Damien Chazelle thinks it’s good that “Babylon” has polarized

Since breaking into 2014’s psycho-jazz drama Whiplash, Damien Chazelle has been a perennial critical darling, with his films La La Land and First Man receiving critical acclaim and plenty of awards. But his most recent film, Babylon, is a different story altogether, having been hailed as a masterpiece by some critics and an absolute disaster by others. And according to Chazelle, when he made the film he knew it was going to provoke a polarized reaction.

“It’s good to have something that stimulates conversation and debate and lots of fierce opinions on both sides. We all knew the film was going to ruffle some feathers and upset some people, and I think that’s good,” Chazelle said in an interview with Insider ahead of the film’s Jan. 20 UK premiere. “More movies should do that.”

Currently, “Babylon” holds a 55 percent stake in Rotten Tomatoes, although the film has also received multiple recognitions from award winners such as the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards. The old Hollywood play, starring Margot Robbie and Diego Calva, was also a box office hit, grossing under $15 million on a production budget of $78 million.

IndieWire’s David Ehrlich gave the film a mixed description, calling it a “silly Caligulan ode to the early days of Hollywood,” one that “reminds us that movies have been dying for more than 100 years, and then — through.” their heart—a rending, endearingly galactically brainy prayer of a finale—interprets this as uplifting proof that they will indeed live forever. It just has no idea how the movies are going to do it or where they could go from here.”

However, Chazelle probably didn’t read IndieWire’s review, as he also told Insider that he prefers not to pay attention to the reactions his film receives after release and prefers it to become “the audience’s” film .

“It’s an interesting thing where you do something and then I think that somehow – once the filmmaker has finished the film – the audience becomes, and that includes the critics, includes everyone. And everyone will see the film differently. And I think they’re all legit,” Chazelle said. “In a way, it becomes a world film. So I kind of don’t really believe – although I’m fine when people do – that filmmakers go back and tinker with fact and stuff like that. I mean, it’s okay, but I think at a certain point, a movie represents a moment in time and a moment in history.”

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