Review: Babel (2006) – Another Amores Perros? I don’t think so!

(5/10)

4 people, totally disconnected, lives intertwine, time-bending screenplay, unfortunate consequences, how it all fits together…Have you seen that before? Memento, Crash, Snatch, Amores Perros, Pulp Fiction, Identity, 21 grams, the list of such genre seems endless! It seems to be the current fad in Hollywood, but its my personal belief that this is fad-ing!

Of the mix, Amores Perros & 21 grams are the making Alejandro Gonzalez who is an innovator in direction, and here is stalemate Babel by him. Through the 142 minute movie the recipe of your mood might oscillate between depression & disappointment. I think I already lost an audience!

On one hemisphere, married couple Richard (Brad Pitt) and Susan (Cate Blanchett) decide to vacation in Morocco when Susan is accidentally shot by 2 trigger happy Moroccan kids. The situation soon escalates into a political pandemonium when Richard struggles to hold to Susan’s life. Meanwhile at San Diego, Richard’s kids are taken on a roller-coaster ride to Mexico by their caretaker Amelia who decides to go to her son’s wedding. Fun, frolic & liquor at the wedding turns into a series of unfortunate events at the border.

Watch Trailer

On the other hemisphere, a deaf and dumb Japanese teenager who feels deprived of carnal pleasures and human sentiments is driven to desperation. Her father (Koji Yakusho) turns out to be the owner of the rifle that wounded Susan, which involves them into the equation.

Brad Pitt’s appearance in the film is short and he represents his character well. What perplexed me most, was the part about the life of the Japanese girl which had no rhyme or reason in the relation to the developing circumstances. The scope of the screenplay is limited and it wouldn’t stun any audience. Gustavo Santaolalla of Brokeback Mountain (2005, Academy Award winner) fame brings out the sorrow of the occurrences with his blend of unique instruments. Babel is nothing close to what it was expected to be – ‘a sensation’.

Awards - 7 Oscar Nominations (Film, Director, Background Score, Editing, Supporting Actress (2), Screenplay)

Awards Won - Gustavo Santaolalla , Background Score

Are you thinking: Why Babel? It means: a scene of noise and confusion.

Genre: Action, Drama

- Chandrachood Ramkumar