Film Review: “Babylon”

Chazelle’s trip to Babylon leaves us cold

Aspiring actress Nellie LaRoy (Margot Robbie) meets Manny Torres (Diego Calva) at a wild party.

Babylon, this season’s third (yes, third!) movie about the movies is by far the worst of the trio. While The Fabelmans and Empire of Light have a few pluses, Babylon is too bloated and draggy to recommend. Writer/director Damien Chazelle (La La Land; First Man; Whiplash) clearly loves the movies, but with Babylon, he’s made one that might actually steer his audience away from the form instead of toward it.

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Film Review: Fences

Powerful performances anchor heavy family drama

Young Cory (Jovan Adepo, l.) doesn’t see eye to eye with his father Troy (Denzel Washington).

If you’re finishing up Christmas dinner later this evening and contemplating a trip to the cinema for a new release the whole family can enjoy, you may be better off today with Hidden Figures, and not Fences. That’s not to say Fences doesn’t warrant a recommendation; it certainly does, but let’s just say during a time of year in which your own family issues and simmering resentments might be coming to the forefront, watching another family going through the same may not be high on your list.
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