Damien Chazelle’s magnum-opus ‘Babylon,’ opened to an early screening this Monday in Beverly Hills, ahead of its release on December 23. And it’s been garnering polarising reviews, to say the least, with some critics calling it “high octane” while others are finding it too messy.   

But before we get into that, here’s a brief synopsis of the movie – “A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.”  

If there’s anything Hollywood loves more than money, it’s making movies about itself. Babylon is no exception, with the likes of Brad Pitt, Tobey Maguire, Margot Robbie and Diego Calva in the lead. Helming it is Chazelle, who’s worked up quite an impressive resume in the last few years with movies like La La Land, First Man, and his Sundance breakout Whiplash.  

Brad Pitt plays the role of Jack Conrad, a fictionalized version of 20s icons such as John Gilbert, Clark Gable, and Douglas Fairbanks. Meanwhile, Margot Robbie is Nellie LaRoy, based on Clara Bow, Jeanne Eagels, Joan Crawford, and Alma Rubens. While we don’t have the confirmation yet, Maguire is reported to portray Charlie Chaplin in the movie.   

Apart from the Hollywood heavy-hitters, the 188-minute epic stars Jean Smart, Li Jun Li, and Jovan Adepo. In interviews, Chazelle has described the movie as being inspired by Federico Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, Robert Altman’s Nashville, and The Godfather. But do the critics agree? Let’s take a look at some reactions   

Image credits – Paramount Pictures