A new Babylon trailer has been released. Helmed and written by Damien Chazelle, Babylon is set during transition from silent movies to talkies in 1920s Hollywood. The film includes a roster of A-listed talent, including Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Tobey Maguire, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li. They portray characters inspired by the real-life personalities of that era, tracking their rise and fall as they navigate through a new age in Hollywood – one that is often characterized by unrestrained dissipation and depravity.

Now Paramount Pictures has unveiled a new trailer offering another look at Babylon. It teases an unbridled indulgence in sex, drugs, and alcohol, as well as complicated story arcs for its central characters whose intrepid ambitions can make or break their careers depending on how much they can handle. Take a look at the new Babylon trailer below.


How Babylon Will Compare To Other Movies About Excess


The new Babylon trailer backs the idea that the period comedy seeks inspiration from Chazelle's previous projects. For one, it's packed with the nostalgic pizzazz and glitz of La La Land, with the flashy costumes, exuberant parties, and ostentatious set pieces reflective of the high art era of Hollywood. At the same time, the tone of the movie can be compared to Whiplash's – i.e. Babylon boldly chronicles a story of high and dangerous ambition, showcasing the consequences of aiming too high in an unfiltered way. While Babylon truly seems like a Damien Chazelle movie, its tone is arguably far more hysterical than the director's previous work, presumably borrowing some insanity from other movies that scoff at moderation, including The Wolf of Wall Street, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, and The Great Gatsby.

What's incredibly interesting about the movie is that the Babylon reviews have been outrageously polarizing. The vivid energy and powerful performances from Robbie, Pitt, and Calva have earned a lot of praise from critics during the initial screenings. But the debauchery has been criticized as cynically distasteful, with many claiming that some characters are one-dimensional as compared to others and tone is highly inconsistent. As for the razzmatazz, critics remain divided over the visuals, and this generates even more intrigue as viewers cannot wait to see how Babylon will deliver on its promises.

As far as the new trailer suggests, Babylon is exactly the coke-fueled odyssey and excessive dramedy that was promised. However, it's true that Babylon is clearly not for everyone. There are scenes in the trailer that are perceptibly shaky, and this was observed in Babylon's behind-the-scenes featurettes as well. But regardless of what doesn't seem to work for the film, it cannot be denied that Babylon is a lavish cinematic affair, and it will surely make waves among audiences during its December 2022 premiere. The film will certainly not be one that will quickly be forgotten; rather its buzz could carry through the 2023 Academy Awards where Babylon's cinematography could gain acknowledgment. In terms of how viewers respond to the movie, however, it will only become clear once the film arrives in theaters.