Babel
2006
**½
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett, Gael García Bernal, Adriana Barraza, Rinko Kikuchi, Koji Yakusho, Elle Fanning, Nathan Gamble, Mustapha Rachidi, Boubker Ait El Caid
Following Amores Perros and 21 Grams, Alejandro González Iñárritu goes global in his third film (with writer Guillermo Arriaga) about tragically interconnected lives. The individuals in the US, Mexico, Morocco, and Japan all end up suffering because of poor communication and their bad choices. Although the production values are high and the performances are strong, the mosaic structure struggles to find a rhythm and the film ultimately fails to deliver the emotional payoff it needs. The haunting score by Gustavo Santaolalla won an Academy Award.
