Babel

From the trailer, the concept was intriguing. The tagline, "If You Want to be Understood...Listen." For Babel, it's hard not to.

Based on the story that God made different languages to create confusion amongst man, the sounds of the human voice is important in this film. Sound is important in this film.

The third teaming of writer Guillermo Arriaga and director Alejandro González Iñárritu is just as relevant as their two other collaborations, Amores Perros and 21 Grams. In fact, Iñárritu may be one of the most relevant directors alive today. His skills as a director go beyond language (as proven by this film). Every image, every sound, every silence has a meaning and has a purpose in this film and the result is nothing short of amazing. Iñárritu's skill produced wonderful performances out of a multi-lingual cast of characters. The result? A story that needs no translation. A human story.



The ensemble is lead by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. They're a couple taking a vacation around the world, away from their lives, after the death of their baby. Pitt has never been better or more understated. His Richard is discrete and stiff. But underneath he is breaking just like his wife. Blanchett is, as usual, dead-on. Her Susan is heart-broken and lost, figuratively and literally.



The plot takes us from Morocco to Mexico, California to Japan and the connections are explained and easy to follow.

Rinko Kikuchi, as Chieko, is deserved of all her accolades. Hers is the story of someone who is so lonely and grieving that she looks for comfort from any man, when all she needs is to be held by her father (Kôji Yakusho as the hallow father Yasujiro).



Also look for solid performances from Adriana Barraza as Richard and Susan's nanny and Gael García Bernal as her nephew.

The cinematography is gorgeous and it should, Rodrigo Prieto is back for his third movie with Iñárritu behind Perros and Grams. He's also responsible for giving us the sweeping landscapes of Wyoming in Brokeback Mountain.



Babel isn't as strong as 21 Grams was, but that doesn't mean its message is any less important. This is a human story. One that everyone can have, could have. There is not an emotion in this movie a human in his or her lifetime will not experience. Your soul as a human goes out to these people who are flawed like you and I.

God may have given us languages to confuse as punishment for trying to reach to his Heavens with a tower. This movie is named for that tower. But with directors like Iñárritu and writers like Arriaga around, it's nice to remember the days when we all could speak one language. ***B***