Babel

Ba·bel

n.

1. A confusion of sounds or voices.

2. A scene of noise and confusion.

Never before was a film more appropriately named. The movie follows three groups of people in three remote corners of the world connected by only a weak story that leaves you with more questions than answers. I lobbied, unsuccessfully, for an early exit but was forced, against my will, to witness what I’d describe as the movie industry’s equivalent of the Emperor’s New Clothes. Here you have a movie so thoroughly devoid of anything resembling a coherent story that after the first 30 minutes you stop caring what happens to anyone. Think Magnolia. But wait, you’re thinking, this movie is nominated for an Academy Award. That’s because the members of the academy are playing art-chicken with their creative friends. They’re attempting to justify their sense of art (and themselves as artists) by “recognizing” this movie as an artistic creation worthy of praise where those that fail to see the art in this creation are no doubt encumbered by their intellectual ineptitude and lack of creativity.

Seeing this movie was a waste of 3 hours and $10, and I would have gladly paid $20 to skip the experience entirely.