Watch Babel For Free

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

So very dull, 2 hours of my life I'm not getting back. Just spent most of it thinking that it would get going any minute. Then it ended, WOW. How is this film rated at 7.5?

Among the movies I've ever seen (>1K), this is the best one on prejudices. The movie from which on I began to respect Brad Pitt as an actor.

'Babel' is a well-acted melodrama, with four separate stories, that may be compelling, but don't exactly fit well with each other. The whole intent of this film was to tell four different stories of people across the globe, and then connect them all. While three out of the four stories do connect nicely together, the fourth plotline about Japanese girl Chieko stands out far too much from the rest of the film and is poorly tied, with an insignificant connection. The three 'key' stories, involving Yussef and Ahmed (played by Boubker Ait El Caid and Said Tarchani) in Afghanistan, joined by Richard and Susan (played by Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett) as well as Amelia (played by Adriana Barraza) in Mexico all fit well together and display a captivating and sorrowful story. The characters are directly involved with one another, and they are even set in a similar desert climate which gives similar aesthetics and enhances the feeling of connection. In stark contrast, the story about Chieko (played by Rinko Kikuchi) is set in the modern city of Japan and is loosely connected to the others. Her storyline may be a good one in its own right, but it ultimately doesn't fit with the rest of the puzzle that is the film. However, this disconnect is not to the demise of the film as it is redeemed by the fantastic acting, with Cate Blanchett, Brad Pitt, Mustapha Rachidi and Adriana Barraza being clear highlights. Alejandro G. Iñárritu's direction is brilliant as this film is filled with captivating shots of the different settings and the cinematography is striking. The real highlight of this film is in the soundtrack, by Gustavo Santaolalla. The music is extremely effective in provoking the emotional response intended for its audience and is certainly deserving of it's Oscar win. Overall, this film is an epic piece of misery, that is only let down by its hit-and-miss attempt at telling different stories that are meant to connect well.

"Babel," an extraordinary film from master filmmaker Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu is a true sensation, a story that hits hard and stays with you. Circling around three intertwined stories on three continents, the lives of very different yet similar people are explored in poetic fashion. "Babel" focuses on how misunderstandings shape our lives and how people all over the world can be connected through shared tragedy. What Innaritu does that makes this masterpiece so successful and effective is have characters who seem so real as if we're watching a do commentary. Few films have a cast that is so dynamically good and authentic in their true to life performances. This is a story that leaves a hole in your heart and moves you deeply. "Babel" is a knockout in storytelling and a beautiful work of sensational art.