Review by John Delia, Sr.
Back before talkies, the silent movies were all the rage with dashing actors and beautiful actresses like “The Swashbuckler” Douglas Fairbanks and “The It Girl” Clara Bow. For the film industry it was the wild and wooly times. Since they were silent, it was up to the actor to make the film believable and exciting. Stage coach robbing, war battles, and passionate stories filled the theaters and made the “Art Houses” a thriving business. Topping off premiers were wild parties where sex, drugs and alcohol fueled a night of debauchery and wickedness. And that’s just the first hour of the movie Babylon.
In the midst of it all were famous silent film actors Jack Conrad (Brad Pitt) and up and an up and coming sultry starlet Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie). Both on separate paths to the top, the two were what Hollywood called “bankables”. With Jack however, his climb is about to hit the wall, while Nellie is still leader of the pack’s most wanted casting couch dolls.
Director and writer Damien Chazelle spares no expense making his film a pricey dazzler will all the bells and whistles that make up the fantasy Hollywood world. His sets are lavish, costumes spot on and the cinematography is magnificent. Babylon is just what the Bible described and including passages from the “Tower of Babel” with clawing, gnashing, and other deadly sins to rise to the A-List.
The film finished in my top 10 movies of the year and very close to the top. What pushed it there was the compelling acting of Brad Pitt and Margo Robbie, both of which shared most all of the screen time. Their performances are worthy of Oscars (but they were snubbed by the Academy of Arts and Sciences from even a nomination).
Now on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra the film can be seen in all its glory on you home entertainment center. The two disc blu-ray comes with a digital copy that can be watched while on the go. The second disc has almost an hour of extras and special features.
The complete list of bonus content in the Blu-ray includes the following:
“A Panoramic Canvas Called Babylon— The cast and crew discuss the inspiration and motivation behind the original story and development of this epic, 15 years in the making.
“The Costumes of Babylon”— Discover how costume design was fundamental to character development and the challenges that went into creating over 7,000 costumes for the film.
“Scoring Babylon”— Take a peek into Justin Hurwitz’s musical process to understand the artistry behind composing an iconic score that further elevates the film.
“Deleted & Extended Scenes” most all of which should not have been cut. Especially the Margot Robbie explosive scenes that really show her brilliant talent.
Specifications and additional video information:
Cast: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li, and hundreds of extras
Directed and written by: Damien Chazelle
Genre: Drama, Comedy, History
MPAA Rating: R for strong and crude sexual content, graphic nudity, bloody violence, drug use, and pervasive language.
Running Time: 3 hrs. 9 min.
Video Release Date: March 21, 2022
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Subtitles: English, English SDH, Spanish, French and many others
Distributed by: Paramount Home Entertainment
Released on: 4K Ultra Blu-ray, Blu-ray, DVD, Digital