Babylon 4K 2022

How could the critics have screwed up a major Oscar nomination for 'Babylon'? I honestly don't understand it. It was the most driving, funny, entertaining, dramatic three hours in the theater in the last two years. It's not even a movie, it's a real insanity. Drugs and debauchery, dreams and nightmares. You plunge into this chaos from the first seconds, and it consumes you completely. It is a reflection of all the anxieties that consumed Hollywood at this revolutionary time in the history of world cinema. A time when sound films replaced silent cinema.

It's a shame that so many audiences didn't love this picture. So many people missed out on how cool this movie was. So many missed the fact that it's clearly a fable and not a collection of anecdotes. Missed out on how each actor gave extra depth to their characters with the tiniest and subtlest of strokes. And so few viewers actually tried to understand Manny's character in his environment instead of dissecting the director's bona fides to create darker material.

'Babylon' is well aware and shows what talent and luck, identity and assimilation, moral inconsistency and creative courage are all about. And it also doesn't forget to show all the dirty tricks needed to stay on top of this world.

This film is truly intoxicating. The soundtrack takes you into another world. And the ending just melts away. It's very touching, you immediately remember why you love movies and all those wonderful moments when you first went to the movie theater with your parents back in your childhood.

A love letter to a filmmaker who refuses to overreact. It requires gigantic scope and great courage. 'Babylon' is when you have to take risks. Sometimes the risk works, and sometimes you find yourself stepping in elephant shit.