After this kinetic first 50 minutes (of three hours) Babylon becomes calmer, but no less enthralling. Diego finds his way as a studio executive. Nellie's star rises, but she has a past that's hard to escape. Her own father joins her in Hollywood and says, "Nellie dresses low because she is low". Undaunted, she remains a wild child, and in another outrageous party sequence fights a snake when no one else will. As Jack looks on, Pitt's expression lets us see how clearly the character can see the downfall ahead for the reckless people around him.
