Babylon (2022), an American epic period black comedy-drama. Written and directed by Damien Chazelle. Chazelle described the film in one sentence, "A hate letter to Hollywood and a love letter to movies.”
Damien Chazelle's spectacle Babylon transports cinema lovers back to the 1920s. The story takes place in Los Angeles as audiences uncover a secret world of decadence, freedom and chaos as Hollywood transitions from silent to sound films.
The film chronicles the rise and fall of multiple characters with a central focus on Margot Robbie’s Nellie LaRoy, inspired by the very real Clara Bow. Exploring the destructive nature of stardom and the toll it takes on individuals, especially those who quickly get whisked into the lifestyle and expectations of fame.
Babylon's budget was reportedly $110 million with a box office total of $63 million, ultimately making Babylon a flop. The films extreme scenes of excess and gluttony were accused of being too gratuitous for audiences, even when considering Babylon was purposely constructed as an unforgiving pitch-black satirical comedy. Director Chazelle had total creative freedom and chose not to hold back when shocking audiences.
Babylon is an explosion of creativity and nothing shy of entertaining, with brash characters and spectacular use of cinematography Babylon is a vision. Although overwhelming to the eye and a little chaotic, this film showcases every flaw and fascination within Hollywood. As an audience, we witness the unseen backrooms of stardom and the mouth watering opulence of movie star parties and romances.
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