It took me awhile to find a three plus hour window to check out Damian Chazelle’s latest film. I am glad I found the time and more than a little pleased that I had the theater to myself once again! The few patrons there were on their way to “Avatar” which will have to wait for me. That needs IMAX I think.
Back to “Babylon”. I loved this film but I expect some to disagree. It’s not for everyone. Chazelle previously directed and wrote both “Whiplash” and “La La Land”, both beautiful films.
He delivers his screenplay marvelously here with a terrific cast led by Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie. To say that some of the scenes are over the top is to put it mildly. The timeframe is 1926 to 1932, an era of tremendous change and chaos in the movie business. Silent films were shown coast to coast to the delight of audiences. Buster Keaton, Mary Pickford and Harold Lloyd were stars and while the films were silent they were accompanied by live piano, organ, and sometimes full orchestras.
Along came “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson in 1927 and silent films became practically an instant bygone era. It incorporated an onscreen musical score and lip synchronized speaking and singing.
“Babylon” takes us through the lavish and sometimes scandalous behavior in the industry and the inherent difficulties in transitioning to the new rules of the game. Pitt and Robbie are terrific in their roles and they are ably supported by the uber talented Jean Smart as a gossip columnist, Diego Calva as a wannabe movie man, and Jovan Adepo (who played opposite Denzel Washington and Viola Davis in “Fences’), as a gifted trumpet player and orchestra leader.
The movie is beautifully filmed and captures the craziness of the silent film production process particularly when shooting scenes of battle with hundreds of extras.
I recall going to Radio City Music Hall back in the 1990’s to see Abel Gance’s “Napoleon”, an epic silent film launched right at the time the “talkies” entered the market. Gance’s masterpiece hardly got a look as a result. His technique required elaborate filming so that he could play three separate projectors synchronized on three side by side screens while a full orchestra played the score. Francis Ford Coppola’s father, Carmine Coppola, directed the orchestra. It was an amazing accomplishment but premiered in Paris one month “after” the “Jazz Singer”
If you love movies and the history of filmmaking you will likely enjoy this one. While a little over three hours it didn’t feel that long and I was fully entertained throughout. Look for it to get some attention come Oscar time.
