Review of Biutiful (2010) by Brad S — 07 Jun 2015

I rarely watch foreign films, but when I do, I tend you enjoy them very much. Last year, Best Picture and Best Director went home with the film, Birdman. "Biutiful" is directed by the same director-Alejandro González Iñárritu-and stars Javier Bardem. Before I start this review, I want to make it clear that you should watch this only if you are into dark, gloomy movies. This film is not for everyone.

Bardem plays the role of a struggling father named, Uxbal. He lives with his two children in a run down little apartment. Uxbal secretly works for the black market, selling items made by a Chinese factory. He lives a pretty low life, but his children are the one thing that seem to be good in his life. As a side job, he talks to the dead. He's paid to talk to deceased loved ones. One morning, he notices blood in his urine. He has been diagnosed with a type of cancer. With only a few short months left, Uxbal is set with the task of putting all of his affairs in order.

This film boasts a very impressive cast, but none of them shine like Bardem. He won the award for Best Actor in the 2005 film, No Country For Old Men, directed by the Coen's. He gave a very good performance in The Sea Inside, another impressive foreign film. His performance in that film may be my favorite of all of his performances. In this movie, Bardem gives a very raw and heartbreaking performance. One of the reasons this film worked so well was because of this. He really conveys a sense of deep pain and sadness. While not his best, Bardem shines brightly.brightly.

I felt so uncomfortable watching this at times. It's a very depressing film, full of sadness and disturbing images. It's like a great feeling of weight hangs in the air. The whole film is plagued by this feeling, however it does let up at times. The relationship between the father and his children is really touching. If that element of the film hadn't been there. I would have hated this movie. Trust me, when I say it's hard to watch, I mean it. It's so gut wrenching at times, full of disturbing sequences and imagery. I can definitely tell this is an Iñárritu film. It's very much his style. His films tend to cause allot of people to feel uncomfortable. Birdman was an incredible piece of cinema, but most people-I feel I am just in this statement based on reviews I read by audiences-hated it. They didn't get it. Likewise, many people may hate this film too.

"Biutiful" may be depressing, full of disturbing images, and way too long, but it was an interesting film nevertheless. The imagery-while cringe worthy-did a fine job of portraying sorrow and grief. It was really painful watching this man 's life go down the drain. It was heart wrenching, yet also emotional. The direction was great and the cinematography was fantastic. The central story of the father's relationship to his children is what kept the film afloat. It has allot to say about life, death, and love. It was very dark, yet also very biutiful.