Non-stop intrigue and action from start to finish. Margot Robbie is outstanding.

Beginning in the 1920s, Los Angeles, Babylon focuses on multiple characters who work in the world of film and cinema. Some of these characters are already living what they call their best life, while others have desires, passion and ambitions to make it big in cinema. As we follow these characters, we get to witness the changes that occurred in cinema; some of these include the introduction of sound and audio, which came with excitement, issues and challenges. This is the story of a selected few who were once at the top of their game but, as time passes by, fall to a lower level in quality. Among the cast are Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li and Jean Smart. For the sake of spoilers, I won’t be revealing much about the individual characters, but I will proudly state that performances are all-around stunning. Brad Pitt is well-suited to his character, and it’s evident that the actor is having a fun time here. Margot Robbie is once again flawless and still surprises audiences in various ways. Most importantly, Jovan Adepo (whom I had yet to see on-screen) was outstanding, and watching his dramatic performance was fantastic. Visually, Babylon is a beautiful sight. Plenty of unique visuals make it stunning to experience a big screen. With smooth tracking shots, strong colours, solid details, a wonderful soundtrack, and scenes with many background extras, it’s impossible not to be engaged by the visuals as there’s just so much to see. The opening includes a lengthy party sequence, which had my jaw dropping to the cinema floor. Plenty of moments here are wild and, perhaps, outrageous and loud. Yet, the film also transforms into a profound dark tragedy. Granted, this story is not for the faint-hearted and contains severe amounts of nudity, drug references, profanity, and deeply intense and frightening scenes. One scene, in particular, forced me to look away due to the grossness and uncomfortable feeling it created. As for the plot, I found it to be highly engaging for the vast majority. My investment in each main character was high as we see them tackling the changes in cinema and the significant changes to their world whenever time passes. Every single outcome here is unpredictable, and some moments are shocking. Still, I must confess that the final moments are also enriching, touching and encouraging. Overall, without a doubt, Director Damien Chazelle understands the long-term power of cinema and the connection to those passionate about it. Chazelle brings a film that's exciting and dramatic, taking audiences down a path that’s also deeply intense. Performances are riveting; the same could be said about the visuals and excellent soundtrack, which brings the past to life. The biggest put-off for some viewers will be the lengthy duration, which is felt in the third act, and the strong themes and levels of nudity, violence, profanity, drugs, intense scenes, and so on. However, as a movie fanatic, I’m proud to say that this film impacted me greatly. Without a doubt, Babylon is bold, inspiring, encouraging and wondrous. * This review has been written for Sanity. For more reviews from Walkden Entertainment, check out the link here: www.walkdenentertainment.com