Babel

I haven't seen either of Iñárritu's other films, but apparently they are similar in structure to this; several different stories of human drama interconnected by a single event. In this case it's the accidental shooting of an American tourist by a Moroccan child with a Japanese former hunter's rifle. The narrative jumps between Morocco, Japan, and the California/Mexico border area, where the tourist' children are being watched by their immigrant babysitter. The different stories take place at different times, where we see glimpses of the future in one place and a callback to the past elsewhere. It's an interesting structure that rewards close watching. Although the plot is intricate, the movie is really more about people coping with tragedy and their own problems while others ignore their need for help. It's a true human drama. The acting is really good, even the child actors do their jobs competently. Pitt and Blanchett are easily the most famous people in the movie, and their presence could have been very distracting, but they do their jobs and handle their roles very well. Despite their star power, their segments don't jive improperly with the rest of the scenes. The entire film is very technically proficient, with good editing, beautifully shot vistas, and lots of subtle film-making touches that add to the effectiveness without being overbearing. The original score is also wonderful and deservedly won an Oscar.

I do think it had some problems though, mostly having to do with lack of resolution. A couple threads are wrapped up satisfyingly, if also a bit second-handedly. However, a lot, and I mean a LOT, is just left unfinished. Characters run away and are never heard from again. Fates of families are left in the balance. Soul-searching letters are written and not revealed to the audience. What's the point of a movie like this? Is it really saying all that much with just the bits of story it tells us? It wasn't nearly as sad as I expected it to be, and it kind of feels like a couple of hours of worrying without finding out what I was really waiting for. There are plenty of little plot giblets that go nowhere, and just ask more questions without answering any. The film itself is brilliantly crafted, and I did like it a lot while I was watching it. But it just comes off as a bit pretentious and meaningless in the end, like they just got bored and decided to stop making it, saying "It's good enough, the critics will love it." It got solid reviews, a bunch of award nominations, and is one of his most successful movies. But I think it could have been better.