I don't understand the movie, "Babel." It's confusing. There are so many different languages being spoken, mass confusion and chaos in exotic and remote locations, big-named actors mixed in with no-names who all give dazzling performances, and many different themes.
Every person that sees "Babel" will take away something different from the movie. Like its biblical title, the theme of communication and connection are central to all of the pieces of the story. The movie also has strong messages concerning children, guns, the power of the government, and how people from any country no matter what social, financial, or physical condition they are in, are equally vulnerable and are all the same.
Babel is edited and pieced together like the movies "Crash" and "Traffic," in which all of the stories are frantically scattered all over the place, but here is a linear model of the story.
In Japan, a wealthy business man goes on a hunting trip in Morocco. As a tip, he gives his rifle to his hunting guide. The hunting guide barters the gun with a local farmer. The farmer then gives the rifle to his two sons to shoot off predators who are attacking their family's livestock. As the two boys wait patiently for a mountain lion or other predator to come, they take target practice on an anonymous bus below them.
The brother has good aim and hits the bus, causing it to make a sudden stop because the bullet hit Susan's (Cate Blanchett's) neck. Richard (Brad Pitt) is Susan's husband who takes her to a desolate village where they impatiently wait for the US Embassy and the Moroccan government to allow them to be flown to a near hospital. While they wait, the tour bus leaves Richard and Susan.
Back in the United States, Richard's housekeeper takes his kids from their home in San Diego to a wedding in Mexico. Crossing the border is not a problem, but entering the States again is. A security checkpoint scene turns ugly and causes the housekeeper and the kids wandering in the desert all by themselves.
The media picks up on Richard's story and publicizes it for the world to see. The Moroccan government goes on a search and destroy mission for everybody involved with the shooting. Meanwhile, back in Japan, the police try to talk with the businessman, but instead, communicate with his deaf and sexually confused daughter.
The movie is complex and doesn't tie up all of the loose ends like "Crash" to make it a great picture. Babel is driven by emotions and does a fine job captivating the audience, but what is necessary in Babel is some kind of climax and resolution. The stories seem to be juggled around sometimes just-for-the-heck-of-it and causes Babel to have several rising actions and turning points, but nothing that triggers a person to say, "Oh my gosh, I get it! It all makes sense."
I give Babel 3.5 out of 5 Roses.
