BetterMost, Wyoming & Brokeback Mountain Forum
The World Beyond BetterMost => The Culture Tent => Topic started by: Lynne on October 26, 2006, 03:12:00 am
-
I'm really looking forward to seeing this!
"...[Director] Inarritu does succeed in creating a compelling and unnerving sense of dislocation, by presenting several points of view, and several perceptions of the consequences, almost simultaneously. Essential to this effect are the contributions of composer Gustavo Santaolalla and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto (reunited after their work on “Brokeback Mountain”)."
Here's the whole review:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/15224680/
-
Thanks Lynn, I gotta hear this.
A-
-
That does sound interesting.
(Without my glasses, I first thought this said, Santaolalla and Prieto Work Together on "Babe!")
:)
-
That does sound interesting.
(Without my glasses, I first thought this said, Santaolalla and Prieto Work Together on "Babe!")
:)
thanks so much for this....i laughed myself silly,,,i do that sometimes,too. great bit of late night fun.... janice
-
The Boston Globe has a much more in-depth review of 'Babel.' It sounds so intriguing to me. Here's a fast excerpt, but the 3-page article is worth reading (www.boston.com registration may be required).
"The great passion of director Alejandro González Iñárritu -- many would argue his great gift -- is for building collages, and his new film, "Babel," which opens Friday, is another of his collage works. While the devastating edges of his earlier films, " Amores Perros" and "21 Grams," are tempered with hope, the themes of loss, alienation, and colliding worlds remain..."I like the idea of the Japanese story being like an incense, like a perfume, like a smell floating mysteriously during the whole film, until it's revealed at the end that it's the beginning of everything -- that without that, nothing will exist," says González Iñárritu during a conversation in Boston earlier this month. The concept, he says, was "how this story of chaos, of the butterfly in Tokyo, will spread a storm.""
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/10/29/the_music_of_chance/
-
Fox News, calls Babel a 'masterpiece,' but is considerably less enthusiastic. Guess we'll have to go see it and make up our own minds. -Lynne
"Babel," which stars Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt among a cast of mostly unknown yet terrific actors, is a masterpiece. But for the life of me I don't know why anyone would want to see it. This independent film, by Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu, is so intense and emotionally disturbing that no dialogue is needed.
With incredible original music by Gustavo Santaolalla, "Babel" would work with the score alone, even without dialogue.
...
Every storyline is tinged with impending doom, and none disappoint. You'll find yourself squirming in your seat, closing your eyes and pretty much wondering why you spent $10 to put yourself through such agony, particularly if you're a parent.
From the tragic story of the rifle boys in Morocco, to the touching story of Chieko as she struggles to find herself and ultimately the loss of the children in the desert around the Mexican border, Iñárritu leaves no parent un-squirmed. It's ironic then that he dedicates this film to his own children, his "lights in this dark world." Indeed. After watching this film, you'll rush home to pay the babysitter, and you just might wake up in the bunk bed next to the light of your life, who is safe in your arms.
...
"Babel" makes you think about what you have, and how suddenly and easily the things you care for most could be in danger. That said, while a commendable reminder, we do have the nightly local news for that.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,225722,00.html
-
Well, I liked Amores Perros and 21 Grams, and Brokeback Mountain. So I'll be seeing Babel... :D
-
People are saying good things about Gustavo's work in Babel:
http://www.voymusic.com/radio/news-50540-gustavo_santaolalla_receives_critical_acclaim_for_score_of_babel
And he's being nominated for a Golden Globe award:
"...And the circle of nominated composers read like a survey of world music with the French-born Alexandre Desplat ("The Painted Veil"), British-born Clint Mansell ("The Fountain"), Argentinean Gustavo Santaolalla ("Babel"), Italian Carlo Siliotto ("Nomad") and German-born Hans Zimmer ("The Da Vinci Code")."
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i38f393d69cad0c9a7bfc6499ee710b02
I must go see it, but when? Maybe over the holidays...Has anyone seen it yet??
-
... and Broadcast Film Critics Nominations:
"Babel" also garnered a best picture nomination, along with two nods for best supporting actress (Adriana Barraza and Rinko Kikuchi), best acting ensemble, best writer (Guillermo Arriaga), best soundtrack and best composer (Gustavo Santaolalla).
http://theenvelope.latimes.com/awards/critics/env-broadcastcritics-noms-12dec12,0,150959.story?coll=env-home-headlines
-
A friend and I saw Babel last night, and I loved both Gustavo's and Rodrigo's work! It is well worth seeing, and I'll be getting the soundtrack soon.
The sound in the theatre was too loud, so that was annoying. Nevertheless, Gustavo's plaintive guitar strains - Spanish style for the scenes in Mexico, and Middle Eastern for Morocco - were completely identifiable as HIS. His use of simplicity and silence - no Brokie could mistake it for anyone else. There were also more frenetic, very intricate pieces for more dramatic moments to build tension - charango, I think - which were amazing.
And Rodrigo - goodness - the sweeping vistas of the deserts, infinite blue sky, relentless heat, Tokyo - unending city at night - the sense of lights as far as you can see, the fast pace of Tokyo city streets - unending motion, some terrific aerial shots. There was also excellent work of faces, expressions up close and personal.
(I'm no critic, so someone please come along behind me and do a better job describing this!)
-
"VARIOUS ARTISTS: "Babel" (Concord)
The soundtrack to the movie "Babel" sounds like it comes from everywhere, and nowhere, at once.
That's by design. The film knits together cultures and story lines, blurring place, context and language (hence the "Babel" title).
For the ambitious musical component to his film, director Alejandro González Iñárritu tapped longtime collaborator Gustavo Santaolalla, who earlier put together the witty rock-en-español soundtrack for Iñárritu's "Amores Perros," and wrote the brittle, Oscar-winning score for "Brokeback Mountain."
For "Babel" the Argentine-born Santaolalla roamed the globe - selectively. The album is neither an encyclopedic race through ethnic styles nor an "It's a Small World After All" serenade. Instead it concentrates on music from Morocco (where key scenes in the movie take place), Mexico (where Iñárritu hails from) and Japan, with quick side trips to the U.K. and U.S.
For the Moroccan influence, Santaolalla taught himself to play the oud (a kind of Middle Eastern lute). He also made use of traditional Gnawa percussionists, who provide the CD's most haunting and tactile aspects. The hallowed quality of Morocco's music breaks up the album's whimsical forays into Mexican norteño and cumbia, which are each laced with florid accordions and zany beats. Along the way, Santaolalla employs everyone from the Mexican rap-rock act Control Machete and the Tijuana avant-gardists Nortec Collective to Japan's Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Fatboy Slim, who mashes up a hit by Earth Wind & Fire with a cymbal hook from Steve Miller. There's also one ennui-laden song from British art-balladeer David Sylvain.
There's nothing pure or faithful about any of these styles but that's the whole point: Santaolalla wants to make up a musical world of his own."
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music/story/484196p-407605c.html
-
A friend and I saw Babel last night, and I loved both Gustavo's and Rodrigo's work! It is well worth seeing, and I'll be getting the soundtrack soon.
The sound in the theatre was too loud, so that was annoying. Nevertheless, Gustavo's plaintive guitar strains - Spanish style for the scenes in Mexico, and Middle Eastern for Morocco - were completely identifiable as HIS. His use of simplicity and silence - no Brokie could mistake it for anyone else. There were also more frenetic, very intricate pieces for more dramatic moments to build tension - charango, I think - which were amazing.
And Rodrigo - goodness - the sweeping vistas of the deserts, infinite blue sky, relentless heat, Tokyo - unending city at night - the sense of lights as far as you can see, the fast pace of Tokyo city streets - unending motion, some terrific aerial shots. There was also excellent work of faces, expressions up close and personal.
(I'm no critic, so someone please come along behind me and do a better job describing this!)
hey Lynne,
i saw 'Babel' a couple of weeks ago and i loved it! Very intens. I loved Rodrigo Prieto's work with it. As you said the vistas, skies, and images of the city were at times overwhelming. And Santaolalla score was very evocative.
SPOILER
But i swear i heard the music used for the Flashback scene in BBM during a scene in Babel, the one where the two Moroccan boys and the father are under fire. Did you hear that too? Or is it just me not being able to get BBM out of my head?? ???
-
I kept hearing BBM in nearly everything, but I think that's me and how I've got Gustavo's style now imprinted on my brain cells. I didn't pick up on anything that was the same, but I intend to see it again, so I'll keep my ears open for it in that scene specifically.
-
There was the part in Babel where all three stories started to come together. And right at this point the SAME EXACT PIECE OF MUSIC we hear in BBM when Ennis is in Jack's Closet and finds the shirts starts playing in Babel. :o The track is called "Closet" on the BBM Score CD. When I was watching Babel, and that music started up, I almost fell out of my seat. I forgot what was going on in Babel, and all I could see was Ennis reaching for the shirts...
-
There was the part in Babel where all three stories started to come together. And right at this point the SAME EXACT PIECE OF MUSIC we hear in BBM when Ennis is in Jack's Closet and finds the shirts starts playing in Babel. :o The track is called "Closet" on the BBM Score CD. When I was watching Babel, and that music started up, I almost fell out of my seat. I forgot what was going on in Babel, and all I could see was Ennis reaching for the shirts...
I didn't notice this. :o
I didn't like BBM music just popping up in another movie... All i could think of was the Flashback scene. :(
-
I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about this. I haven't re-watched Babel, but I did listen to Closet again carefully, and I'm sure Eric's right - I just wasn't trusting my own ears.
In the NYC interview (and I may mangle this some, so my apologies - maybe Meryl or Jenny or Adrian can help me out??), Gustavo talked about Wings and it being a simple, even common, chord progression, something like the Beatles' Blackbird...the first few notes are the same, but Blackbird then goes in one direction and Wings in another.
I guess I'm feeling a bit betrayed on one hand, but I'm trying to remember that just because I idolize Gustavo, he's still human and capable of foibles or follies or mistakes. It's not like you can plagiarize yourself - just misrepresent maybe? And I really hope unintentionally because heroes are hard to come by.
-
Well, similar music was also used in Amores Perros and 21 Grams. The music from the SNIT was originally used in 21 Grams first. I kinda felt cheated at first too when I heard all this, but then I got over it. Not so bad to use good music in multiple movies I guess...
-
I've decided I'm over it too. Otherwise, I'd need to feel similarly annoyed that Monet did multiple studies of water lilies or poppies...
-Lynne
-
I have not yet seen Babel, but I remember how much I loved John Barry's music when I first saw Out of Africa. I recognized it his style again in Somewhere in Time and then in Dances With Wolves. Then again and again in many subsequent films. I could tell it was his music before even seeing the credits.
So, like John Barry and Leonard Bernstein and John Williams, Gustavo might just have a style that works. It was his music that made me want to see BBM.
-
So, like John Barry and Leonard Bernstein and John Williams, Gustavo might just have a style that works. It was his music that made me want to see BBM.
I didn't know that, Adrian...very neat. I've got Motorcycle Diaries from Netflix waiting for me to give it back ;). Babel is completely worth seeing, IMO. I went in expecting Gustavo's music and Rodrigo's panorama and got both. And the bonus was that Brad Pitt is a much better actor than I knew.
8)
-
I didn't know that, Adrian...very neat. I've got Motorcycle Diaries from Netflix waiting for me to give it back ;). Babel is completely worth seeing, IMO. I went in expecting Gustavo's music and Rodrigo's panorama and got both. And the bonus was that Brad Pitt is a much better actor than I knew.
8)
Hi Lynne,
Motorcycle Diaries is wonderful, not too much of Gustavo to enjoy though, but still excellent. I can't wait to see Babel. Never cared for Brad's acting, but will look forward to that too.
Adrian
-
Is this out in DVD yet?
-
Yep it's out on DVD.
Everyone here has seemed to like it, so I'll voice the opposite opinion without broadcasting spoilers. While the movie itself was beautifully shot and the music of course was wonderful (despite the fact that BBM soundtrack DID for sure show up in the movie) I really disliked the movie overall. I despised Cate Blanchetts role and didn't really think the whole part with the Japenese family/teenager was even necessary. I walked out of the theater honestly angry that I had paid to see it. But that is just one opinion in the midst of many who enjoyed it :) Everyone has different things that they enjoy, and this just wasn't one of mine! *lol*
-
I saw this finally on DVD. I liked the part about the Japanese teenager the best. I'm sure if I took the time to see it in a theater, I would have felt cheated, but it was interesting on DVD and I thought it was one of the best films I've seen this year. (However I've seen a total of three new films this year! Pan's Labyrinth, 300 and this) Still, I would rather watch Brokeback Mountain any day!!
-
I just saw Babel the other night, and I also enjoyed it. Initially, I think my biggest draw to it was Prieto and Santaolalla, but the movie had a lot of other things going for it as well.
The people I saw it with complained that the Chieko subplot was random, but I thought her story was so interesting. The Moroccan boys' story was so tragic, and it got me a little teary-eyed. The story with the Hispanic nanny was also very, very sad. That actress did very well and deserved her Oscar nod.
-
I kept hearing BBM in nearly everything, but I think that's me and how I've got Gustavo's style now imprinted on my brain cells. I didn't pick up on anything that was the same, but I intend to see it again, so I'll keep my ears open for it in that scene specifically.
Sorry to drag this thread up (from the depths...?) but I just saw the movie and I definitely heard the music that accompanies the closet scene (called Closet) and I nearly jumped out of my seat when I heard it because it is EXACTLY the same music! I thought it was really beautiful in the context of the movie, the part where the Moroccan police take siege at the hillside.
I absolutely loooooooooved the music... gosh, what a talent that man is...
The people I saw it with complained that the Chieko subplot was random, but I thought her story was so interesting. The Moroccan boys' story was so tragic, and it got me a little teary-eyed. The story with the Hispanic nanny was also very, very sad. That actress did very well and deserved her Oscar nod.
I thought the subplot was too random too, but nonetheless very interesting and wonderfully played!
-
Hi Lynne,
Motorcycle Diaries is wonderful, not too much of Gustavo to enjoy though, but still excellent. I can't wait to see Babel. Never cared for Brad's acting, but will look forward to that too.
Adrian
I finally saw this movie! I love the soundtrack and have been listening to it for months. But I never did get to see the movie until now because I made a promise to a friend who gave me the DVD that I would see it with him. Well, the statute of limitations on movie promises has run out, IMO, and I'm glad because the film, and Gael Garcia Bernal, were entrancing!!