As we approach the end of January, we seem to be exiting the “dumping” period for C-grade movie releases, star-filled fumbles and other oddities. Taking their place are award season biggies, with two acclaimed films hitting South African cinemas today.
Got 189 minutes to spare? Why not check out epic comedy-drama Babylon, a hard-R-rated take on Hollywood during the ultra-decadent and tumultuous 1920s, as the film industry transitioned from silent movies to talkies. Babylon is written and directed by La La Land and Whiplash’s Damien Chazelle, who has assembled an all-star cast for this tale of excess that includes Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, and Li Jun Li, along with Tobey Maguire, Max Minghella, Lukas Haas and Eric Roberts.
Biographical drama Till was initially scheduled for local release back in October last year. Here it is again, no doubt to capitalise on the film’s awards buzz and greater audience awareness. Danielle Deadwyler plays American educator and Civil Rights Movement activist Mamie Till-Mobley who pursued justice after the lynching of her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till (Jalyn Hall), in Mississippi in 1955. Till has been named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review.