If you want to be understood, listen.
In the remote sands of the Moroccan desert, a rifle shot rings out – detonating a chain of events that will link an American tourist couple’s frantic struggle to survive, two Moroccan boys involved in an accidental crime, a nanny illegally crossing into Mexico with two American children and a Japanese teen rebel whose father is sought by the police in Tokyo. Communication breaks down and events take you down a perilous path in Golden Globe-winning and Academy Award-nominated Babel. Starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael GarcÃa Bernal, KÅji Yakusho and Adriana Barraza.
Babel has been nominated for 7 Motion Picture Academy Awards, including Best Picture of the Year. Catch the 79th Oscars tonight at 5:00PM PST/8:00PM EST on ABC.
I found this film to be absolutely mesmerizing. Babel is an international Crash with characters in four countries: Morocco, Mexico, the U.S. and Japan. It’s directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, known for his very edgy, dark and bloody dramas including 21 Grams and Amorres Perros. Babel is more a psychological thriller with less gore and more suspense and fear. Four different stories all tie together and center around a very moving performance by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett as a married couple, who argue over an unfortunate decision to visit Morocco. The most powerful and moving performance is given by Adriana Barraza, a Mexican nanny who is given responsibility over the couple’s two children back in the U.S. As the couple’s odyssey takes a terrifying turn in Morocco, the nanny is forced to extend her watch over the children and faced with the possibility of missing her son’s wedding in Mexico. Her decision to take the children with her into Mexico sparks an emotional and tragic twist of fate.
This phenomenal film features acting at it’s best, breathtaking cinematography and is truly an emotional rollercoaster. The musical score written and arranged by Academy Award-winning musician and composer Gustavo Santaolalla (Brokeback Mountain, The Motorcycle Diaries) is outstanding and the soundtrack is available for listening and purchase on the iTunes Store.
While deeply interesting, perhaps the only flaw in Babel is the execution of the Japanese story and how connects to the others. The Japanese tale feels disconnected and at times irrelevant to the film. It nevertheless, remains an entertaining scenario and the acting is superb. The DVD also lacks feature commentaries and only contains the film’s theatrical trailer.
Babel leaves many unanswered questions. What became of the Moroccan family? Did the older brother survive? What happened to Gael GarcÃa Bernal’s character? Did he escape Border Patrol agents? What did the note written by the deaf Japanese girl to the Japanese detective say? Was it a suicide note? This film indeed leaves plenty of room for interpretation and speculation.
I highly recommend this film to those, whom like myself, enjoy profound films that touch on the realities of fate, loss, the interconnectedness of humankind and plenty of substance. 4.5 of 5 stars
Dexter Torres for SanDiegoish.com
Babel has been nominated for 7 Motion Picture Academy Awards, including Best Picture of the Year. Catch the 79th Oscars tonight at 5:00PM PST/8:00PM EST on ABC.
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What a great review Dexter.
I also found the Japanese story to be loosely tied to the rest of the story. I thought more time should have been spent on Gael Garcia Bernal’s character. Did he leave his aunt and the kids stranded in the desert? Was he captured? Those are questions I wanted answered, I could have done without the hairy monster.
Babel is a great film. I agree with you that the Japanese story is weak. How the gun arrived to Morocco could have been left unanswered like so many other things in the movie.
Although I liked this movie, I don’t think it will win tonight. Martin Scorsese is way overdue and The Departed is a great film.
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