Babylon

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

In an unusual act of homage, Babylon’s Director Damien Chazelle conducted a Q&A session with his own crew members – Costume Designer Mary Zophres, Music Composer Justin Hurwitz, Production Designer Florencia Martin and Art Director Anthony Parrillo – at American Cinematheque’s Aero Theatre on Saturday, March 4, 2023. The reality of filmmaking is full of “hard choices and compromises,” said Chazelle addressing his team.

Los Angeles native, Florencia Martin, received her first Academy Award nomination this year as production designer of Damien Chazelle’s Golden Globe Best Picture nominee, Babylon. She also was production designer for Golden Globe-nominated Blonde.

Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.

Despite the arrival of three new releases, including a high-profile studio film, Avatar: The Way of Water was still, to paraphrase its director’s old declaration, “king of the world!” James Cameron’s sequel to his 2009 original fended off the trio of debuting movies and grossed $82 million to stay on top. This weekend’s stats could have been higher but the severe winter storm in the East and Midwest dragged the attendance numbers down.