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Movie Review: Biutiful Alternate Title: Bleak House
Story: It takes a lot to move
this hard hearted Hannah - but moved I was by this powerful film directed
and written by Alejandro González Iñárritu.
It has everything that I enjoy about film - it has a good story, absorbing
characters, it is original, visually exciting, surprising and it made
me think. Actually, I have not stopped thinking about it since I left
the theater yesterday. Uxbal is a conflicted man. He makes his living
off the underworld of Barcelona. He is a middleman between the illegal
Senegalese street sellers and the underground Chinese laborers who make
the knock-offs. This triangle of illegal activities is core to the tragedies
that are sure to come. At the same time Uxbal is trying to raise his
two young children as best he can by himself while his bipolar wife
is unable to care for them. On top of this - Uxbal has been diagnosed
with terminal cancer and has just a few months to live. Now, do not be put off by this set up. The film
is often spiritual, ironically upbeat and at times, redemptive. Yes,
director Inarritu emphasizes the dark side of humanity but this film
screams of life while the main character is dying. Be brave - go see this film and be enriched by
the experience. Watch the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Er6_39K27Yo Acting: I do not know why they even bother to nominate
anyone else when Javier Bardem has a meaty role like
this one. He is nothing short of sensational as Uxbal. Maricel
Álvarez as his bipolar wife Marambra is fabulous. Eduard
Fernández as brother Tito is perfectly smarmy. Diaryatou
Daff as Igé is also great. Cheng Tai Shen
as factory owner Hai and Luo Jin as Liwei also bring
wonderful performances. Youngsters Guillermo Estrella
as Mateo and Hanaa Bouchaib as little Ana are diamonds
in the rough. Trivia: Director Alejandro González
Iñárritu is friends with fellow successful Mexican
directors Alfonso Cuarón and Guillermo del Toro. The three often
produce & support each other in their cinematic projects. He was
the first Mexican to receive an Oscar-nomination for Best Director.
He has directed four Oscar nominated performances: Naomi Watts, Benicio
Del Toro, Adriana Barraza,and Rinko Kikuchi. Javier Bardem
is married to Penelope Cruz and are expecting their
first child. His Best Actor nomination for Before Night Falls (2000)
made him the first Spanish actor to receive an Academy Award nomination
and his Best Supporting Actor victory for No Country for Old Men (2007)
made him the first Spanish actor to win an Academy Award. He is one
of 8 actors to have won the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critics' Choice
Award, Golden Globe Award and SAG Award for the same performance. The
others in chronological order are Geoffrey Rush for Shine, Jamie Foxx
for Ray, Philip Seymour Hoffman for Capote, Forest Whitaker for The
Last King of Scotland, Daniel Day-Lewis for There Will Be Blood, Heath
Ledger for The Dark Knight, and Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds.
Predilection: I am a huge fan of Javier Bardem.
Critters: A dead owl, ants, a worm, moths, beached
whales and spiders (no - this is not a warm and fuzzy film).
Food: Lots of scenes take place around the small
kitchen area. Poignant moments to be sure.
Soundtrack: Haunting music by Gustavo Santaolalla.
Opening Titles: Two visually arresting scenes that
repeat themselves at the end of the film.
Visual Art: Director of photography, Rodrigo
Prieto creates an amazing palette in this beautiful film.
Theater Audience: Packed for an early show at the
Landmark Sunshine theater. This is the only theater in Manhattan where
it is playing this week.
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: I was riveted throughout.
Predictability Level: I was not sure what was going
to happen at anytime.
Tissue Usage: I cried a bit towards the end.
Oscar Worthy: Yes.
Big Screen or Rental: Big screen for sure.
Length: 20 minutes over the two hour rule
LOBO HOWLS: 9.5 |