Review of A Better Life (2011) by Ceph J — 16 Jul 2011

While crowds flocked to see silly Harry Potter, my buddy and I were emotionally moved by this drama of an illegal Mexican dad seeking "A Better Life" in LA. Problem is, he's single-handedly taking care of his rebellious teen son who's attracted to gangs. A disaster will force them to bond and try to resolve their differences.

Demain Bichir is superb as Carlos Galindo and his sincere acting rises above the screenplay which makes the father a saint. Hopefully, Academy voters will remember him during Best Actor nominations. Jose Jillian plays the son, Luis, and he has a more diverse role where he's required to be violent, bored with school, romantic with his girlfriend, and essentially, become an adult at the end. Dolores Heredia is his sympathetic aunt, and she's wonderful in a supporting role.

Besides good acting, director Chris Weitz unfolds the drama in a sensitive manner. The cinematography of LA slums is realistic and makes you feel like you know the ghettos. The movie raises concerns about immigration policies that separate families. Another minor flaw is the father is so honest and dedicated that you root for him while disliking the immigration police who look like villains. Ultimately, a sad but moving drama that showcases the plight of illegal immigrants.