Damien Chazelie’s new film cost more than $100 million and grossed fifteen
Sometimes the defeats taste like victories (they tell it, if not to the three hundred of Thermopylae), or they are sweet nonsense torments (they tell it for “Save me”). In any case, failures washed down with Dom Perignon are always better swallowed. I’m saying all this for a premiere today that cost over a hundred million dollars and grossed fifteen.
“Babylon” is called the interfecta, a gargantuan, outrageous, exuberant and onanistic vision of a world still called cinematic in the roaring twenties, when a corner of California became the mecca of dreams for millions of people (still, with Bollywood’s permission). ). The story of those who made it a reality and those who stayed along the way is told here by a top-notch choral cast that includes Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie and Tobey Maguire.
Damien Chazelie, the director and screenwriter, has already approached this universe with the triumphant ‘La La land’ (2016), expressing an obsession with Hollywood that remains on cardboard in both. Mainly because of a Babylonian script, but in the sense of the Tower of Babel, because no one understands it. The conclusion we draw is that the beginnings of cinema were a dissolute and uninhibited bacchanal, shown in three hours of footage. The highlight is the good soundtrack. Undoubtedly one of the flops of the year, a film conceived for much more glorious destinations (like Inés Arrimadas).
The stars have wanted to coincide two meta-cinematic stories about the transition from silent film to sound today among the novelties. Although it’s sad to say (a sign of the times we live in) that the best movie arriving in our cinemas this Friday is over seventy years old. Everything is explained when I say that it is the revival of the masterpiece ‘Singing in the rain’.
The geniuses of Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly put themselves at the service of a fun and sparkling story, with Cyd Charise, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor playing their best roles and spawning the most famous musical number in cinema history. She was also a pioneer in that the dances were not parenthesis of the action, but rather continued the plot. All this is said by someone who doesn’t like musicals, with some honorable exceptions like ‘My Fair Lady’ (1964), ‘Cabaret’ (1972) or ‘All That Jazz’ (1979). I will say no more, for you will have all seen it, and if not, you must without fail. It will be a pleasure to enjoy it in a giant size.
Good comedians Toni Collette and Anna Faris are the greedy and unscrupulous nieces of a happily recovered Kathleen Turner in “A Deadly Inheritance,” where they go to more lengths than a Vox vice president to get their dying aunt’s inheritance. The director is the screenwriter of the happy discovery ‘A Death Funeral’ (2007), which was a perfect hybrid between fine English humor and the new (and sometimes scatological) American comedy of the turn of the century. Unfortunately, this movie is a bastard daughter of that and the moderate sprawl he shows us is too obvious and easy. These black comedies would be very good if we Spaniards did our version, as it is our specialty, and it would certainly be edgier and funnier.
I end today with a very valuable animation work that stands out for the following awards, an adaptation of a successful book inspired by ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’ entitled ‘The amazing Mauritius’. A boy and his cat scamper from town to town under the threat of a fake rodent invasion, only to be caught by a clever girl. Children’s products that don’t treat them like suckers for Happy Meal treats are appreciated.
Off camera, the nominees for the BAFTA awards, the British Goyas, have been announced. They’re a good thermometer of where the shots will go at the Oscars. Watch out for ‘All Quiet on the Front’ and ‘Souls in Sorrow in Inisherin’ which are the most nominated. The excellent ‘Argentina 1985’ aspires to the prize for the best foreign language film.
Have a movie week.
Source: La Verdad
I am David Jackson, a highly experienced professional in the news industry. I have been working as an author at Today Times Live for over 10 years, and specialize in covering the entertainment section. My expertise lies in writing engaging stories that capture readers’ attention and deliver timely information about the latest developments.
