is changing like technology is changing our lives.

That's what this movie's about. It's about what it feels like to experience that kind of transition

Margot Robbie discusses Babylon at World Premiere

So much happens in this movie. It's such a rush.  It's such an insane ride. You almost can't believe what you're seeing. You're gonna need to see it again, to make sure you really did just see that. 

I've done a lot of stunt-heavy movies in some demanding roles.  But this was a different level. 

You're going to be gobsmacked after seeing this movie. It's just an amazing ride.

Diego Calva discusses Babylon at World Premiere

I think that there's no way to be ready for all this.  It's the greatest experience I ever have had in my life.  Nobody's ready for Babylon.

Jovan Adepo discusses Babylon at World Premiere

We worked really hard on this film. Everybody in the cast with Damien at the head.  I mean, this is a moment like no other. It's a labor of love from all of us.

We all work really hard every day, coming in and trying to do the best for Damian and for the story.

It's been really cool every day on set to come and work hard with a bunch of actors who are super talented. 

Brad Pitt plays Jack Conrad and Diego Calva plays Manny Torres in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Brad Pitt plays Jack Conrad in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Diego Calva plays Manny Torres and Jean Smart plays Elinor St. John in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Director Damien Chazelle on the set of Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Jovan Adepo plays Sidney Palmer in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Li Jun Li plays Lady Fay Zhu in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Lukas Haas plays George Munn and Diego Calva plays Manny Torres in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Margot Robbie plays Nellie LaRoy in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.

Tobey Maguire plays James McKay in Babylon from Paramount Pictures.