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Babylon

Babylon

  • Status: Released
  • 22-12-2022
  • Runtime: 189 min
  • Score: 7.377
  • Vote count: 3405

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, tracing the rise and fall of multiple characters in an era of unbridled decadence and depravity during Hollywood's transition from silent films to sound films in the late 1920s.

Diego Calva

Manny Torres

Margot Robbie

Nellie LaRoy

Brad Pitt

Jack Conrad

Jovan Adepo

Sidney Palmer

Jean Smart

Elinor St. John

J.C. Currais

Truck Driver

Jimmy Ortega

Elephant Wrangler

Marcos A. Ferraez

Police Officer

Shane Powers

Dale

Phoebe Tonkin

Jane Thornton

Troy Metcalf

Orville Pickwick

Hansford Prince

Joe Holiday

Telvin Griffin

Reggie

Cutty Cuthbert

Jimmy

Albert Hammond Jr.

Guest (Chicken Line)

Flea

Bob Levine

Olivia Wilde

Ina Conrad

Bregje Heinen

Female Guest (Nathalie)

Tal Seder

Male Guest (Wallach's)

Dana Marcolina

Female Guest (Jack Tattoo)

Robert Morgan

Director (Wallach's Party)

Nana Ghana

Woman in Ostrich Feather Hat

E.E. Bell

Wilbur

Joe Dallesandro

Charlie / Photographer (Wallach's Party)

Solomon Shiv

Publicity Executive (Wallach's Party)

Karina Fontes

Jen

Circus-Szalewski

Driver (Wallach's Party)

Lukas Haas

George Munn

Li Jun Li

Lady Fay Zhu

Kaia Gerber

Starlet

Patrick Fugit

Officer Elwood

Eric Roberts

Robert Roy

Cici Lau

Gho Zhu

David Lau

Sam Wong Zhu

Tyler Seiple

Customer at Sam Wong's

Zack Newick

P.A. (Early Kinoscope)

Rory Scovel

The Count

Olivia Hamilton

Ruth Adler

P.J. Byrne

Max (Ruth's Assistant Director)

Alexandre Chen

Ruth's D.P. (James Wong Howe)

Bob Clendenin

Otto's Assistant Director

Miraj Grbić

Extra

Johnny Hoops

Extra

James Wellington

Extra

Carlos Nunez

Tim

Max Minghella

Irving Thalberg

Laura Steinel

Abby (Assistant Jack's Tent)

Danny Jolles

Writer (Jack's Tent)

James Vincent

Employee (Camera Rental House)

Richard Clarke Larsen

A.C. (Camera Rental House)

Samara Weaving

Constance Moore

Jeff Garlin

Don Wallach

Anthony Burkhalter

Reporter (Small Restaurant)

Terry Walters

Editor (Kinoscope)

Trisha Simmons

Woman at Door

Ariel Flores

Young Man

Karolina Szymczak

Olga Putti

Sean O'Bryan

Studio Executive (Billy)

David Ury

Fan (Autograph)

Katia Gomez

Nurse at Sanatorium

Vanessa Bednar

Nellie's Mother

Carson Higgins

Lloyd (Sound Mixer)

Armando Cosio

Grip Harry (1st Day of Sound)

Frederick Koehler

D.P. Bill (1st Day of Sound)

Spencer Morgan

Clapper (1st Day of Sound)

Ric Sarabia

Crew Member (1st Day of Sound)

Jim Allen Jackson

Set Medic (1st Day of Sound)

Katherine Waterston

Estelle

Yissendy Trinidad

Carmelita

Cyrus Hobbi

Footballer

Anton Hedayat

Footballer

Hayley Huntley

Liz (Pool Party)

John Mariano

Master of Ceremonies

Christopher Allen

Manny's Assistant

Arely Vianet

Spanish Language Actress

Jeremy Roberts

Studio Employee (Sidney's House)

Alex Reznik

Kinoscope Exec

Chloe Fineman

Marion Davies

Pat Skipper

William Randolph Hearst

John Kerry

Jonathan Rothschild

Sarah Ramos

Harriet Rothschild

Jennifer Grant

Mildred Yates

Julian Lefevre

Waiter

Taylor Nichols

Wealthy Man

Bryan Scott Johnson

Wealthy Man

Kelly Meyer

Wealthy Woman

Brenna Power

Wealthy Woman

David Abed

Young Studio Executive

Kevin Symons

Guest at Hearst Bungalow

Jonathan Thomson

Guest at Hearst Bungalow

Jim O'Brien

Guest at Hearst Bungalow

Chris Doubek

Guest at Hearst Bungalow

Dorian Martin

Production Assistant

Todd Giebenhain

Prop Master (Kinoscope)

Mather Zickel

Distribution Executive

Ireland Sexton

Thalberg's Secretary

Andrew Hawtrey

Kinoscope Assistant Director

Mike Fletcher

Guard (Kinoscope)

Jonathan Ohye

New MGM Assistant Director

James Crittenden

Harold

Pete Ploszek

Young Actor (Jack's Beach Set)

Robert Beitzel

Lewis the Director

Ethan Suplee

Wilson

Tobey Maguire

James McKay

Walker Hare

McKay's Associate

Douglas Fruchey

Masked Man

Taylor Hill

Rebecca

Marc Platt

Producer

Noah Reilly

Bellhop

Stephen Thomas

Tourism Official

John Macey

Kyle

Kenajuan Bentley

Conductor (Night Club)

Karen Bethzabe

Silvia Torres

Sophia Magaña

Manny's Daughter

Oscar Balderrama

Guard at Gate

Aurielle Simmons

Ticket Clerk (1952)

Eamon Hunt

Man Shouting in Bad Irish Accent

Jeremy Lappitt

Piccolo

Robert Verdi

Flute

Kenneth Foerch

Oboe

Sean Franz

Oboe

Jonathan Stehney

Bassoon

Andrew Leonard

Clarinet

Richard Dobeck

Clarinet

Alex Budman

Clarinet

Jacob Scesney

Clarinet / Saxophone

Frank Fontaine

Clarinet / Saxophone

Anibal Seminario

Clarinet

Scott Mayo

Saxophone

Dan Kaneyuki

Saxophone

Alex Sadnik

Saxophone

John Mitchell

Saxophone

Gerald Dixon

Saxophone

Rickey D. Woodard

Saxophone

Jonathan James Thompson

Saxophone

Francis C. Edemobi

Saxophone

Larry O. Williams

Saxophone

Aaron Shaw

Saxophone

Micah Wright

Saxophone

Rayner Fernandez

Saxophone

Glen Turner

Saxophone

Roy Wiegand

Trumpet

Bryce Schmidt

Trumpet

Sean Billings

Trumpet

Aaron O. Smith

Trumpet

Justin Gilmore

Trumpet

Johnny Britt

Trumpet

Keith Beyer

Trumpet

Luis Gonzalez

Trumpet

Francisco Torres

Trumpet

Gary Hickman

Tuba

Steve Suminski

Trombone

Wendell Kelly

Trombone

Byron Sleugh

Trombone

Ryan Porter

Trombone

Jeffery Miller

Trombone

Mykail McDade

Trombone

William Roper

Trombone

Philip Keen

Trombone

Erm Navarro

Trombone

Alvin Starks

Trombone

Robert Murray

Tuba

John Polite

Tuba

Errol Rhoden III

Tuba

Kyle Richter

Tuba

Sidney Hopson

Percussion

Ronald Bruner

Percussion

Dramane Kone

Percussion

Lyndon Rochelle

Percussion

Joey de Leon

Percussion

Dayramir Gonzàlez

Percussion

Greg Sadler

Percussion

Michael Naishtut

Taiko Drum

Joseph Small

Taiko Drum

Avery Baylin

Taiko Drum

Jalen Harvey

Steel Drums

Lara Wickes

Theremin

Andrew Lederman

Accordion / Piano

Karen Han

Erhu

Justin Smith

Banjo

Mateo Pollock

Banjo

Hamed Santigui Camara

Banjo

Brandon Owens

Banjo / Guitar

John Fluker

Piano

Jordan Seigel

Piano

Ralph Nader

Piano

Kevin Toney

Piano

Eric Reed

Piano

John Proulx

Piano

Michael Bustamante

Piano

Darrell Alston

Piano

Evan Greer

Guitar

Gregory Poree

Guitar

Joshua Alfaro

Guitar

Brent Tyler

Drum Kit

Ian Wurfl

Drum Kit

Keelan Tobia

Drum Kit

Justin Hargrove

Drum Kit

Greg Webster

Drum Kit

Luis Vadel

Drum Kit

Benjamin Jacobson

Violin

Dean Anderson

Violin

Joel Pargman

Violin

Steve Huber

Violin

Eric Boulanger

Violin

Fernando Arroyo Lascurain

Violin

Lora'nd Lokustza

Violin

Michael Freed

Violin

Robert Miskey

Violin

Robin Olson

Violin

Aaron Oltman

Viola

Peter Hatch

Viola

Phillip Triggs

Viola

Rodney Wirtz

Viola

Zach Dellinger

Viola

Benjamin Hoffman

Viola

Benjamin Penzner

Viola

Alex Mansour

Cello

Evgeny Tonkha

Cello

Michael Kaufman

Cello

Steve Velez

Cello

Raymond Newell

Cello

Del Atkins

Bass

Edwin Livingston

Bass

Miguel Norwood

Bass

Frank Abraham

Bass

Richard Simon

Bass

Marlon Martinez

Bass

Spike Jonze

Otto (uncredited)

Lewis Tan

Smoking Man (uncredited)

Manny Liotta

Sneezing PA (uncredited)

Freya Parker

Naked Dancer (uncredited)

Anna Chazelle

Bobbie Hart (uncredited)

Mike C. Manning

New York Fan (uncredited)

Anna Dahl

Ava (uncredited)

Jennifer Mariela Bermeo

Dancer (uncredited)

Azizi Donnelly

Beauty (uncredited)

Masha Ko

Striptease Performer (uncredited)

Ana Bergman

Beauty (uncredited)

Edwin Taylor

Man with Tattoos (uncredited)

Kevin Kaouthomn

Orchestra Cello Player / MGM Crew (uncredited)

Charles Gould

Gay boy

Chris Sawin

A fecal, anal honking, and vomit-infused tale revolving around orgy-driven slaphappiness and punchdrunk intoxication as the silent movie era disjointedly stumbled into sound and talkies. Channeling the likes of Michel Hazanavicius’ _The Artist_ and _Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas_ with a rhythmically chaotic boogie seemingly torn right out of Gasper Noe’s _Climax_, _Babylon_ is an aggressive assault of the senses loosely thread together by cinematic evolution and dwindling fame. **Full review:** https://boundingintocomics.com/2022/12/15/babylon-review-requiem-for-the-silver-screen/

Nathan

Babylon is debauchery at its finest. It encapsulates an era like no other and dares to be so different, yet so appealing. On the surface this film is a very straightforward plot, following our three leads and their attempts at success in the ever-changing world of cinema. But deep down, there is another message that is so relevant to everyone's life: accepting death/irrelevance. Just as fast as our characters achieve their dreams of being stars in the industry, these dreams are quickly whisked away by the brutality and cutthroat nature of Hollywood. This is juxtaposed with Brad Pitts character, a man already on downward spiral of his career, trying to desperately hold on to what remains. These arches are so honest and vulnerable, I found very compelling. The performances were top notch all around, and I would expect nothing more from a stacked cast of actors including Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt. But the surprise of the bunch was Diego Calva. He was fantastic and stole many scenes he was featured in with both Robbie and Pitt. He is the true lead of this film and does an excellent job bearing the load. I really enjoyed almost aspects of the film, but towards the end there are some sequences that I feel got away from Chazelle. They are so over the top and kind of feal out of place in this somewhat grounded story. The tension is there in these scenes, but it just doesn't fit. This whole subplot could have been shorten tremendously helping reduce the bloated runtime of the film. That being, I never really felt the length of this picture with it being quite well paced. Overall, this movie was real treat, and it is quite a shame that marketing was jumbled up so poorly because this film deserves viewership. Score: 88% Verdict: Excellent Theatre Verdict: See It

CinemaSerf

It's a sort of triptych of stories of Hollywood, this. A tale that starts off with all the excesses and hedonism of the cocaine fuelled, sexually lascivious antics where even an elephant isn't too much for a party hosted by a movie mogul. It's here we meet the three characters who provide the thread for the rest of this maelstrom of a movie. Firstly we have the young, naive, but quick-thinking "Manny" (Diego Calva) who manages to attract the attention of the much-married, established and former silent screen star "Jack Conrad" (Brad Pitt) all whilst Margot Robbie's ambitious and outrageous "Nellie LaRoy" is sniffing, snorting, dancing and generally sexifying everything she touches as she bids to get into the acting business. What now ensues is a really well crafted and thoughtfully entertaining tale of the rise and fall and rise and fall of these three characters and of how their success brings failure as surely as the sun comes up. Robbie is on excellent form, a truly convincing performance as a character ill-equipped for the journey she is so determined to undertake. Pitt, likewise, plays well here. His character has less in the way of shock factor to deliver, but that storyline offers us a rather more effectively stolid appreciation of just how fickle success can be: there, then gone - in what might seem like a blind of the eye. Finally, the aspirational but (initially) more measured, head-screwed-on Calva who falls in love, and ends up trying to fight the inevitable like King Canute! There's a quirky effort from Tobey Maguire, an alligator and a rat-eater; and a rather scene-stealing contribution - especially at the end - from Jean Smart's Hedda Hopper-style gossip journalist "Elinor St. John" - possibly the only honest character in the entire thing! It's a pastiche and/or an homage to all things cinema at a time of the gradual emergence and then dominance of sound pictures, and we are frequently exposed to the car-crash lifestyles as everyone adapted, re-adapted, and continued to stay on their toes as their industry and their audiences did not always want to take everyone with them - and at break neck speed too - as tastes changed. It's got everything from Cecil B DeMille to Baz Luhrmann to it, takes a swipe at the pompous-thinking stage theatricals (from the East Coast), the shallowness of the whole industry - and yet, it never loses a sense the these are still people. Human beings! It is not difficult to imagine Kenneth Anger advising on the script - it "could" all be true". Maybe a bit on the long side, it certainly sags now and again - but it's definitely a big screen experience that delivers solid, engaging performances that are not over reliant on - even, rather comically (and dangerously) illustrating just how films were made before - CGI! No point in waiting for this to come to television - it's a must for the cinema around which it's story is told.

JPV852

Some great production and costume designs and the performance from Margot Robbie was great while Brad Pitt was good but seen better from him, and the opening 30 minutes were wild but otherwise this was far too long and nothing terribly memorable. **3.0/5** I did forget this was the movie that proved Margot Robbie and Samara Weaving are indeed different people... :p

tmdb55527033

_Babylon_ is a visually stunning and stylish film with it’s share of pros and cons. On the one hand, the performances by Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie were outstanding. They truly brought their characters to life and added depth to the story. However, I found that the storyline didn't flow smoothly, and at times it felt disjointed and confusing. Additionally, some of the more grotesque scenes were overly exaggerated, which detracted from the overall experience. Another downside was the length of the movie, which at over 3 hours, felt excessive.