Comments on: Movie Review – Babel

By: Rodney

Rodney — Fri, 06 May 2011 04:26:08 +0000

Hey Rory. I’ve seen neither of the two films you mention, but after a little Wiki work on them, I’m dead keen to see them. I’ll try and get hold of them over the next few weeks and give them a go. Thanks again for your thoughts, as insightful as always!

By: rory dean

rory dean — Wed, 04 May 2011 17:36:50 +0000

Of the two films by Garcia, Things You Can Tell is the superior. It took Garcia six years to make the follow-up, Nine Lives and while it too contains strong, realistic performances from very notable actors it feels more like a theater production than a film. Nine Lives is burdened by lengthy, drawn out scenes where two characters are often locked in conversation and stagy scenarios – contrived might best describe these moments though it is difficult to paint any film with such a broad brush given that everything about cinema is deliberate, though obviously we would all agree that the emotions and interplay should be spontaneous and natural. The most problematic element of films of this nature is finding a way to overcome the structure and allow the characters and the interwoven stories to operate singularly and collectively without feeling hindered or overly compartmentalized. While I the films contain engaging moments one can’t help the feeling that comes from wanting less characters, more focus on individuals and the opportunity to connect with them instead of themes, ideas and communal worldly issues.

You can read more about Nine Lives here -> http://rorydean.wordpress.com/2011/02/18/nine-live-2005-too-many/

I have yet to write a review of Things You Can Tell but I’ll get to that soon and we can discuss further.

cheers->

By: Rodney

Rodney — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 07:32:42 +0000

I wouldn’t bother with Skyline, but the others you mention I’d be keen to read your thoughts on.

Thanks for the kind words, Rory. As always, much appreciated.

By: Rory Dean

Rory Dean — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:35:08 +0000

Well Rodney, it would be fool hearty of me to attempt to change your opinion about a film that you describe as one of the finest films you’ve ever had the privilege of watching – not to mention a perfect 10. I can’t agree more that Inarritu is a masterful filmmaker – his film 21 Grams remains on the tip top most of my favorite films list. Yet Babel takes me off course, yearning for the man in his former glory, for the power with which he wields a cinematic language that knows no borders. Here plot supplants character and the story feels more like he’s trying to tell us something, teach us something, prove something. I don’t mind be told something as long as I feel that I don’t have to rely on it to fully appreciate the film.

I wanted to like this film, more for Blanchett and Pitt together, more for the fragmented – at times jumbled narrative threads – but like a lot of films of this style I felt a disconnect that prevented me from sitting through scenes that were either too long or just not that interesting. Rodrigo Garcia has tried it with Things You Can Tell Just By Looking At Her (1999) and again with Nine Lives (2005) and while the first film is vastly superior, the ‘trick’ if you will wanes by the second film and I suspect his third installment in the semi-series will suffer similarly. Maybe it would be easier to compare the ‘trick’ to M. Night’s films, that while superb from the gate began to quickly tire, predictable even, and ultimately his stories feel heavy handed.

A thorough review of a film I’m just not that into but then again, that’s what I enjoy about reading and reviewing and sharing what moves us, what settles like so much dust, and what ultimately returns us time and time again to the theater.

So I’ve got Babel on my write soon list. I need to get through Skyline, All Good Things and Kings Speech first.
cheers->

By: Wozza

Wozza — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 11:50:22 +0000

I have to agree with Kiah there, whilst I though that BABEL was a fantastically compiled set of stories which were as you mentioned “tenuously” linked, I think that it should lose some points for re-watchability. I did enjoy it but I wouldn’t watch it again.

By: Kiah

Kiah — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:35:05 +0000

We watched Babel in China last year- with no pre-requisites- picked up the dvd to watch having never heard of it before. (It was good quality copy tho rodney!)
I can see what you enjoyed about the film but i can’t say that from an average viewer’s perspective they could appreciate as much as you do.
I nearly fell asleep a couple of times. The storyline was interesting enough but it was slow moving and fairly depressing. Also, the soundtrack is strikingly similar to another movie which for the life of me i can’t think of now… i’ll get back to you on that one.
Glad you enjoyed it tho.