‘Babylon’ Review: Brad Pitt And Margot Robbie Soar In Damien Chazelle’s Wild And Turbulent Ride Through Early Hollywood

deadline.com:

After enormous success and Oscars for films ranging from Whiplash to La La Land to First Man Director/Writer Damien Chazelle returned to an early dream project first envisioned 15 years ago, a no-holds barred look at early Hollywood, a time when not only movies were transitioning from silent to sound, but Los Angeles itself was booming from desert to bulging metropolis.

People were caught up in a turbulent time of change, and it didn’t always work out for some. As witnessed in the resulting film and years of meticulous research, Babylon is a sight to behold, a decadent, free wheeling, at times even poignant look at a series of dreamers, stars, fringe players, and all who wanted a piece of a world that felt out of control, uninhibited, and full of promise – and downfall.

With more than 100 speaking roles and a widescreen full of extras, Chazelle has created a vision of Hollywood at the time that seems strikingly original, yet oddly appropriate from the man who viewed another set of dreamers in Hollywood through a more romantic and contemporary lens in La La Land, the film that would make him the youngest Best Director Oscar winner ever, garner 14 nominations, and win 6.

He seems drawn to the intrigue of who drifts into this city, separated by several generations, but still finding L.A. a magnet.