Babel

USA, 2006

Director:

Alejandro González Iñárritu

Starring:

Brad Pitt
Cate Blanchett
Rinko Kikuchi
Kôji Yakusho
Adriana Barraza
Gael Garcia Bernal
Nathan Gamble
Mohammed Akhzam
Boubker Ait El Caid

Matt: B-

Adam: B-

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No, not the Tower of... (or is it..?), nor the promising young Ajax midfielder, but the acclaimed Brad Pitt vehicle of 2006. Now, the Tower of Babel, Wikipedia reliably tells me, was supposedly constructed by the united effort of humankind and the cosmopolitan perspective on offer here is very dear to my heart (visit www.cosmopolitanism.org.uk to see why, oh what a seamless lead into a shameless plug that was) and is clearly referenced in the title.

I liked this, but not as much as I thought I would. It's main flaw is definitely the Richard (Pitt)/Susan (Blanchett) storyline. I like both of them as performers, but felt little for the characters here and really couldn't have cared less whether Susan lived or died. Much more time should have been spent on the other three stories, particularly the compelling drama centred around Chieko, a deaf and frustrated Japanese adolescent, memorably (and movingly) portrayed by the superb Rinko Kikuchi. Like so many of the films I've reviewed recently, a great idea spoiled (though certainly not ruined) by a less than perfect delivery. However, this is certainly worth a watch. Just keep patience with the bits that drag.

ME