It's difficult to watch BABEL without thinking about are comparing it to 2005's CRASH. Each film has several story lines and each were nominated for best picture (CRASH won and BABEL has a great chance of winning this year). There are two differences between the films. CRASH takes place in L.A. and BABEL's story lines take place international in 4 countries. The 2nd difference is...CRASH is a better film, I gave it a "10".
BABEL stars Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, and a international cast of other actors who I've never heard of. Where Crash dealt with racial themes, BABEL deals with the less interesting theme of communication...or lack there of. The 4 story lines include a deaf mute in Japan, Moroccan goat farmers, a vacationing American couple, and a Hispanic nanny caring for 2 American children. How do these story lines connect?...watch the movie to find out.
Although I was interested with each of BABEL's plots, neither of them gripped me like the plots in CRASH. Scenes in CRASH stayed with me for months. BABEL stayed with me until I got home from the theater. However, the film is well made with good to very good performances from all cast members. The stand-out performance was by Rinko Kikuchi (left), she plays the deaf mute, and is an Oscar hopeful for one of the film's 7 Oscar nominations. After the Oscars, American audiences may never hear from her again, but her performance will always be considered great.
BABEL gets a "7". No need to rush to the theater to see it. Watching it at home on DVD will not make the viewing experience less than in the theater.
FACT: BABEL is directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. He also directed 21 GRAMS starring Sean Penn and Niomi Watts....WATTS was nominated for an Oscar for her performance.
1 comment:
My original comment was deleted so in case it does come up, please just ignore. This movie was interesting in how the different parts of the world connected but.....The nude scenes were a little much. If you know me, you certainly know that I am not a prude but the movie industry just keeps "pushing the envelope". What is sad is that the Public is accepting this pornographic material that is being filtered in as an Oscar worthy movie. As far as anyone in this movie deserving Oscar recognition? I think not.
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