At two and a half hours, Babel spends a lot of time being bleak. It’s certainly edgy and hyper-real. The cinematography purposely depletes itself of warm colors. The actors give strong performances, though if you’re primarily interested in Pitt or Blanchett – they only appear intermittently as the film has many other characters and stories. Ultimately, these two don’t have the kind of screen time (nor dynamics) you might be expecting.

The director concerns himself with tension and stress. With independent (yet linked) stories in Morocco, Mexico and Japan, the film takes its sweet time revealing the nature of its big picture. And ultimately, it’s really not a film about an international incident. It’s more a film about that universal visceral bond between members of a family unit. Likewise, it’s not the big action picture the trailers may lead you to believe, it’s really more of an artsy independent that has a couple of big name leads.

Overall, intriguing and interesting with some very strong dramatic moments. But the short supply of warm moments, simply isn’t enough to save the film from an overwhelming dismal feel. This, of course, is quite a matter of personal taste. You may love to spend a bleak night at the cinema. As matter of personal taste, again, viewers may not appreciate the sexual suggestions among under-aged characters. Some will argue that the “real” graphic nature of those images enrich the film. Still, I’m sure it won’t just be conservatives who feel the film goes too far, in this respect.

Lastly, the coincidence factor undermines the realism.

This film screened at a Laemmle Theatre.

Free Ross Anthony Signed Book Contest!