Babel

By: Andrew Moran

4 Stars out of 5 Stars

Starring (Alphabetical Order): Adriana Barraza, Gael Garcia Bernal, Cate Blanchett, Clifton Collins Jr., Elle Fanning, Rinko Kikuchi, Michael Pena, Brad Pitt and Kôji Yakusho

In Babel, a tragic incident involving an American couple in Morocco sparks a chain of events for four families in different countries throughout the world. Tied by circumstance but separated by continent, culture and language, each character discovers that it is family that ultimately provides solace.

Babel is a beautiful film with reality added into the film.  Babel adds the sense that there is true misery in the world but not just solely of war, famine and corruption but mostly of not listening to others.  This film brought out all the emotions a human can experience; joy, intrigue, sadness, misery, empathy and a perspective, well perhaps perspective is not an emotion but you catch my drift.  Babel kept gripping you at the edge of the seat and experiencing some of the best scenes you’ll ever see in a cinema this year.  I think the main character that you’ll get really into is the main female character in the Japan story, which really showed her point of view with the sound going in and out.  For example in the nightclub, the sound kept going on and off with the nightclub’s point of view and her point of view. 

The acting was good, not great, but here is why. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Amores Perros & 21 Grams) gave as much screen time to the unknowns as the known actors, and it paid off in aces with Rinko Kikuchi (Will to Live & Portrait of the Wind) and Adriana Barrazza (Amores Perros & Clase 406). But if I had to give out an Oscar to a specific actor in this film it would probably be for Rinko Kikuchi.

The film score was absolutely great. Again Gustavo Santaolalla (21 Grams & Brokeback Mountain) bringing cultural music to the screen.  The essence of his soundtrack is definitely his “Iguazu” song, which made the montage of Brad Pitt (Legend of the Fall & Meet Joe Black) & Cate Blanchett (Elizabeth & The Aviator) near the end was absolutely amazing.  One of the best scenes of the film I must say.

Director of Photography Rodrigo Pietro (21 Grams & Brokeback Mountain) did an amazing job capturing the lighting that one would think the country would be and he did it well.  As well shooting, in some scenes, on 16mm and transferring it to the 35mm projection to that grainy effect.

Overall this was a great film.  To a lot of the people this film you won’t love as soon as you leave the theater, like me who just enjoyed it, but you’ll love it after thinking about the film.  If you don’t go to see it for the story then enjoy the scenery and the great shots Inarritu adds to the film.