MovieChat Forums > Babylon (2022) Discussion > Quite bad... people walked out

Quite bad... people walked out

posted 2 years ago by jekporkins (1970)
14 replies | jump to latest

I just came back from seeing this. My initial thoughts...

I can see what Chazelle was going for here - there certainly was an attempt - but it was a big miss.

It's excessive. It's nonsensical in parts. It's an hour too long. It's a period piece where they show little respect for fashion, rhetoric, and attitudes of the time. It's got shocking scenes which are there really just to shock and nothing more. There were maybe 10 people in my theater and a couple walked out halfway and another person walked out after the underground scene. I personally kept wondering when it would end.

However, there are a few good scenes sprinkled throughout. The first time they shot a scene with sound was definitely the highlight. It looked terrific. The music was loud and the horns set a great tone. The cast seemed willing.

It seemed like a very similar story to Boogie Nights - newcomers thrown into what is perceived as an exciting industry, get overwhelmed with it, burns out, and eventually find its seedy underbelly. It even has a buildup scene very reminiscent of when Dirk was going to trick the drug dealer. Instead of a kid throwing pop caps it has Ethan Suplee hawking loogies.

Here's your random stranger's opinion - If you can get it for free give it a shot because some of you might actually like it, but it's not worth the price of admission.

[–] liscarkat (18367) 2 years ago

"It's a period piece where they show little respect for fashion, rhetoric, and attitudes of the time."

I hate when they do that. Thanks for the warning, so I don't have to waste time watching this movie.

[–] Puvwall (1366) 2 years ago

Is there any reference to chaplin ? Or is a chaplin like chracter in it?

[–] jekporkins (1970) 2 years ago

If I recall correctly he was mentioned once or twice but that's about it. There was no Chaplin-like Tramp character.

[–] Puvwall (1366) 2 years ago

Thats too bad. Thanks for the heads up

[–] Boromir (10005) 2 years ago

I really like Chazelle as a director so I give this movie a chance. I hope it's not a disaster as you said.

[–] ElizabethJoestar (946) 2 years ago

I'm a silent film buff so this kind of piqued my interest-- but yeah, from the trailers and images, it doesn't seem all that interested in capturing the look of the era and it looks like an endless shock value parade. I did hear the scenes showing how early talkies took a great deal of technical readjustment were fabulous and I'm sure the actors were good... but it sounds like a movie that would just give me a headache and it's so damn long too.

I'm just going to wait for the local library to get a copy (I don't subscribe to Paramount + where I'm sure this will be dropped once it goes to streaming). Then I can turn it off after 30 minutes if it's awful.

[–] Boromir (10005) 2 years ago

I am agree with most of your points.

It's an hour too long

Agree, 3 hours is too long for most movies and definitely this one. In recent years, many films lack editing work.

It's a period piece where they show little respect for fashion, rhetoric, and attitudes of the time.

From what I understand the director intention was to focus more of behind the scenes of old Hollywood than 'paint' a reliable portrait of the period.

It's got shocking scenes which are there really just to shock and nothing more.

Agree. I find the shocking scenes that took place outside the big party (in the opening scene) as the most unnecessary because they were out of context.

[–] Boromir (10005) 2 years ago

However, there are a few good scenes sprinkled throughout. The first time they shot a scene with sound was definitely the highlight. It looked terrific. The music was loud and the horns set a great tone. The cast seemed willing.

Once again agree with you. The first half is better with just terrific scenes. Loved Margot Robbie acting scene at the bar. Great movie and nice cast. Overall, it's uneven movie with some sparks.

[–] ribtin (151) 2 years ago

Which scenes exactly did you find shocking?

[–] GingerbreadPimp (1767) 2 years ago

5 people walked out at my showing. Yeah, it wasn't very good.

[–] Ragnarill (19) 2 years ago

It's a movie set in the 1920s with people who all sound and look like they are in 2020.

Yes, quite bad. No wonder this movie bombed hard at the box office.

Also way too much political correctness and that's always worse in a historical piece because they always have to throw their "correct" opinions to correct history.