Babylon had some moments that were better than every other movie I've seen this year, they just needed to cut it down about 20 minutes. It's all about hollywood and the beauty of filmmaking and it gets a little too big for its britches in some places, leading to some unfortunate self-seriousness. The whole thing is apparently a tragic rewrite of Singin' in the Rain and the technical accomplishment on display in this film is astounding. The first hour is all-time great, truly, deeply moving as well as visually astounding. The question when walking out of the theater is whether the sublime moments outweigh the unnecessary length. It's crazy for some random guy to give notes to maybe the most successful 37-year-old director in history but (who cares) he needs a trusted editor who he'll let make some cuts. All the pieces of a classic are there, but unfortunately the fluff distracts. We need like a studio cut for this movie lol.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Amsterdam
(2022)
Excellently composed, creative and yet familiar
5 January 2023
This movie starts out with exactly the energy that it maintains throughout. It weaves a multi-dimensional story in such an elegant and novel way-moving through time and space using a combination of old-school cutaways as well as deeply creative theatrical blocking and musical interlude. The shots are spectacular, the acting is fantastic. The characters really shine. Robbie, Bale, De Niro, Washington, Meyers, Malik, and Olyphant are knock outs. Honorable mention to Taylor Swift, I thought her role might be a gimmicky but she actually nailed it. I am sad that this movie is receiving negative reviews, I wish more projects like this would be encouraged. But I am glad it did get made and that I watched it!
The Menu
(2022)
Really fun and conceptually fresh and clever!
28 November 2022
This movie was an exciting ride from beginning to end. The script is well written and provides laughs, scares, and emotional depth with a dramatic but also weirdly subtle touch. Apart from a few character archetypes that were a little on the nose (thinking specifically of the rich bros and sycophantic magazine owner/editor), the story's larger metaphor is cohesive and plays out very entertainingly (and unexpectedly). If you're on the fence about seeing this movie, what I would say is that it is not an Oscar winner, but it is also not trying to be, it stands out for its fresh voice, exciting storytelling, and metaphorical cohesiveness. I'm a fan and I look forward to seeing the director's future work! Go see it!
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