BABEL

CAROLINE: Well, I just went Han Solo to see “Babel,” a movie which Ryan informed me he didn’t want to see. And I pity you for that choice, Ryan, because it was an excellent film.

RYAN: What?! It was good?

CAROLINE: Nay, it was great.

RYAN: I feel terrible. I had no interest at first, but now I might have to see it.

CAROLINE: Liar! You totally had interest because it has Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett. What more do you want?

RYAN: Well, it’s true, I totally love them, but I heard that they weren’t in the movie that much and the trailer didn’t really hook me. So were they in it a lot or what?

CAROLINE: No, not tons. This movie has four plots which eventually all intertwine, and Brad and Cate are in only one of them. So I wouldn’t put them in the ‘lead actor’ category for this one. But the movie is a tearjerker, and it’s amazing.

RYAN: Is it really entertaining? Were you involved and emotionally engaged?

CAROLINE: I would not call it entertaining in the traditional sense but I was definitely emotionally involved. It’s political but it’s not like a sweeping statement about politics and the state of the world today. It’s more about certain events building upon each other, which turn into something catastrophic, and you get to see it all happen as it unfolds in these four different plots.

RYAN: Before you went into it, you thought it might be confusing – was it?

CAROLINE: It wasn’t actually. And if I can understand it, people – then anyone can. It’s not entirely linear, but I thought it was going to be heavy on the politics like “Syriana” and it wasn’t, thank God.

RYAN: Good.

CAROLINE: It was much more narrative and while there were political overtones, they weren’t too heavy. It was more plot-driven, and the acting was phenomenal. The woman who played Brad and Cate’s nanny was amazing.

RYAN: Who’s she?

CAROLINE: She’s a Spanish-speaking actress named Adriana Barraza. She was so good, and she made me so nervous and upset in one scene that I had to remind myself, “This is just a movie and she’s acting.”

RYAN: Wow. Were there a lot of sub-titles in the movie?

CAROLINE: Yes, you have to read a little. It takes place in Morocco, Tokyo, Mexico and the U.S. And I have to say, it’s not always a fun movie. My heart was jumping out of my chest in parts.

RYAN: So is this a movie I should see?

CAROLINE: Definitely.

RYAN: Does it suffer from the biggest killer of all films – “length-too-long” syndrome?

CAROLINE: It’s over two hours but it’s so riveting that I didn’t mind.

RYAN: You’re giving it a rave review!

CAROLINE: I hope I’m coming in loud and clear – it’s a rave. I have spoken.

********UPDATE 12/14/06********

RYAN: Due to the Golden Globe nominations out today, I bit the bullet and saw this film. I’m with m’gal Caroline. This film is outstanding… very intense and real, but incredibly entertaining with wonderful storytelling. I especially loved the scoring and performances of Pitt & Blanchett.