Review of A Better Life (2011) by Joe J — 02 Apr 2012

Carlos (Demián Bichir), an illegal immigrant, is working odd jobs in hopes of getting money to help his 14-year-old son Luis (José Julián) have a better life than he does, but things do not look good for the single parent, and as threats of deportation looms around every corner, he has to walk a very thin line in order to stay in the land of the free and help keep his son out of the dangers that surround them.

When the Oscar nominations were announced, Demian Bichir was nominated for Best Actor, and I thought to myself...who is this guy and what movie was he in? I never heard of either one, so when it finally came out on DVD I had to see this performance. Needless to say, Bichir most certainly deserved his nomination, because he delivered a knock-out powerhouse performance, showcasing both determination, despair, and most importantly hope. Hope that the life he lived would help his son live an even better life. The whole film leads to a final climactic moment that even had me moved to tears, and it's because of Bichir's top-notch performance.