Rating: 4/10

Through three hours of pure entertainment, Babylon’s problems outweigh its beauty. Though writer and director Damien Chazelle shows qualities that make him one of the industry’s best, his attempt at commentating on struggles was executed in all of the wrong ways. 

The story, set in the 1920s, follows the lives of Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt), Nellie Laroy (Margot Robbie), and Manny Torres (Diego Calva) in their respective efforts to navigate through Hollywood. The film is full of energy, sex, drugs, and just about every other chaotic element that is stereotypically attributed to Los Angeles’ motherland. It is, to put it plainly, a lot to handle.

Chazelle unfortunately places an ambitious Laroy in the same boat as Torres, Lady Fay Zhu (Li Jun Li), and Sidney Palmer (Jovan Adepo), who are all minorities fighting adversity during a racially oppressive era. Laroy, a white woman, steals the spotlight. Chazelle’s portrayal of their respective stories undermine the struggles of the other three in a time when that would not have been the case. Torres, Lady Fay Zhu, and Palmer are all people of color. It is true that the 1920s were a tumultuous time for the American female, but the racial hierarchy that was maintained during the time, that existed as the vicious national apparatus that defined the nation, placed racial minorities of any gender beneath white women on the human rights totem pole. The choice to categorize Laroy with the rest of these minorities, and then define the story around her journey is not just historically inaccurate, but left a sour taste in my mouth. In a three hour film, Manny Torres, Lady Fay Zhu, and Sidney Palmer’s stories easily could have been given more light. 

Chazelle’s obliviousness to an issue in his writing and directing is starting to become a trend; “La La Land” is centered around a white guy mansplaining jazz.

However, that’s not to say this film didn’t have its high points. It was packed with magical scenes that at times had me thinking I’d leave the theater calling it my favorite of all time. My ears could not get enough of Justin Hurwitz’s score, which ironically took a lot of inspiration from his previous award winning “La La Land” soundtrack. Pitt and Robbie had performances that perfectly exemplified why they’re giants of the industry, but the standout out star was none other than Diego Calva. 

Babylon was evidently one of the most thought provoking films I’ve ever watched. Though it was flawed, I recommend watching it. It won’t be a (complete) waste of your time. •