Babel (2006)
Recommended for mature audiences 15 years and over
4 interlocking stories all connected by a single gun all converge at the end and reveal a complex and tragic story of the lives of humanity around the world and how we truly aren't all that different. In Morocco, a troubled married couple are on vacation trying to work out their differences. Meanwhile, a Moroccan herder buys a rifle for his sons so they can keep the jackals away from his herd. A girl in Japan dealing with rejection, the death of her mother, the emotional distance of her father, her own self-consciousness, and a disability among many other issues, deals with modern life in the enormous metropolis of Tokyo, Japan that is literally the size of the state of California. Then, on the opposite side of the world the married couple's Mexican nanny takes the couple's 2 children with her to her son's wedding in Mexico, only to come into trouble on the return trip. Combined, it provides a powerful story and an equally powerful looking glass into the lives of seemingly random people around the world and it shows just how connected we really are.
| Status: | QuickPick |
|---|---|
| Run time: | 142mins |
| Origin: | FRANCE |
| Aspect Ratio: | 16:9 Enhanced |
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Member Reviews (297)
297 Member
Reviews
Lynnieb
says
Great movie. Gritty stories. Plenty of action. Great acting. Kept you on the edge of your seat.
Graz
says
Over rated annoying film. I didn't care about any of the characters.
gerald
says
A complex story with a few surprises, well cast. Eastern cultures and poverty realistically depicted. Great acting and entertaining. I enjoyed this one.
Roy Page
says
brilliant story , very well put together, heaps of action
Martin
says
Very confronting but well done
rosasupposes
says
great ensemble cast
Ann
says
A very unusual movie.
Andrew W
says
Fantstic movie - one of my all time faves
laurie Earl
says
We enjoyed the movie but it's not one to watch if you want something light hearted. The movie links 4 different families - one is a guy in Morocco who buys a rifle for his sons to keep the animals away from his sheep. Whilst they are taking pot shots with it, one of their shots goes thru the window of a tourist bus where it hits an American husband. This leaves their young children in the care of a Mexican illegal immigrant who takes them to her sons wedding and gets them lost in the desert. Finally the Japanese man who supplied the rifle in the first place has a story. Very interesting and well done
Janet K
says
This was terrible. I was ready to turn it off after 30 minutes, but I left it on thinking that it's definitely going to pick up in the next few minutes ... it has to. Oh, how I was wrong - 2.5 hrs later I turned it off thinking 'i'm never going to get that time back'. I think the film would have been better if the 3 stories were separate. The Japanese storyline would have been great to see from beginning to end. The girl in it was a really interesting character (if not a bit disturbed), but very interesting. If you've got 2.5hrs spare then watch this film it not then don't wast your time - Brad and Cate aren't even worth watching in it.
Bavin
says
Concentrating on the box-office-friendly actors Pitt and Blanchett will distract you from the essence of this movie. It might have been better without them because the rest of the cast are unknowns but are excellent. It is a movie that requires concentration, and if you pay close attention it will reward you, as the links between the 3 plot lines are gradually revealed to us. Whilst each plot line is screened in logical sequence, the 3 plotlines are interwoven non-chronologically. However, this playing with time is not overdone and it makes for a fascinating experience. This is not a fast-paced film, but every scene advances the story or characterisation. It is very cleverly written and filmed, and it takes the viewer on an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. I can't imagine Hollywood churning out such a layered film. It was fascinating and gripping - a superb movie experience.
Annette
says
fantastic movie, recommend
Sally B
says
Excellent movie. Incredibly thought provoking, making you think how easily your own life could change in an instant. Deals with the differing emotions in people in a very clever way, highlighting how similar we are no matter what life we lead.
Helen
says
What a waste for Cate. Much too long. Quite a bit of unpleasantness that developed . . .into nothing.
Alex H
says
the second time I saw this film made more sense of the several interviewig stories. Very eralistically filmed.
Ange
says
considering the big name actors in this i was expecting more. it never really came together for me and there was too much going on. pretty disappointing - i wouldn't recommend it
Karl Huszti
says
An excellent and entertaining film - But - unfortunately, the quality of the Disk is in need of attention! Halfway through the film got "stack" and lost a bit of the content by manually moving it further!
But the film is very rewarding to watch!
Bruce
says
A well thought out story, that, because you're not quite sure how things are connected, has a slight menacing edge to it all the way through. Tourists and the "system" don't come out of it too well. One of my new top ranked movies.
bec
says
Very long movie. very beutifully shot. Very arthouse. Good thing I had it on DVD to fastfoward all the dramatic long shots of country with dramatic music. Well done. Best part is the mexican lady story. Japanese story part weird.
Kate
says
Extremely interesting, if you are interested in the world as a whole. Racism and double standards. I thought about this movie for days afterwards. If you watch this movie, think about putting yourself in the other persons shoes.
lisa
says
fell asleep twice....had nice dreams but...lol
Tezza
says
The screenplay can hardly be considered 3 star - there is a segment about Japan that takes up a good portiion of the film and though there is some 'sex' in it, the segment contributes nothing to the story and succeeds in making the film maybe one third longer. Oh well... the gun was owned by the girl's father - but so what? How about 2 stars?
Lance
says
An entertaining cinema moment if a contrived plot... Brad Pitt ages well
Penelope Pentseris
says
Not too bad, good story. 8/10
Stacey2310
says
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. I loved how it all blended in together. Very powerful and meaningful
LaydeJ
says
Three stories originating in Morroco, America, Mexico and Japan, are all interconnected through the causes and effects of the ownership of a rifel.
In a blend of different cultures and seemingly unrelated stories, we are still provided with an intimate insight into each characters environment, values and thoughts.
This film recognise that nationally and environment is the only distinctive difference in our culture and we all have similar challenges and values in our lives and people we hold dear.
A strong cast and a simple story hold this dramatic film tightly together.
CF
says
A really fabulous movie that deserved every award it won
K
says
Very "different" - recomend it.
loui
says
have thousands of thoughts but could not name one by words.....great movie with great storyline what i see is the unfairness of lives between different countries. no one is born equal in this world....
Robyn
says
Interesting story line, but way too long
Brian W.
says
This was confusing at the start as the storyline jumped about but I watched it a second time.
It is a good story and well worth the effort.
But it is important to pay close attention in the first half an hour.
three and a half stars.
Peter E.
says
thoroughly enjoyed the film- kept us guessing where it was heading and how the stories were interrelated
John F.
says
Engrossing and at times disturbing. The Mexican story was quite unsettling.
Ed
says
One of the worst movies of all time. Four boring stories that don't really go anywhere.
Doug F.
says
Found this a tiresome one to keep up with. Almost canned it half hour into it. Sub titles did not help. The only attraction were the headliner actors in Pitt and Blanchette.
Eve W.
says
Great acting, engaging story. An intelligent and enjoyable movie. I would give it 3.5 stars but it doesn't seem possible to give halfs!
Suzanne
says
Not exactly a feel good movie but definately worth watching.
Philip
says
Loved how all the story lines came together in the end. Keeps you on your toes. Great movie.
Stephen
says
A great cheery film for the whole family at Christmas.
Bridget
says
Excellent, enjoyed it thoroughly
Bridget
says
Excellent, enjoyed it thoroughly
Linda
says
Was a bit hard to follow at first, but by the middle things were coming together. Good film, love Brad Pitt good actor :)
Leah
says
Great movie, Ioved the connection between different people all over the world. Very Clever. I reccomend.
Sebastien
says
All plot and no story. There is no real character development, so when the credits start rolling, you shake your fist at the TV and ask "is that it?"
Hayley
says
Unusual movie with weird characters. it was OK overall.
myramag
says
This is a very depressing movie.If you enjoy happy endings this movie is not for you.This movie is the kind that makes you think,but i myself would rather think about positive things than ponder about how awful life can be.
Carly
says
Couldn't stop watching it, I needed to find out what happens to everyone. A very sad movie, certainly not feel good. But well done and great acting
Filipe
says
This movie has negatively scared me for life.
I don't recommend this to anyone!
Jane
says
It was ok but kind of pointless?
Carolyn A.
says
I wanted to be moved by this movie but wasn't. Cate
Kristen
says
Engaging, fresh, and emotionally wide-ranging. I really enjoyed it.
Kathryn Y.
says
4 people watched this movie and all 4 of us did not like the movies ending, it is almost like you wanted more and it left a lot open to interpretation.
David B.
says
Brilliant. Well worth seeing.
David L.
says
The fast forward button comes in handy for this one.
Alison R.
says
A deep movie, which was disturbing at times but one that made you want to reach the end to see how the 4 stories in the film would pan out. Better to watch with subtiles, as we didn't and it did get confusing but made the movie more intense!
Juliet
says
Worth watching once
Wayne
says
A swirling collection of 4 apparently unrelated stories that all spiral in along common connections. Well acted with some big stars but in the end, it seemed to go to a lot of trouble to try to make the connections and I'm not quite sure what the point was. While the 4 stories are connected, I found it difficult to attribute much deeper meaning. But certainly worth viewing.
Belinda P.
says
It does all come together in the end....but is a little unbelievable and I do like realism.
Yet to work out what was going on with the deaf mute Japanese girl and her relationship with her parents....think there might have been something weird there.
Luke M.
says
A real mixture of thing like beautiful location shots, insight into cultures and some lovely subtle moments between actors. 4 tangentially related stories shown non-linearly related to move about the screen, unlike a traditional movie in one sense. But it has a tendency to drag (somewhat), so may be better in two sittings.
Brian H.
says
A truly wonderful movie.
The story line was very thin indeed. However the way it was all intertwined with some great acting, made it worth the watch.
Barbara
says
It's clever how the four stories actually do connect to make an interesting movie.
Micheal S.
says
Dont waste your time on this movie. If you want a well crafted political/drama/thriller then watch Syriana which outrates Babel by 10 times.
Monique N.
says
This movie was nothing like I expected. I enjoyed seeing the different situational and cultural viewpoints on the same story, although as others have written you wonder where it's all going at first.
Dawn C.
says
Slow to get into the story
Michael W.
says
Each of the 4 stories would have made good short films of their own. Together it was spellbinding. Love the cast, he locations, and the music was incredible.
Gregory S.
says
Probably the first movie I actually stopped watching half way through. Poor excuse to use up film.
Kirsti C.
says
I really liked it. So many levels of meaning, moving, beautifully shot. I was enthralled. There was a constant sense of something big about to happen, and then at the end yourealise it had been happening all the way through and it was only once you had the big picture that you could see it.
Sharyn B.
says
I was excited to watch this movie, heard great things, trailer looked good. Only problem once I started to watch it is I don't understand Morroccon, Japanese or Mexican. At one point in the movie for over 25 minutes (that I watched) we had all of the people talking that didn't speak English, they weren't speaking English and there were no sub titles for it. It may all "come together in the end' but what about the middle!
Biko
says
Whilst some may find this too long/too confusing, this reviewer was stunned and overwhelmed at the clever way the director takes a simple arc and uses it to explore the humanism at its core.
Touching performances by all cast members surely should turn the hardest of hearts inward to reflect on the one thing that binds us all - our fragility. Stunning cinematography opens the eye (and heart) to a world without borders... or perhaps borders that shouldn't be so hard to cross...
If you like your film obvious and one-dimensional, look elsewhere. But if you're not afraid to reflect that as disparate as each of these characters are, can imagine yourself in such situations as theirs and pause to think about the title and what that might mean, you'll "get it". The view glimpsed from top of the Tower just before it crumbles is hauntingly beautiful... and is Highly Recommended.
Mary B.
says
enjoyed it for a 2nd viewing. well acted Cate Blanch et didn't have much to do except almost 'die'! Brad Pitt was ok. Nude Japanese girl not sure what she was up to/wanted from anyone. Moroccans poorly done by but scenery good.
John S.
says
A complex but well acted film you have to concentrate or you lose the plot easily
Steve L.
says
Pretty good, although it takes a while to tie it all together and is in danger of losing you along the way.
Sandy J.
says
Absolutely Brilliant! Great Acting! Great Stories! Great Locations! Definitely my cup of tea...
Georgina K.
says
I found watching this movie to be quite an unnerving experience. I sat nervously waiting for the next awful thing to happen - which invariably it did. I found the link to the Japanese girl a bit tenuous and in the end didn't quite know what to think about any of it.
Russell S.
says
This should have been 40 mins shorter. Reasonably entertaining , but i would hestitate to recommend. It's really a 1 1/2 star rater.
Sandra S.
says
What an amazing movie. Do yourself a favour and see it. Shows how one innocent act of kindness can affect people from all over the world. Excellenting made, produced, acted etc. Fantastic.
Tania P.
says
I hated this film. Boring and pretentious.
Gayle R.
says
absolutely hated it - would not give in as i thought with actors like brad pitt and kate blanchett it had to go somewhere. dont bother
Janet W.
says
A long film and boring in parts, but not bad. 2 hours would have been long enough.
Sean D.
says
Never really got in to it. Its like an attempted remake of Crash but not any near as enthralling.
Peter G.
says
Very slow storyline. It eventually gets there but its not worth the pain along the way.
Some great scenery but I dont get movies to look at scenery..that's what holidays are for.
I'd give this one a miss.
Jane G.
says
What a waste of nearly 2 hours!
Had such high hopes after reading reviews, but sadly mistaken. Miserable. Depressing. Very s-l-o-o-o-w. Forgetful. Next...!
Marcus Aurelius
says
Usually I like Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, but this movie lacked a proper story.
Houndkwok
says
Very intense and gripping movie - definitely worth it.
Sabine H.
says
it was okay... not amazing, but pretty good.... the concept was great how one thing we do can effect so many other things... and the desperate plight of many in the world... the tourist bus says it all... going to another country to visit but not really taking any reality in... until they are forced to and of course cant handle it and want out. it was interesting overall.
Lucas W
says
Kylie K.
says
I enjoyed the film but had to concentrate to find out how the stories actually mixed together. A good movie though.
Simone M.
says
Lisa G.
says
Marie D.
says
did not enjoy this movie at all - not much substance despite our current political environment
Ian H.
says
A gripping film, weaving four interconnected stories. Intense and intriguing.
Cherrell S.
says
Very good movie, interesting how all the pieces come together
Jodie M.
says
Could have been a good movie but too overboard on the subtitles - hard to watch - turned off half way thru
Rachael F.
says
A fascinating intricate movie, about how families all over the world can be so easily interlinked. How one small action can have widespread impact. I was glued to the couch for this whole movie.
John S.
says
Terence B.
says
Most enjoyable - he bitter and sweet of love & war
Colleen M.
says
Riveting viewing-amazing how one event has such a profound effect on so many peple from so many different corners of the world.
Really worth watching
Elizabeth D.
says
Naomi P.
says
I thought this film was long, aimless and bleak without any sense of the hope and redemption found in 21 Grams. I also worried about the exploitation of the two Berber boys, one of whom will surely grow up to regret being depicted in a compromising position as an adult.
Kathleen S.
says
nice views of Morocco, somehat unrealistic, esp. taking kids to Mexico, leaving them in desert etc
Jane F.
says
An interesting movie. The ending was a little disappointing as it just stopped without any concrete resolution. I enjoyed the storylines. The acting was excellent.
Trephina L.
says
acting was good, storyline was slow.
Craig J.
says
Alison G.
says
says
best film ever
Jeanette H.
says
Didn't live up to the hype.
Veronica J.
says
Very unusual plot, but an interesting movie. I really enjoyed it. Cate blanchett is always good
Judith B.
says
Angela W.
says
not my type of movie, bit dreary and dark, didn't watch the whole thing
Mary M.
says
this movie is great
Anne H.
says
Andrew R.
says
Axeman
says
A film that rewards your patience. Moody, evocative, well acted and, in the end, quite moving. Well worth the effort.
Frances A.
says
Excellent movie.
Melissa U.
says
Bit strange this one...
Interesting, but certainly not the movie you should see if you are up for something light-hearted. I won't be seeing it again. But I suppose it was worth seeing the once. Not sure what the point was, but perhaps I didn't think enough...!
Noreen W.
says
Confusing in the way it kept switching from one topic to another. Wasn't clear at the end who looked after 'Pitts' kids once the nanny was deported.
Leslie
says
was a little disappointed with this considering all the hype I say judge for yourself
NN
says
Predictably negative. This director needs to develop a new film for his next lot of film.
Siobhan W.
says
Very moving, really cleverly put together with 4 separate but intertweaved stories moving easily between one another
Helen
says
Four interesting stories, which at times were compelling. The unrelated storylines and a lack of any real resolution at the end unfortunately made this movie less enjoyable for me.
Karen B.
says
A promising start with intriguing inter-linked storylines meandered to an unsatisfying conclusion. Watchable for the cinematography and the non-linear story-telling.
Kim W.
says
An enjoyable movie, unusual but fast-paced and interesting. Set in 3 concurrent settings, it leaves you wondering of the link.
Kristy L.
says
Great movie, however felt there were some loose ends that weren't tied off
Luke S.
says
Susan W.
says
Fantastic, great acting, rivetting storyline with the interlinked tale, making an intriging watch.
Justine B.
says
Very interesting movie. The Japanese girls plight is quite moving. The other storylines do not show America in a very good light.
Michael M.
says
Three stories in one did not really appeal.
stimpy
says
With some lovely film work, this movie bought different cultures together and provided an incite into the worlds of others. However, all other aspects of the film were poor. Those who are intellectual are joking if they thing this film has meaning.
Henry D.
says
I liked it my spouse thought it a bit boring. Probably went a tad too long.
Simon M.
says
Elspeth N.
says
Very well crafted and intelligent movie - it makes it very interesting the way the stories develop and the connections reveal themselves. Quite long but worth it and raises some very thought provoking issues.
Kylie W.
says
interesting to see how so many lives are affected by one thing
Christine L.
says
I found parts of this movie very disturbing while other parts were so intimate. Very well written and acted. Enjoyed immensly
Susan P.
says
With 4 seperate stories had no idea where it was all going and how it would finish. Good storyline and good acting. Highlights how something can go terrible wrong and if your poor there is no escape. The Japanese part was sad, but she found love in the end.
Barbara N.
says
Great story lline. Well worth watching.
Narelle W.
says
Pamela M.
says
A quality film but don't watch it if yourlookin gfor sonething uplifting.
Graham S.
says
Joanne H.
says
Its easy to see how 3 of the 4 storylines fit together. its was nice to have the asian deaf girl mixed into the story as it made the whole movie just a little bit different. Although it is a long movie i didn't feel like you got to know a great detail about each character, which was a bit frustrating.
Fulcrum
says
One of the best movies I've seen in a long while. I really liked the multi-layered plot. Just make sure you get the subtitles set up right since it is in several languages - it really helps follow the details. The acting by the Moroccan, Mexican and Japanese actors was particularly brilliant (they acted Pitt and Blancett off the screen).
AM
says
a well constructed story line
STEWART
says
Although in many respects a movie with a rather tragic thread of how minor errors snowball into major problems, it was intriguing right through to the end .
Neal G.
says
good
Chris W.
says
Mostly subtitled but worth reading as it all ties in together at the end. Very interesting plot.
John M.
says
Gets you thinking at the end. Recommended only if you can take slow movies.
Nikita R.
says
I agree with Peter, it is truly one of the best films ever made.
Moira W.
says
Donna M.
says
So much potential, so boring
Damien L.
says
Great story line with a nice twist.
Simone A.
says
Great movie, took a while to understand what was happening, but very well done in the end!
Paul G.
says
Interesting movie which had me guessing how all the mini stories all came together. Worth a look once.
Nigel W.
says
Superior example of a movie intertwining three stories from the third and developed worlds. While beautifully shot I found the links between the three stories at bit of a stretch at times. Individually though the stories were interesting in themselves without, it may be argued, the artificial construct.
Chris D.
says
Deb
says
Enlightening!
Harshini S.
says
Very interesting.
Heidi K.
says
This was a great movie - thoroughly enjoyed it.
daisybelle
says
although the acting was good, I found this movie to be long and boring. It was also depressing and the ending was silly.
Richard R.
says
Darlene W.
says
This was an excellent movie that kept you thinking the whole way through
Nichola M.
says
Takes toooo long - boring.
Susan S.
says
Well done, but depressing
Graham C.
says
Class all the way, not many movies of today anywhere as good as this one.
Stuart R.
says
Pretty bizzare in places but overall worth watching.
Sophie G.
says
Riveting movie. Cate Blanchett is superb and Brad Pitt is great. So many actors shine as do all the intertwined stories.
gra
says
its just a bunch of stuff that happens
good acting tho
Stephen M.
says
Very complex intertwining of 4 connected stories masterfully linked together by 1 object.
Maria S.
says
Janet B.
says
Avery clever method of splitting a story into four sections of first class acting,sceneryand photography ,to join up again at the end tomake a gripping drama.
Wayne M.
says
Intriguing film with lot of subplots. Kept our attention
Some unnecessary sex aspects
Vanessa C.
says
it was ok. a bit boring in places, but the acting was first class
Peter L.
says
One of the best films ever made
Shirl
says
Thoroughly enjoyed it, good story and loved the way it all came together in the end.
Sue J.
says
Very interesting premise, mostly well acted and beautifully filmed. The interwoven stories seemed disconnected at first, then the connections were gradually established - although the plot was confusing at times, events came together at the end. Various themes gave food for thought - although the Japanese connection was less well developed than the others.
Linda H
says
Overall a good movie. Was interesting how they were able to tie all the incidents in together.
John O.
says
At first glance not as brilliant as Amores Perros or 21 grams, but a thrill the whole time, and in the end, with a premise as bold as a mountain, truly worth it. Why borders? Why leave your children alone?
Luisa E.
says
Not too sure what the point was but good to watch.
webgurl
says
I couldn't see the fuss.
Vicki S.
says
easy to follow intertwined stories transparent plot but enjoyed the movie definately worth watching
Stuart D.
says
excellent 4 story weave and acting
Kate S.
says
a very interesting film that links the lives and stories of characters who have no knowledge of each other in various parts of the world. An element of "the butterfly flaps its wings" theory It's all a bit tragic and the ending is not satisfactory but worth seeing.
Daniel H.
says
A well told movie. People who rate this 3 or lower are too narrow minded to understand this film.
Mary J.
says
Very odd movie...not what I would call entertainment although I did get the message,
Jason M.
says
Kaye J.
says
One of the worst movies you've sent us!
Brendon B.
says
Brett H.
says
jojo
says
mu
says
Very apt title for a very confusing film, but then maybe that was the point. Pitt & Blanchet miscast, & no point to the Japanese kids.
Quite disappointing after all the hype.
Belinda L.
says
Good for a perve on Brad but that's about it.
Anna O.
says
Michael O.
says
Tom H.
says
Samadhi T.
says
kind of pointless... very desapointed...
Narelle A.
says
Very long and confusing movie that was difficult to make any sense out of.
Harold B.
says
Very gripping movie, although a bit disorientating. The movie cuts between the 4 story plots, and not shown in any time order?? The underlying theme is strong ie how 1 incident can affect multiple lives.
Chas P.
says
Suzanne W.
says
Very different. Worth the effort in spite of the sub-titles
Sue A.
says
Well wrtten, directed and acted. Also very intersting.
Patty P.
says
I was transfixed on this movie and found it to be a thinking persons film. Great characters, great locations, great story.
John H.
says
Craig V.
says
Angela M.
says
Jean J.
says
Overrated
Barbara S.
says
Charisse G.
says
Good stuff!
quicksticks
says
I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The essential sameness of humanitarianism running through a diverse range of cultures, religions and colours is beautifully portrayed, whilst highlighting the different lives we lead on a global basis.
Donna S.
says
if you want to have a sleep, its not to be missed.....
Ridiculous...
Lara M.
says
Peter F.
says
A thought provoking movie.
Clinton P.
says
Outstanding and gripping!
Maarten S.
says
Sally C.
says
Great piece of work. Lots of depth.
Kristina M.
says
Although Babel got mixed reviews, personally I thought it was an excellent film and the interweaving of the stories, though linked enigmatically, worked well. The characterisation was well-rounded and sympathetic.
Deene H.
says
Brendan H.
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lucy
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Michele G.
says
Shauna T.
says
Really long and a bit graphic, but ok if you have got ht etime to waste!
Donelle T.
says
Cate Blanchett acts just about everyone off the screen, which I think we all expect, the Japanese actress is terrific too, the stories interwine well, but maybe not quite as cleverly as Crash
Max R.
says
2 stars.
This is a confusing distracting film with long drawn out disjointed scenes and long lingering shots which lean toward directorial self indulgence. A thin plot drawn out to it's most extreme. Without double speed forward I wouldn't have survived it. Extremely dull.
Dean R.
says
While this will not be everyone's cup of tea, it still remain a great film. If you are a fan of movies like Momento, Crash and Go then you will enoy this film.
I loved the link between the characters and the movie does get you involved in finding out what happens to each of the characters.
The Japanese storyline was great, giving the viewer an insight into a deaf woman world and the difficulty of being accepted and the lengths this woman had to go through to be accepted..
Powerful movie!
Margaret F.
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I enjoyed it all the different life stories entwining thought it was very cleverly done.
Richard K.
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The twist and turns in the movie ar ewhat keep you going.
Ruth S.
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A gritty and unusual moral tale of consequences. An innocent action affects three unrelated families in totally unexpected ways. Great viewing but a bit draining! Not a mood lifter
Bosiljka H.
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Gripping - how one innocent gesture linked and sparked off a whole reel of incidents; Brad wasn't the best; Cate featured little however, the movie was stark and very horribly real
Deborah S.
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A little disturbing but excellent perforances.
Chrissie G.
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If you want stark reality, watch it. If you prefer Hollywood, don't bother. It was interesting the way all the stories tied in together and also the way it gave the viewer a good hard reality check, but it was a bit depressing and some of the scenes were very explicit.
Deborah S.
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A Little disturbing but outstanding performances
Melinda D.
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Very boring
Hilton S.
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A big film about rascism, disability and young people's opression. Hard yet mostly hopeful.
Hilton S.
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A big film about rascism, disability and young people's opression. Hard yet mostly hopeful.
Shelley C.
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Throughly enjoyable. Long but well worth watching.
Marco A.
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A beatifully constructed film, measured and thoughtful. All the actors do a fine job often with little to work. The reactions of a vast range of people to the event is entirely feasible. As always the most powerful do not come out looking good and the least powerful pay on every front.
Vivienne M.
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A gut wrenching movie where one imagines the worst with the ever increasing drama. A bit slow at times but if you liked Speed you may like this one.
Ana C.
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Three stories tied into one rifle. Concept has been done many times before and while the cast is excellent, I wasn't gripped by this movie like all the hype that came before it.
Luke M.
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Awesome acting by all and great photography. I just was not impressed. I was not left with the feeling of having watched a great movie.
Jennie F.
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Great movie.
Philip S.
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A confronting film that shows how interconnected we all are. Based on the idea that there are just six degrees of separation from any two persons on the planet. The complex plot revolves around an accidental shooting of an American by an Arab boy in Morocco. This event has antecedents and precedents that weave an intriguing if not occasionally obtuse tale. A memorable film for those who like probing storylines.
Jenni K.
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i could not get to like cate blanchett's character or to
have too much sympathy but the japanese teenager story was very sad.
Anna V.
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Interesting Movie - enjoyed it
Trevor T.
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A Great story well told
sara
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It was disappointing!Very poor story line! Good direction and acting but the weak story line makes the whole movie an absolute nonsense!
Rozie W.
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Great story, very moving and believeable. Interesting use of various storylines that intersect. It's quite an intense movie.
Meaghan O.
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not as good as i thought but due to all the hype and the awards it won i just had to see it i would not particularly recommend it
Sue R.
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An excellent movie - intriguing.
Denise
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This was an unusual movie, but quite enjoyable when one realizes how the different parts of the movie are connected. Well done to the producers for something a little different.
gol
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Did not live up to all the 'hype'. Suppose to be a story on communication, but was disjointed, slow and needed better editing. Cate & Brad usually brilliant but did not have much to do in this movie. However wonderful scenery of 4 very different places, worth a look. Liked it....... but it could have been so much better.
Troy C.
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if there nothing else to see then get this i didnt enjoy it too much
Dora D.
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We thoroughly enjoyed Babel despite unfortunately receiving a faulty copy. We managed to get to the end though and was very relieved at not having to wait for another copy.
Ian S.
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Interesting movie. well linked together. worth a look...but not worth writing home about
Monika K.
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The whole concept was excellent the way it all came together.Great film!
Philip H.
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This movie is hard to rate. It isn't your normal movie in that it draws four disparate stories from Morocco, Mexico and Tokyo together by one slim strand. I found it interesting, my partner found it frustrating. I can understand why there is such disparity in the views of other members on the rating of this movie.
Andrew H.
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I wasn't sure whether to give this "Excellent" or "Worth watching". There's no doubt it's a quality film, with excellent performances across the board. The different storylines are all interesting but don't really blend into the overall story very well.
Christine K.
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crap movie
Cheryl B.
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Great!!
Ian C.
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Intriguing and interesting and enjoyable movie
JT
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Although the plot of intricate and the acting and direction first class, the movie was overly long and at around 2 hours and 20 minutes, a good twenty minutes could have been shaved off the film and not lost any impact.
Only for those with strong constitutions.
Harry M.
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Worth a watch as it is a good idea. Not sure it is altogether successful but it is a good film with a good story and strong performances, particularly from the Japanese girl.
Carlee S.
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Maureen E.
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Clare M.
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Franca V.
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Jodi M.
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Jan H.
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This was a great movie, very different from most, but enjoyable
Crozzo
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Brad Pitt played a somewhat minor role in this movie which was rather a disappointment. From the trailer you get an overview of what they are trying to portray - I believe the message is "to listen" but the message I got from watching it was that some people just dont think and make stupid decisions...... the nanny, the kids, the deaf girl . The fact that a lot of the stories that in the end were somewhat entwined were only partially brought to a conclusion left you feeling rather cheated...... only one person in our group of 4 stayed till the end.
Stuart C.
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Clever storyline with a very credible cast. At the start you wonder what the hell the 4 different sitiuations have in common & how they could possibly link up. A brilliant cast make this an exciting & absorbing story.
Yvonne K.
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Overall enjoyed this movies, thought it was a bit slow in places. The story connections were original and worked well, would not have paid to see it at the movies.
Lynn P.
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Excellent viewing; very thought provoking; lots of important moral, social and political issues raised; dealt with subtlety and compassion.
Julie P.
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While the various themes and characters lives weaved around each other well, I thought the movie tried to be too clever sometimes. The time frame was confusing. The best parts of the film were not portrayed by the well known stars - but a young deaf mute whose story still stays in my mind a week after seeing it. Her scene where she weeps into the detectives coat had me stunned.
Glenys G.
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Compelling viewing, thought provoking, and interesting characters. A fascinating concept that is very different.
Rosemary P.
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The format of the film with four loosely linked stories is disconcerting at first. However an excellent cast, great cinematography and the innovative concept make this film well worth watching.
Daphne H.
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Most of it is in a foreign language or two, so unless you are a linguist, it makes no sense, or maybe thats the point of it.
Rachel S.
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Much has been made of this film with critics and I honestly don't know why. I found it disjointed and difficult to concentrate on. There was a lot of gratuitous sexual behaviour which I found served no purpose in driving the plot.
Erin A.
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Didn't really enjoy it, for a complex film addressing similar issues I prefer Syriana
Sandra N.
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Trent S.
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Wow, Brad Pitt acting. There's other good stuff too.
Brian S.
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A very loosely connected bunch of lack lustre short stories with no redeeming features. A shame to see some good actors wasting talent on this pretentious garbage.
Debbie B.
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Disjointed & hard to follow
Ending disappointing
Sharryn B.
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Very dissapointing for a Brad pitt movie- if you could call it a movie!
T C.
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Nicole.
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Debbie W.
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keenie
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sorry, but this wasnt a movie i can really say that i enjoyed. i was very disappionted and with two great actors in it i thought it would be great. i did not like it
Yvonne W.
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Cassandra B.
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Was not as caught up in the hype of this movie as I expected. What was with the whole Japanese girl plot? It didn't fit! Found the whole movie boringly pretentious!!
Clare A.
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I loved the story that intertwined one incident with the impact on so many lives. The weakest story and most uninteresting was the American tourists. Fascinated by the Afghan story, the Japanese story and the Mexican story. This film stayed with me for days and makes you think about "consequences".
Sue T.
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Troy C.
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A superb film! Brilliantly acted. It's amazing how much emotion is conveyed by each of the characters with minimal dialogue. The way one event changes so many lives - even a world away - is certainly thought provoking.
Sally Ann C.
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Lizzie O.
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The plots converging was clever, but overall I didn't enjoy the movie. An attempt to age Brad Pitt didn't work for me!
Mcgowan N.
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Naomi P.
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I like the idea, not sure if it came together as well as it could have. The actors were great, and even though it was extremly long, all the different story lines kept me interested.
Wendy M.
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a very thoughtful and engaging movie loved Brad Pitt
Caroline M.
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This is, all in all, a piece of pretentious nonsense!
Bradley W.
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Moroccan goat farmers, a shooting, a deaf mute Japanese schoolgirl, an illegal Mexican immigrant babysitter. You wonder where it's all going but it comes together in the end.
Justine D.
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excellent!