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| Movie Review: Babel Alternate Title: "What We've Got Here is Failure
to Communicate"
Story: The team genius of director
Alexander Inarritu and writer Guillermo Arriaga
is on your big screen once again. Go see this film to enrich your mind
while opening your heart. Like their previous films, Amorres Perros
and 21 Grams, we are introduced to multiple storylines but
this time on a global scale. We travel to Morocco, Japan, the US and
Mexico. These seemingly disparate locales and characters are cleverly
woven together with depth, warmth and tragedy. One story involves two Moroccan children who
accidentally shoot an American tourist. The tourists' children are being
cared for by their lifelong Mexican housekeeper/nanny back in California.
A deaf-mute Japanese teenager, who is isolated by her failure to communicate,
is also a link to this global tale. Each story is emotional and when it is cut off
to move to another story I wanted to cry 'no' but was immediately involved
in the next story as well. That is really good movie making. It is also
beautifully edited and visually exciting. This should be on you must-see list this year. Acting: The entire ensemble cast is terrific. Brad
Pitt and Cate Blanchett are the American couple
in Morocco. Gael Garcia Bernal and Adrianna
Barraza are the Mexican actors. Special kudos to young Rinko
Chieko as the deaf-mute girl. Predilection: I like this director and writer team.
Critters: Lots of goats, chickens and a beautiful
white cat.
Food: Each locale is represented by its food from
couscous to Bento Boxes.
Blatant Product Placement: Coke
Soundtrack: A wonderful track by Gustavo Santaolalla
Opening Titles: I can't remember - but I think all
of the titles were at the end.
Theater Audience: Very crowded for a mid-day showing
on a Thursday
Weather: The weather was nice all around the world.
Sappy Factor: 0
Squirm Scale: There is an expectation of tragedy
throughout the film and that leads to some squirmy scenes.
Drift Factor: I did not drift for a second. The first
time I looked at my watch was at the two hour mark. Tissue Usage: Some might cry. I welled up a few times.
Oscar Worthy: Yes
Nit Picking: It could have been edited to two hours
but it was so good I did not care about the overtime.
Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure. Length: Two hours and twenty minutes.
LOBO HOWLS: 9
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