Babel (2006)

Interesting but not innovative.

Directed by: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

Written by: Guillermo Arriaga.

Starring: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael Garcia Bernal.

Babel is the third installment by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu that connects multiple stories by one accident. Story number one is Brad Pitt and his wife Cate Blanchett’s tour of Morocco. Story number two is about a deaf-dumb Japanese girl’s (Rinko Kikuchi) trapped-in-teenage years and her relationship with her father. Story number three is about Brad Pitt’s kids which he left behind in California while on the trip to Morocco. Story number four includes a poor Middle Eastern family. The movie starts with an unknown Middle Eastern guy walking through deserted place in the middle of somewhere carrying a bag. He walks to this shepherd and hands over the bag. The shepherd’s got two kids who hike the sheep. Then we see the accident. Things happen. It’s for you to find out how and why.

Mr. Inarritu has a pretty sharp picture here. But I had to compare it with the brilliant Amores Perros and a little less interesting 21 Grams. His direction is perhaps the best thing that happened to Babel. he still fascinates with those images and ability to surprise even when you see it coming. Few of his traits, if you have seen previous films, are very evident. Guitar based soundtrack ignites memories of Amores Perros. Babel’s writer, Mr. Arriaga, this time has connected lives spread over the earth. Quite interesting the way connections are made. In the times of terrorism the accident has its own effects over the world. This tale has done a good justice to authenticity of the after effects.

Gael Garcia Bernal was impressive as usual. It was a good experience to see him after The Motorcycle Diaries (2004). Brad and Cate make a good pair trapped in agony. Least makeup helps them with a different look. Rinko Kikuchi's' don’t-give-a-damn teenage girl was also very effective. Very good performance. the facial expressions were pulled together nicely. Inarritu did a good job to put the audience in her shoes, say for instance the scene in the club.

In the end this did arouse some curiosity but the explanations by the writer might give a little jitter as to, hm ok I have seen that before in writer director Stephen Gaghan's Syriana (2005).
Rating: 5/10