Before I begin let me start by saying it is rare for me to encounter a Brad Pitt movie that I don’t like. This is not because I fancy Pitt as an actor, but rather that he picks interesting roles and does his job well. I expected the best from Babel because everything I heard pointed in that direction. Of course, not everyone liked Babel. I find that people will either love this movie or hate it. Either way you will end this film with plenty of strong feelings of what you have just seen.

Alejandro González Iñárritu (21 Grams) directed this poignant film that speaks to you with and without words, across cultures, and in the most important ways possible. The film centers on four very different areas and cultures that are all seemingly linked together due to one rifle.

Babel stars Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett, who play a married couple, Richard and Susan. While the couple, who appear to be having some problems with their marriage, tour Morocco, their children Debbie (Elle Fanning) and Mike (Nathan Gamble) remain home with nanny Amelia (Adriana Barraza). The children are in San Diego with the nanny, but soon head to Mexico when the nanny cannot find a babysitter and has to cross the border for her son’s wedding. As she plans to only be gone for a few hours she goes with intentions to have the children home later in the evening.

Early in the movie, we witness a transaction that occurs in Morocco. A herder purchases a rifle with plans of keeping the jackals away from his herd. A horrible accident occurs that sets off a chain of events that involve the American tourists and the Moroccan families. As an American tourist is injured and may not make it out alive, news begins to funnel through both involved countries with more concern for the political climate and less for the people involved. The “attack” which was nothing more than an accident creates rumors of death, terrorism, and intentional malice.

Meanwhile, trouble also strikes in Mexico, but that is not all. In another part of the world we are introduced to Chieko (Rinko Kikuchi), a Japanese teenager living in Tokyo. She is insecure, scared, and dealing with more than most people should on their own. Due to her hearing impairment (Chieko is deaf), she feels like she has to prove something to everyone. Add that to the fact that her mother died and she has incredible problems with rejection.

From here we learn how these cultures are joined and what that means even when the joining may be so small that no one cares to notice until they have no choice. When the entire story is put together and the pieces come into full view you will be astounded by the beauty and power of the picture. The writing was strong, the directing was superb, and the acting was worthy of an Academy Award.

The special features include the theatrical trailer and movie previews, but this is not the shining special feature that makes this Babel DVD a collector’s edition. The second disc in the set offers a documentary, “Common Ground: Under Construction Notes” that provides an intimate look at how this film came to be from casting choices to the true filming elements that helped to make Babel the magnificent picture that it really is.

Babel is one of those movies that cannot fully be understood until you have witnessed the entire thing. As you sit there and watch, it grabs your attention and won’t let go until the very end, and even then it will stay with you long after the final note of the score has played. This excellent movie is highly recommended. You won’t regret owning this great film.

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Technorati Tags: Babel, Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Elle Fanning, Drama, Movie Review, DVD, Cultural Differences, Global Understanding

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