The Babylonian Tragedy

BABYLON (2022)

DIRECTOR: DAMIEN CHAZELLE

This movie was great but unfortunately missed a few pieces that would have taken it from great to impeccable. The beginning was perfect- it showcased the characters' road to legitimacy in Hollywood. I really enjoyed how the path to Hollywood can start anywhere- from seasoned veteran to Mexican immigrant, everyone has to find a way to mold themselves into the perfect Hollywood image. My issue with the film begins once the two underdogs are established in the industry. Considering this is sort of a rags to riches story, the time where Nellie LaRoy, in particular, is actually respected by her peers is not highlighted sufficiently for me. Her innate talent is what gained her the respect of Hollywood, and her Jersey Shore act is what led to her demise. But what was the driving force in between those two phases of her life that kept her relevant? Was it her talent what kept her in the industry for so long before Hollywood realized she was classless? I feel as though this part of her life was merely glossed over, and as a result, her downfall was not as significant because we weren't able to grasp the magnitude of her fame originally.

On a separate note, the unrequited love story was not built up enough to make the final moments between Manny and Nellie significant. While there was maybe adoring glances here and there, Manny's love ultimately felt superficial and surface level because we did not see enough of their relationship to feel what he was feeling for her.

One thing the film executed rather beautifully was Jack Conrad's story. Hollywood heart throb turned sellout actor who didn't know his best days were behind him. Aside from the actors' performances, Jack's story is what gave this film legitimacy. It was a story that translated and one that anyone in the audience could empathize with. The moments leading up to his death were filmed perfectly. Though it was obvious he was nearing the end of his time on Earth, the filmography ensured the audience did not check out on his story. Rather, we wanted to know what happened in every single moment leading up to the gunshot. It was exquisite. It is also not lost on me that there was not some big tribute to Jack. Instead his influence lived on through films and other actors and actresses- bringing me to the end of the movie.

I understand that this part has been up for debate since the movie's premiere, and I wholeheartedly understand why. The significance of the final montage was not lost on me, but it was almost overdone. Also, there was not enough emphasis put on the people who make movies possible (aka the story of Manny's entire character). The montage should have included flashbacks to what and WHO goes into creating that movie magic (i.e Manny running and stealing and ambulance to get a film camera to set, and a man dying of heat stroke to ensure they got the perfect shot and sound with it.) This movie was not just about actors, it was about the evolution of film and consequently what comes with it. I was disappointed that the final montage did not depict the full picture and rather only a part of Hollywood's history.

While I was proud of the way Babylon went above and beyond to show the high and lows of the characters while navigating Hollywood, I still feel it left out major parts to reinforce the juxtaposition rather than just flat out showing the complications of Hollywood and the film industry. Overall, I guess I wasn't utterly disappointed.