First two hours of Babylon

I'm trying not to sound tritely heterosexual, but Margot Robbie in Babylon is one of the more vibrant things I've seen on screen in a while. Chazelle paints her in the most idolatrous light: between the cinematography, the costume, the script, and the adoration she sucks up from all male characters around her, her role is designed for optimal wow factor; designed to be a quintessential bombshell, in the exaggerated style with which the movie handles the entire Jazz Age of Hollywood. That's not to take away from Robbie's performance -- she is bursting with energy, constantly dancing, screaming, or crying, never at rest, and she does all of these things with a lot of life and a lot of talent. I don't think I'd really seen her before Barbie; since Barbie, I've seen her in a few less sanitized roles, and she proves her range. Yes, Barbie is sanitized, despite the ugly cry scene and the messy feminism.

Babylon is weirdly like Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Both involve aimless wandering through the joys and emptinesses of gilded Hollywood. Both involve Margot Robbie anxiously watching her own movie in a theater and beaming when she realizes everyone loves her. Both involve Brad Pitt, although this time he takes Leonardo DiCaprio's role, sort of, as the washed up superstar. I liked him better in OUATIH, but I like him still. I like Brad Pitt. He's a nice blend of Hollywood royalty and down-to-earth (on screen at least).

Amazingly, Tarantino may win the subtlety battle of this comparison, his first win ever in this category. His subtlest movie just barely squeaks past the least subtle movie ever (Babylon).

I am liking Babylon. I'm surprised the critical reception is so lukewarm. Usually I dislike aimless movies, but this time, that doesn't bother me, because it's so lively. It feels consequential.