Babylon Trailer: Oh My God, Damien Chazelle made a Baz Luhrmann film

Christ, that trailer went on forever and Margot Robbie is like nails on a chalkboard at this point. Also, third movie this year about the magic of filmmaking (after Empire of Light and The Fabelmans). Can Hollywood please stop masturbating already?

Didn't Baz just ruin the legacy of elvis? He's not tired?

This looks something that emerged from a nightmare world where Baz Luhrmann and Ryan Murphy were the same person

Eric Roberts, so there is that.

Brad pitt playing himself but in 20’s setting?

This looks awful. Robbie and Pitt are both too old to play their respective characters, who are meant to be contemporaries and also very young. Robbie also looks nothing like Clara Bow, who was a small round faced Brooklyn girl. This movie looks like shit.

This will be a box office flop… the budget is allegedly 110 million !!

Jean Smart is there, so I will be too.

I dream that this becomes to Chazelle what Cats is to Tom Hooper

R2 = idiot with reading comprehension issues

American audience love violence but not nudity or drugs in their films.

Doesn't look too bad. Looks better than that sepia toned movie about Hollywood from last year, and a bit less tacky than Baz's crap. And Brad looks good.

This looks obnoxious and exhausting.

A January release? Uh-oh. Also how uninspired to cast the leads of “Once Upon a Time” in another Hollywood tale. Robie is so one note.

R14, So no oscar nods because of the late release?

Hail Caesar redux

So Blanchet and Robbie will battle it out at the Oscars!

R15, they're doing a limited qualifying release for the Oscars in December. It opens wide in January, probably because the studio wants to get out of the way of the Christmas blockbusters like the Avatar and Black Panther sequels.

I wonder if this could reach “Skidoo” level badness.

Lol @ Olivia Wilde being in this. Apparently just one scene. How jealous do you think she is of Margot Robbie? She has the career Olivia wants. And Greta Gerwig has the directing career she wants as well.

"I just wanna party forever."

"Party" was not used as a verb until the 1980s.

I wonder if "D.Chaz" has ever seen a Hollywood movie made before 1980.

LOL

[...]

I've seen the trailers of Margot's 3 latest movies, but none of them has been or is going to be released soon. What's the point?

This looks chaotic. I hated LaLa Land for similar reasons. They should have just done a serious movie about that era of filmmaking.

Robbie is styled all wrong for a silent-era movie star with that shaggy 80s perm. What were they thinking?

I really don't know what R21 is thinking, but it's ludicrous to characterize Chazelle as a "D. Chaz" type punk who doesn't care about classic movies, as if he's Brent Ratner going straight into features after directing rap videos. His influences are obvious (Jacques Demy's estate should receive a share of Chazelle's earnings for La La Land based on how much he stole from movies like The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), and none of them are from the blockbuster era. There's not even an ounce of Spielberg/Lucas nostalgia that you'd expect from a filmmaker under forty. He's not the Duffer brothers by any measure.

But for as much as I've pushed back on what R21 wrote, I still believe he's intelligent enough to know what trailers are, unlike the person who complained that he kept seeing previews for movies that aren't yet in theaters.

I like it. I like trainwrecks!

R27 sounds triggered with her 500-word essay. No one around to talk to in real life. auntie?

So what's the point of releasing trailers when no movies is coming out in 6 months? What's the point?

A test-screening earlier this year got raves from those who saw it. It's a 3-hour epic about the debauchery of Hollywood in the '20s. It's said to be a cross between Eyes Wide Shut and Caligula. Already early Oscar buzz for Robbie, Jean Smart and Diego Calva.

Was cocaine already a big thing in Hollywood in the '20s? The trailer shows Robbie snorting it.

R90 Are you kidding? Those fuckers took everything and in copious amounts. I don't think cocaine was even illegal then. Selznick was a speed freak. That's how Gone With the Wind got made.

Sure, Pete Hammond. Oscars for everyone

[quote]So what's the point of releasing trailers when no movies is coming out in 6 months? What's the point?

Who wants to take this? Because I feel like the grammar trolls and the movie obsessives have an equal claim here.

The first overt reference to cocaine use I know is THREE ON A MATCH (32), so I assume it was a thing in Hollywood in the 20s, as was heroin and morphine.

Who is "Damian Chazelle"? I feel like I just awoke from a 10 year sleep.

R23: It doesn’t look like they’re gonna stop pushing her anytime soon. She doesn’t have to worry for now. She’ll hit a brick wall anywhere between 35 - 40. After that, she’ll probably produce more and claim some bullshit about it being to highlight women and minority voices.

R23: You can always fuck your way to an Oscar.

[quote]So no oscar nods because of the late release?

This is the British trailer posted above saying it opens in Cinemas January 19. US limited in December for Oscar consideration and wide January 6. Not announced but probably on Paramount + 45 days later.

Interesting to note that this was greenlighted before the ceo of Paramount was fired and the budget is 110 million.

Yes this appears to be a textbook example of burying the previous regime’s mistakes (limited year end opening for below the line noms, wide release in a dead weekend (weekend before MLK), no screenings at the big four fall festivals.

I’m actually curious if they would consider scuttling to Paramount Plus.

It wont make a profit since it’s a niche for the general audience except for the industry folks and cinema fanatics …

You're wrong, r21. "Party" as a verb meaning "to have a good time" dates to 1922.

Why didn't you look it up first?

Cocaine was banned in 1922 after having been used in a variety of medications and (infamously) soft drinks. Supposedly, snorting it became popular in the 1910s.

Does Brad Pitt have any fuck scenes in this? Will he show ass?

reminds me of the disastrous Nightmare Alley remake

Holy shit, that was hard to get through this early in the morning.

I agree about Robbie’s hair and styling being all wrong.

And why does every new film have that “look” to it? — oversaturated warm and cool tones. It won’t age well.

R44: For some reason I thought he wasn't big on nudity but it turns out he's shown his ass a couple of times actually. I don't why I thought that.

Robbie is not supposed to be Clara Bow. They changed that over a year ago. She's supposed to be an amalgam of silent stars.

That said, her hair is ridiculous. Women had hair like that but didn't go out in public (or film a movie) with it down, it would be pinned up into a bob or, for older women, a bun. The styles are either completely inaccurate or ugly variations of fashions seen in 1929-1932 early talkies, the kind of stuff Aileen Pringle would wear and look awful in.

Yeah, I think Margot Robbie is a knockout but she is completely wrong to play Clara Bow with the brunette flapper bob and cupid's bow lips.

Paulette Goddard, perhaps.

Again, she is not playing Clara Bow. Please update your brains with this new information that only just came out back in March 2021.

I see now that the film is supposed to take place in the 1929-1931 early talkie era, so that might explain some of the ugliness of the fashions, but not really the styles. That weird lacy blue thing you see for a second is insanely wrong. The red dress kind of gets the feel of how ugly things were in that era, but the cut is all wrong.

Even Kay Francis looked awful during those years.

[quote]Who is "Damian Chazelle"? I feel like I just awoke from a 10 year sleep.

He's an American filmmaker who's on the young side (37). He made Whiplash (really good), La La Land (good), and First Man (a snooze...but someone else wrote that one).

Looks absolutely dreadful

R50 I dont pretend to know anything about this film- I was referring to a poster upthread who mentioned she is playing Clara Bow. But do go on...

She's playing a character that's based off of and clearly supposed to be Clara Bow, just like Pitt is playing a character that's based off and clearly supposed to be John Gilbert.

Margot Robbie is so boring. She is the same in every movie. Does she have fans?

That's what jumps out at me when I see shots from the film. Margot Robbie's look is completely wrong for that era, especially her hair. Why is it so hard for movie stars to adopt appropriate historical hairstyles in film?

Also, are we supposed to be shocked/surprised that people did drugs in the 20's? Hollywood had such a bad reputation in the 20's the Hays Code was instituted in the early 30's to prevent movies from being banned outright. Portrayal of illegal drug use was one of the Hays Code restrictions.

Brad’s character is based on John Gilbert a movie star who had a hard time transitioning to talkies and who also drank and is violent towards his wife so his promo for babylon will probably be about him as a member of AA and being sober.

Hays Code didn't come into effect until 1934.

"La La Land"

“Gladiator!”

And here I thought the movie was about Babylon Long Island home to Rodney Dangerfield, Butterfly McQueen, Geraldo Rivera, Billy Hayes of "Midnight Express" fame and Captain Kangaroo.

And Jessica Hahn

I couldn’t make it through

The Production Code was more rigorously enforced beginning in July 1934. The 1930 Code was in effect in the so-called 'Pre-Code Era,' but was flouted by the studios needing to get butts in seats during the worst of the Depression by offering more sex and violence.

Until the Catholic Church shut that whole fun stuff down.

I’m sick of these vacant Australians taking over Hollywood. Sure they’re pretty. But they have no depth. They spend all their time working out and being cheery instead of training for their craft. You’ll never catch a Hemsworth sitting around reading Shakespeare or a Sam Shepard play. Robie is the female equivalent.

Zillion-dollar garbage.

Was Joan Crawford a coke head in the '20s-30s?

Does the story take place in the 70's? Because Robbie's hairstyle is definitely NOT 20's or 30's.

Joan a cokehead? LMAO!

Did Pepsi-Cola contain cocaine when Joan was seen with a bottle in every photo?

Bump for intrigue

John Gilbert died at 38 so Brad Pitt is about 20 years older than that.

"Does Brad Pitt have any fuck scenes in this? Will he show ass?"

Who cares, he lost his looks a long time ago

Margot is Box Office Poison 2023.

Why does every movie and TV show now appear to have been edited by a band of methheads?

No stone hangers - EVER!

She's not playing Clara Bow or a character based only on Clara Bow. They decided in early 2021 to change the character to someone based on a bunch of silent film starlets as well as adding fictitious elements. You guys didn't keep up with the new information. Fine, but don't double down on it like r55 did and claim that your incorrect opinion is right and that every article out there about the movie that has been written since early 2021 is wrong.

[quote]As for Robbie, she’s playing Nellie LaRoy, a scrappy aspiring actress who’s an amalgam of early stars like Clara Bow, Jeanne Eagels, Joan Crawford, and Alma Rubens.

[quote]Why is it so hard for movie stars to adopt appropriate historical hairstyles in film?

It's not their call. If the director wants modern-day hair, that's what they'll have, regardless of their own personal opinions. Maybe someone like Pitt could demand a change and get it, but Robbie couldn't.

It’s like Ryan Murphy scooped up something Baz Luhrmann pooped out

Sorry r3.

Studio is killing it.

Robbie had better hope this pops, because two flops in a row with this and Amsterdam would NOT be good.

Amsterdam was just terrible.

R83: Don't forget Barbie.

Probably going wide since they want to collect as much money as possible up front, and then it will drop off dramatically - bomb.

It’s been screened

For whatever reasons, this trailer makes me thinks of a very large bowl filled with water, and a bunch of plums floating inside of it, that’s been left out in the hot sun for a few days.

🤷🏽‍♀️

I’ll stream it someday, surely.

No one watched Amsterdam R84 to know whether or not it’s terrible. Babylon is a guaranteed flop. Margot has one more shot with Barbie, if it flops, she’s done.

I'm reading mixed reactions from twitter. Some areon the extremes for both sides.

“A love letter to cinema that made me hate cinema.”

Where does Damien Chazelle go from here? What happened to Tom Hooper after Cats?

Oscar bait movies don’t sell anymore. You can make them and get awards but it won’t align with the box office.

After reading Scott Menzel's tweets, I'm not sure anyone should trust his taste in movies. He lavishes praise on the Ryan Reynolds / Will Ferrell holiday movie Spirited, and says the new Puss in Boots will be "Shrek-level great."

And he might not like Damien Chazelle, but there's one filmmaker Menzel adores:

[quote]To sound like the hip person I’m not, this video fucking slaps. I love the song but the video has such a deliciously dark vibe that blurs the lines of sadness & sarcastic humor. #TaylorSwift continues to showcase her talent, not only as a singer/writer but as a filmmaker too.

This flopping won’t affect Margot Robbie because there are 3 leads, they are failed Oscar bait movies, not failed blockbusters.

And it will flop, by the way.

[quote] “A love letter to cinema that made me hate cinema.”

I don't know if this is bad or not. Are we SUPPOSED to love Hollywood culture or just the movies it makes? A movie depicting the debauchery of it all is kind of the purpose of the movie, no?

With Babylon now dead in the water, it's between The Fabelmans and Everything Everywhere All At Once for best picture. Top Gun is also assured a nomination now.

Margot Robbie is now out of the best actress race, with Cate Blanchett, Michelle Yeoh and Michelle Williams as clear frontrunners.

I don't see any of the critics talking about Jean Smart's performance in Babylon, so maybe she isn't a frontrunner anymore for best supporting actress.

Slow your horses, R96. Damn your ADHD has gotten out of control.

I saw the trailer for this in a movie theater and thought it was set in a sci fi alternate universe version of Hollywood. It’s that much of a mess.

And Brad Pitt as a John Gilbert type? In the 1920s, at his age, Pitt would have been consigned to character parts.

I enjoy films about old Hollywood if they’re done well. I think “The Day of the Locust” is probably the best I’ve seen, and is in my top 10 favorite movies. I will probably end up seeing this just because it looks like pure, debaucherous insanity. Jean Smart and Tobey Maguire’s appearances intrigue me. I am not thrilled about Brad Pitt. Margot Robbie looks entertaining here IMO, although I’m not sure why they have her dressed up looking like Fergie.

That might be the most insufferable trailer I’ve ever watched (the music alone, ugh).

Brad Pitt doing his usual Brad Pitt thing in the trailer. I think Hollywood is pretty tired at this point… it all seems so predictable. I’m sure they had to get Pitt and Robbie to ensure financing… I’m sure a director whose dream project this was probably had other actors in mind but was strong armed into using “bankable” stars.

well anyway as a Hollywood aficionado this trailer gave me nothing, it’s not stirring up any excitement. I guess I’ll wait to hear what the verdict is. So far it looks pretty empty like I thought OUATIH was- all style and no substance.

Speaking of these Hollywood love letter films, does anyone even talk about “The Artist” anymore? That was another film i found hugely overrated in terms of story…

[quote]Margot Robbie's look is completely wrong for that era, especially her hair.

She's got a very contemporary face. Not the look for the old era HW.

[quote]does anyone even talk about “The Artist” anymore?

Just in terms of it not holding up well as a Best Picture winner. Everyone seemed fond of it in 2011-12, but the moment passed and it looked dinky. The same fate probably awaits CODA, with the girl improbably wowing the Berklee admissions people by singing a pretty good cover of "Both Sides Now." It didn't have outstanding writing or direction, but it had deaf actors playing deaf people (representation cred) and it was likable.

So is it deliberate that Margot Robbie is styled like she was scraped off the floor of Studio 54?

She also looks too old to be a starlet.

I hope this movie bombs. I can't stand Margo Robbie and I'm getting to feel the same way about Brad Pitt. It looks like a fucking mess.

Why is this movie 3 hours and 12 minutes? I have seen triple features in theaters so movie lengths don't bother me but they better worth the time.

It seems par for the course with the auteurs- Luca, Ari A, Matt Reeves, Denis V all have movies out over 3 hours. Studios are being too indulgent with them. Actually Marvel is getting close with 2:45 running times (BP WF).

With Villeneuve, though, I get it. We've seen how incoherent Dune is when chopped down to a little over two hours. He's made concise movies before. Polytechnique (still one of his best) is not even an hour and a half. I think he lets the relative complexity of the material lead him, which is the way it should work.

Babylon only grossed $3.5 million on opening weekend. It cost $100 million to make. Paramount stands to lose more than $90 million on the film. Industry insiders are calling it a "Heaven's Gate"-like cataclysmic event in the industry.

Margot Robbie is box-office poison. She is on a roll with the flops: Bombshell, Birds of Prey, The Suicide Squad, Amsterdam & now Babylon. She better hope that Barbie is a big hit, or her career is completely over.

has anyone seen the whole movie yet?

At 3 hours 15 minutes they probably on have three shows a day per screen.

These industry flunkies need to be shot out of a cannon

“David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research, suggests there’s still room for optimism regarding “Babylon,” an over-the-top ode to Hollywood. “The film will get a boost if it picks up big awards nominations,” he says.”

America IGNORES the Academy Awards and yet a BADLY REVIEWED FLOP will suddenly get a b.o. boost if it receives TECHNICAL NOMINATIONS.

David Gross is the Hollywood equivalent of Putin’s cabinet.