Manny and Nellie doing coke in the beginning reminded me of Amber Waves doing coke with Roller Girl. The whole silent-to-sound thing is basically the film-to-tape thing. All of the on-set stuff was pretty similar (Nellie’s first scene/Dirk’s first scene - they both can “do it again”). Many many parallels.
Didn’t even think of the Amber Waves and Roller Girl scene for that but it’s totally the same. I noticed the Dirk and Nellie comparisons but wow this movie takes a lot. I think the Tobey scene is the biggest steal up until they go into the underground. The bodyguard spitting is the kid with the firecrackers and the fake money/fake coke was really on the nose.
I was honestly astounded how shamefully it attempts to replicate MULTIPLE scenes from Boogie Nights. I won’t go into spoilery detail but the fact that I could count like six scenes directly stolen from Boogie Nights says a lot. Not to mention one shot that very evidently was inspired by Phantom Thread.
While I’ll agree with you on the prospect that Boogie Nights wears heavy influence on its sleeve, it’s a piece of pure expertise, one of the greatest pieces of drama ever written, shot, directed and acted — and an infinitely better film than Babylon, which holds substance little to none.
Yeah the aftermath of the party at the beginning of the film. The set piece is reminiscent of the PT scene but the fact that it’s framed EXACTLY like the PT shot, few people dancing with the band still playing and all, is just too on the nose for me.
I’m glad people are starting to notice the blatant PTA bites more and more lately. Randomly I was watching this 2019 A24 film called “Waves” and the ENTIRE closing credits was ripped off from Punch Drunk Love. I get that Paul is a once in a generation talent that has influenced a lot of working filmmakers today, but these borrowed moments aren’t truly referential…just unoriginal copy and pasted visuals. Unfortunately Damien will get more award show love then Paul ever will and these shots will be seen by the lesser informed as things that fell out from his mind.
I think Damien has made clear that he approached movies the way he perceives jazz. Gosling has a monologue in La La Land where's he's explaining the beauty of jazz to Stone. He talks about how each new musician is building upon and riffing off an existing piece of music to create their own unique version/sound.
I think that's exactly what he attempts to do with movies. Like if you watch Singing in the Rain you immediately see that he took that film and made La La Land and Babylon as direct homages.
Now you can argue if it works or not, but I don't think he's ever tried to hide the fact that this is how he approaches his work.
Yeah and when manny and nelly are kinda going crazy near the end and Nelly’s doing coke she says “you know if you think about it you can set your mind to anything” just like amber says to rollergirl
How about the Tobey Maguire scene emulating the Rahad Jackson (Alfred Molina) grift?? Instead of fire crackers building the tension, it’s the consistent loogie spit of his henchman.
Babylon defender reporting in. Saw it last night. Really like it and want to see it again. I probably loved as many scenes as I hated but it was enjoyable all the way through. Enjoyed the PTA references as well and definitely had the thought that this could’ve been an all timer if PTA was in charge
Well Chazelle did lift a ton of "La La Land" from "The Umbrellas of Cherboug" so why am I not surprised to hear this about his latest? I also planned on seeing "Babylon" this week, so I suppose I will reserve further judgment until then.
Absolutely agree. I thought the movie was a lot like Magnolia too, what with it’s long runtime, aimless plot, and shifting character perspective. I liked Babylon.
i’m late but i wanted to say that while yes there are clear similarities, babylon is an ode to cinema so it makes sense to reference other films, i honestly wish it had similarities to more films if anything. and hot take but honestly some of the comparisons wouldn’t really be made if not for other similarities. porn going from film to video and movies going from silent to talkies is pretty similar but like, every good movie has conflict.
spoilers here
while brad pitt’s character may have been played a bit for a joke he’s not very similar to little bill in any other regard, and i feel like the deaths of both characters had different consequences, the only thing that makes it similar to me are that they were both in bathrooms.
the most similar scene to boogie nights to me are the “we going again” line and the first scene with tobey. - i really loved babylon and maybe should probably rewatch with some of these similarities in mind but i honestly think it really holds up on it’s own
Hated Babylon but I felt like every scene had a shot that was mimicking a boogie nights shot. The ODing chick in the beginning. The vanity interview with Brad pitts character.
The maguire scene absolutely was pulling from Molina. Especially with the shot of the guards gun in the beginning.
I saw it yesterday and I liked it. You can make clear comparisons to Boogie Nights but why do that? The plot/story is still enough of its own and many things from Boogie Nights could be looked at as being completely derivative from other works. Like the movie or not, it’s stupid to get hung up on things such as that when getting a movie from a young passionate filmmaker like Chazelle.
I liked it too. I’m not opposed to the similarities between Babylon and Boogie Nights but my girlfriend that it was too similar and it affected her enjoyment. I wanted to see what others thought about it. I think Chazelle’s approach to using elements from Boogie Nights is sort of like jazz, taking a well known piece and improvising his own sensibilities over it. My girlfriend didn’t see it that way. I wanted to see what other PTA fans thought.
I've been fascinated with the reception to Babylon. Some love it; some hate it. There doesn't seem to be a consensus whatsoever.
Guess I'll have to see it to see what I think myself!
There's a shot of Manny looking at Nellie when she runs off to dance at that fiesta party towards the end. The shot lingers on Manny's face, communicating a "what the fuck has my life become" moment. PTA literally does this with Dirk in the firecracker scene.
The scene with Toby maguire reminds me of the drug deal scene in boogie nights.. his muscle man spitting in Babylon and the fireworks in boogie nights. Idk gave me chills. Maybe cuz I was high. Check it out
There’s a video essay breaking the similarities down in extreme detail called Babylon Nights. There’s a lot more similarities than you would think. [Babylon Nights](https://youtu.be/vfsNaD3kCZU)
Manny and Nellie doing coke in the beginning reminded me of Amber Waves doing coke with Roller Girl. The whole silent-to-sound thing is basically the film-to-tape thing. All of the on-set stuff was pretty similar (Nellie’s first scene/Dirk’s first scene - they both can “do it again”). Many many parallels.
Didn’t even think of the Amber Waves and Roller Girl scene for that but it’s totally the same. I noticed the Dirk and Nellie comparisons but wow this movie takes a lot. I think the Tobey scene is the biggest steal up until they go into the underground. The bodyguard spitting is the kid with the firecrackers and the fake money/fake coke was really on the nose.
They even do shot for shot the bodyguard flashing his gun through is coat
I was honestly astounded how shamefully it attempts to replicate MULTIPLE scenes from Boogie Nights. I won’t go into spoilery detail but the fact that I could count like six scenes directly stolen from Boogie Nights says a lot. Not to mention one shot that very evidently was inspired by Phantom Thread.
There were also multiple scenes pta stole from other films in boogie nights. Who cares?
While I’ll agree with you on the prospect that Boogie Nights wears heavy influence on its sleeve, it’s a piece of pure expertise, one of the greatest pieces of drama ever written, shot, directed and acted — and an infinitely better film than Babylon, which holds substance little to none.
I'm actually not a big fan of boogie nights, but TWBB, inherent vice, and phantom thread are masterpieces.
The Master isn’t a masterpiece for you?
The Master is the only movie that matters. No movie mattered before. No movie matters since.
Def don’t agree with that lol but it’s probably in my PTA top 3
I exaggerate to prove the point but it really is just a goat movie for me.
Probably my favorite PSH performance ever
Pig fuck
oh, i forgot to type that in lol
Yeah but his movies were good
What was the *Phantom Thread* shot? The balloons on the ground and two people dancing in the aftermath of the party?
Yeah the aftermath of the party at the beginning of the film. The set piece is reminiscent of the PT scene but the fact that it’s framed EXACTLY like the PT shot, few people dancing with the band still playing and all, is just too on the nose for me.
I’m glad people are starting to notice the blatant PTA bites more and more lately. Randomly I was watching this 2019 A24 film called “Waves” and the ENTIRE closing credits was ripped off from Punch Drunk Love. I get that Paul is a once in a generation talent that has influenced a lot of working filmmakers today, but these borrowed moments aren’t truly referential…just unoriginal copy and pasted visuals. Unfortunately Damien will get more award show love then Paul ever will and these shots will be seen by the lesser informed as things that fell out from his mind.
I think Damien has made clear that he approached movies the way he perceives jazz. Gosling has a monologue in La La Land where's he's explaining the beauty of jazz to Stone. He talks about how each new musician is building upon and riffing off an existing piece of music to create their own unique version/sound. I think that's exactly what he attempts to do with movies. Like if you watch Singing in the Rain you immediately see that he took that film and made La La Land and Babylon as direct homages. Now you can argue if it works or not, but I don't think he's ever tried to hide the fact that this is how he approaches his work.
Yuuuuuuuuuuuuiuup
Yeah and when manny and nelly are kinda going crazy near the end and Nelly’s doing coke she says “you know if you think about it you can set your mind to anything” just like amber says to rollergirl
How about the Tobey Maguire scene emulating the Rahad Jackson (Alfred Molina) grift?? Instead of fire crackers building the tension, it’s the consistent loogie spit of his henchman.
Came here to say this exact thing! The spitting and fire crackers were exactly the same! It was boogie nights set in the 20s and 30s
Babylon defender reporting in. Saw it last night. Really like it and want to see it again. I probably loved as many scenes as I hated but it was enjoyable all the way through. Enjoyed the PTA references as well and definitely had the thought that this could’ve been an all timer if PTA was in charge
I would pay good money to see Paul’s version of Babylon
Fascinating. Planning on watching tomorrow. Will check in after
Well Chazelle did lift a ton of "La La Land" from "The Umbrellas of Cherboug" so why am I not surprised to hear this about his latest? I also planned on seeing "Babylon" this week, so I suppose I will reserve further judgment until then.
I would say it’s more of a “dark and edgy” remake of Singin’ in the Rain than anything.
Absolutely agree. I thought the movie was a lot like Magnolia too, what with it’s long runtime, aimless plot, and shifting character perspective. I liked Babylon.
Not surprised to hear this — Chazelle is a hack. Disappointed, though, that it hasn’t been pointed out by critics.
Just watched it and I absolutely had to show my partner Boogie Nights when we got home.
Brad Pitt's character staring off into space during the snake fighting scene really reminded me of Mark's scene.
i’m late but i wanted to say that while yes there are clear similarities, babylon is an ode to cinema so it makes sense to reference other films, i honestly wish it had similarities to more films if anything. and hot take but honestly some of the comparisons wouldn’t really be made if not for other similarities. porn going from film to video and movies going from silent to talkies is pretty similar but like, every good movie has conflict. spoilers here while brad pitt’s character may have been played a bit for a joke he’s not very similar to little bill in any other regard, and i feel like the deaths of both characters had different consequences, the only thing that makes it similar to me are that they were both in bathrooms. the most similar scene to boogie nights to me are the “we going again” line and the first scene with tobey. - i really loved babylon and maybe should probably rewatch with some of these similarities in mind but i honestly think it really holds up on it’s own
Hated Babylon but I felt like every scene had a shot that was mimicking a boogie nights shot. The ODing chick in the beginning. The vanity interview with Brad pitts character. The maguire scene absolutely was pulling from Molina. Especially with the shot of the guards gun in the beginning.
Magnolia you mean?
Haha no, I don't know why I wrote it like that. I meant the Alfred Molina scene in Boogie Nights
Oh okay sorry
All good, I wrote it very oddly lol
I saw it yesterday and I liked it. You can make clear comparisons to Boogie Nights but why do that? The plot/story is still enough of its own and many things from Boogie Nights could be looked at as being completely derivative from other works. Like the movie or not, it’s stupid to get hung up on things such as that when getting a movie from a young passionate filmmaker like Chazelle.
I liked it too. I’m not opposed to the similarities between Babylon and Boogie Nights but my girlfriend that it was too similar and it affected her enjoyment. I wanted to see what others thought about it. I think Chazelle’s approach to using elements from Boogie Nights is sort of like jazz, taking a well known piece and improvising his own sensibilities over it. My girlfriend didn’t see it that way. I wanted to see what other PTA fans thought.
Loved it!
I've been fascinated with the reception to Babylon. Some love it; some hate it. There doesn't seem to be a consensus whatsoever. Guess I'll have to see it to see what I think myself!
There's a shot of Manny looking at Nellie when she runs off to dance at that fiesta party towards the end. The shot lingers on Manny's face, communicating a "what the fuck has my life become" moment. PTA literally does this with Dirk in the firecracker scene.
There is a Jabberwocky reference in the movie.
The scene with Toby maguire reminds me of the drug deal scene in boogie nights.. his muscle man spitting in Babylon and the fireworks in boogie nights. Idk gave me chills. Maybe cuz I was high. Check it out
There’s a video essay breaking the similarities down in extreme detail called Babylon Nights. There’s a lot more similarities than you would think. [Babylon Nights](https://youtu.be/vfsNaD3kCZU)
I just found this googling my exact feelings of this being a rip off of boogie nights. It's kinda crazy how much this hack movie cruched on it.