Like last year’s Crash, Babel
takes a set of unrelated people – in this case, scattered across the
globe – and interweaves their harrowing stories by films end. And like
the aforementioned Oscar Winner of 2006, it’ll stir up many thoughts;
possibly even set you out on a different path (or, in the very least,
have you cancelling that trip to Morocco). When films work this way,
effecting and stirring, you know you’re going your money’s worth from
cinema...for a change.
A tragic incident involving an American
couple in Morocco sparks a chain of events for four families in
different countries throughout the world. Tied by condition but
separated by continent, culture and language, each character discovers
that it is family that ultimately provides succour.
Not so much
a film about the blurred and misinterpreted lines of communication
(though it definitely does focus on that) but the mere fact that every
decision you make, ends in a consequence tied directly to that decision. Babel
serves as a reminder of the human condition, and in other ways, a
manual. It’s the decisions we make that shape our lives – no matter how
small – and though a lot of it is out of our hands, we’ve (somewhat,
anyway) only got ourselves to blame in a lot of situations. You take a
walk down the dark windy road - you know you’re asking for trouble. You
eat month-old leftovers from the fridge - again, you’re asking for
trouble. You travel to a foreign land, immerse in political turmoil,
you’re asking for trouble. You take pot shots at buses of American
tourists? Prepare to reap the whirlwind.
Iñárritu (21 Grams)
also reminds us of what a scary world we’re living in right now.
Globalisation may have bought the world together, but fallacy is making
it a very dangerous environment.
Without the Mexican
writer/director’s effecting screenplay they would have been a lot
lesser, but as they stand, the performances by the immense cast are as
solid as an unthawed turkey dinner. Though the film has been somewhat
marketed as a Brad Pitt/Cate Blanchett offering, and despite the fact
that they’re both very good, they’re in the film about as much as
everyone else is – and their co-stars are no less grand. Take Adriana
Bazzara as the compassionate Amelia, whose decision to illegally
transport the two children to Mexico from the states, backfires big
time; or Koji Yakusho who’ll evoke tears as the distraught, lost deaf
girl, whose seemingly in search of well, love. Just splendid stuff.
You’ll cry. You’ll smile. You’ll be on edge. But most of all, you’ll be educated by Babel.
EXTRASThere’s
a couple of versions of this DVD floating around – let it be known that
this is the ‘only’ version worth buying (The other features less extras
than Peter Garrett has hair on his head). Even then, this ‘Special
Edition’ still doesn’t feature a helluva lot of stuff…. And like a lot
of releases, probably doesn’t deserve the ‘Special Edition’ tag.
So
what is on here? Well, for the most part, the main extra is a 90-minute
making-of. It’s enlightening, it’s informative and it’s engaging… but
again, considering the ‘Special Edition’ title on the sleeve, most will
be expecting more. Conclusion:
Movie 70% Extras: 60% 
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