Biutiful

It isn't upbeat but it IS a great film. The best that I've watched in a while. The directing is beautiful and the acting is incredible! Read more

It at first seems odd that a film called Biutiful should appear so grim, showing us bleak workplaces, dirty living spaces, and grimy neighborhoods, capturing a world of struggle and deprivation and portraying it all in gritty images saturated with hues of gray and blue. But Inarritu has indeed given us a beautiful film with, in his own words, lavish "emotional and visual architecture," rich characters, and beautiful faces, which the director calls "the most intense and interesting geographies" in his cinematic landscape. It's a fitting setting for the story of Uxbal, a small-time hood struggling to maintain his moral compass while getting into increasingly dirtier business. As he and his crew become more ensnared by their own actions, the moral dilemmas--for anyone with a conscience--become inevitably more severe. Uxbal tries, at times impetuously, to tidy up the dirty corners of his nefarious world, but the viewer is ultimately left to decide for himself if the protagonist's battered morality and stop-gap fixes are enough to make a difference. In the end, Inarritu's film asks not how one holds onto his humanity under constant conditions of hardship, but rather affirms that, under such conditions, our humanity is really ALL that any one of us has to hold on to--and that doing so can make the difference between maintaining one's sanity or going off the deep end, as some of the film's characters certainly do. Civilization is indeed the humanization of flawed individuals in an imperfect society. But we stand little chance of success unless individuals endeavor, even if imperfectly, to make the right choices or, in the director's words, to "choose to see" the right thing. Inarritu, Bo, and Giacobone don't apologize for Uxbal and don't excuse him. The filmmakers simply remind us that when people help others hold on to hope, that is biutiful. When people place the interest of others over self-interest, that is biutiful. When people "choose to see" beauty in an otherwise ugly world, that is biutiful. And when people cherish life even while others around them have no respect for it, that is biutiful. Biutiful may not be an easy film to watch. But filled with "fear, love, resistance, [and] admiration," it's not an easy film to turn away from either. Like most difficult things, the film rewards us with a wisdom that reassures us, deep down, that the experience was well worthwhile. No spoiler here, but pay close attention to the exquisitely fine details of Uxbal's final scene with his daughter. It's an absolutely mesmerizing and haunting portrayal of the profound legacy a parent has the opportunity to pass on to his child. The word haunting isn't used lightly here. Even in an already visually abundant film, this scene is one of particularly stunning beauty and grace and is replete with images that I simply will never forget. Read more

First . . . be aware that this is a foreign film in Spanish without an English dubbed soundtrack. It does have English subtitling and in my Region A (North American) Blu-ray it's hard encoded into the film; it cannot be turned off. Folks that don't like films without an English sound track will have to be willing to set that aside or pass on this film. I've got a number of films like this so it doesn't bother me, but it does require paying closer attention visually. It's easy to see why this film, set in the Barcelona slums, was nominated for several Oscars including Best Foreign Language Film. Javier Bardem,is phenomenal as the protagonist, Uxbal. (Bardem's breakthrough in US films was the psychopathic killer in the Coen Brothers "No Country for Old Men"; his role in this film is entirely different.) Director Alejandro Inarritu, who also collaborated on the screenplay, keeps a complex set of subplots well organized as Uxbal (Bardem) is diagnosed with terminal cancer with a couple months to live as his life is relentlessly unraveling around him very quickly. A father of two children separated from a bipolar alcoholic wife, he seeks through all this to get his affairs in order and make provisions for his children. The biblical Job comes to mind except anti-hero Uxbal is the opposite of righteous. He's deeply involved in several criminal endeavors including illegal Chinese immigrants working in a sweatshop making counterfeit goods and working major construction sites, and illegal African immigrants selling the counterfeit goods and illegal drugs on the streets as illegal sidewalk "vendors." There is very little relief from the relentless onslaught of Uxbal's life coming apart at every turn. The real power of this film is how he perseveres through all of it, ultimately coming to terms with his immediately imminent death and his tenacity in ensuring his young children will be adequately cared for. For all its bleak darkness, this is the very bright beacon in the film. After viewing and having some time to think about it, IMHO Inarritu very deliberately did this to create as strong a counterpoise between the two as possible. As with many European films, this one develops the plot, subplots and characters at a leisurely pace. Those accustomed to US films and film making may think it plodding, but it allows absorbing the complexities of the story and more cerebral consideration of its underlying themes than a faster pace would allow. This isn't an action film, it's about empathy and raw emotions. I'll eventually watch it again, but will need some respite before doing so. Read more

I used this DVD for a Spanish Cinema class. At first site and thought, the movie is depressing and everything goes wrong. But the acting (especially Javier Bardem) is so stupendous and the storyline so good that I feel it's one of the best movies I ever saw. Bardem was nominated for an Academy Award for best actor and it's a shame he did not win. He did win for Best Actor at the Goya awards in Spain and at the Cannes Film Festival. It's a long movie and one you may want to see more than once, it's worth the time. Read more

Very moving. Javier Bardem and the other actors told an incredibly sad, realistic story. Living in the worst conditions imaginable, Uxbal and the wonderful Ige persevered with dignity, courage and honesty. And did this for the sake of the adorable children. The acting, story, filming and everything was masterful. Art imitating life. Albeit pretty harsh life. It has to be watched. It's worth watching. Very few movies are at this level of amazing. Read more

Bardem is a compelling actor who plays his part very well in this sad movie. Sad, sure, but not a downer. Life is not always about winning the lottery, nor about "beautiful people" living in their Hollywood inspired fantasies. This is a story about an ordinary hustler trying to get by; the people in his life; and his attempt to find dignity and self respect. Trying to do the right thing the best way he can. And that no good deed goes unpunished. Very nicely made, acted and directed. Read more

Explored every negativity life has to offer. A real downer. Only thing nice was the artificial intensity of the film colors. Read more