Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael S

  
  "Biutiful" is a near masterpiece of human suffering, dank realism, and redemption; being that this is the fourth film from the acclaimed Iñárritu, you should already get the hint that it tends to focuses on the former instead of the latter. Make no mistake, this is a heavy… More
  "Biutiful" is a near masterpiece of human suffering, dank realism, and redemption; being that this is the fourth film from the acclaimed Iñárritu, you should already get the hint that it tends to focuses on the former instead of the latter. Make no mistake, this is a heavy film in every sense of the word, and that might isolated viewers. But "Biutiful" is more than it's plot synopsis suggests. Iñárritu balances many complex themes effectively, and though the tale concerns a dying man coming to terms with it's predicament, "Biutiful" doesn't pigeonhole itself. It's as expansive and broad as the director's ambitious, multicontinental opus "Babel" from 2006. Javier Bardem gives one of the performances of his career here, and is the reason that the picture is so emotionally devastating and honest, without feeling forcefully so (which is miraculous considering the pigment of it's subject matter). It's a testament to the films craft that even it's unexpected supernatural elements are handled with such conviction, never making a conflict in tone or logic. Unrelentingly Grim, and yes...beautiful, this is in many ways Iñárritu's finest work to date. Same goes for Bardem.

• Josh M

  
  Biutiful is a long, endlessly bleak gloomfest made worthwhile by a transcendetal performance by the great Javier Bardem. The talented filmmaker Alejandro Innaritu provides a backdrop rich with detail and atmosphere. All his other tragic films, (worth seeing) contain multiple story… More
  Biutiful is a long, endlessly bleak gloomfest made worthwhile by a transcendetal performance by the great Javier Bardem. The talented filmmaker Alejandro Innaritu provides a backdrop rich with detail and atmosphere. All his other tragic films, (worth seeing) contain multiple story lines, in the case of Babel, set all over the world, but somehow tied together. These multiple story lines somehow leaven the atmosphere and make the films very eclectic and watchable. Here, for the first time, he focuses on the devastation of one guy in one self contained scenario - and what devastation! And unlike the book of Job, there's no interesting debate on the nature of god or an explanation of the meaning of it all. The setting is present day Barcelona among the underclass of illegal immigrants, smugglers, hooker and drug dealer/users. What I quarrel with is that Innaritu has jam packed the woes suffered by Bardem to include, just for a start!!, terminal cancer, two cute kids, who happen to have an irresponsible hooker addict mother (who is sleeping with Bardem's brother), Bardem being complicit in the mass murder of illegal Chinese immigrants who work in a hidden sweat shop. The thrust of the drama is wondering whether Bardem will find a way to get his affairs in order before his inevitable death a few weeks hence. There's almost no break for the tragedy, and therefore, one becomes benumbed to the pain quite early in the two hour and forty five minute running time. I don't know what message he's after here other than life sucks and everyone you're close to will always let you down and the kids will be the ones to suffer. Also, if you think the lovely Gaudi buildings will at least give some visual relief from the misery, you'll be let down. They are never shown. Instead, it's the mouldy appartments and mean streets of the armpit of Barcelona. If this wallow in hell appeals, it's certainly worth a rental, and Bardem is really worth watching. The real tragedy is that his performance was not in a more balanced and multi-faceted film, but in a dirge like wallow of misery.

• Jim H

  
  After discovering that he is dying of cancer, a father and smuggler tries to "put his affairs in order." Javier Bardem can do anything. He chilled in No Country for Old Men, he made us laugh in Vicki Christina Barcelona, and his dramatic work in The Dancer Upstairs… More
  After discovering that he is dying of cancer, a father and smuggler tries to "put his affairs in order." Javier Bardem can do anything. He chilled in No Country for Old Men, he made us laugh in Vicki Christina Barcelona, and his dramatic work in The Dancer Upstairs and The Sea Inside enthralls. And now he brings us Uxbal, a soulful, damaged father who is hard to classify. His profession as a smuggler of illegal immigrants who are essentially slave labor makes him "bad," but when he buys them heaters and frets over the best care for his children, he immediately earns our sympathy. Bardem plays all the nuances. He can scare as readily as he can inspire tears. His work in this film is beyond compare, and if I had seen this film in 2011, I might have changed my Oscar vote (not that I have a vote). Writer/director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu mines familiar territory, and anyone who has seen 21 Grams won't be surprised to see themes of faith, spirituality, and fate explored in this film. But the universality of these themes and Inarritu's deftness as a filmmaker make Biutiful seem fresh, more original than his other films. Uxbal seems to have the ability to speak to the dead, and people occasionally perch from the ceiling, which I think is Inarritu's way of showing their souls watching the characters. With all the good filmmaking in Biutiful, the wonderfully human story of a father making sure his kids are well-cared-for after his death, I don't think the film needs this element - the speaker for the dead subplots - in order to be successful. Overall, Biutiful is indeed beautiful, made more so by one of the master actors of our time.

• Carlos M

  
  Too sad and depressing, this solid drama attempts to create an unbearable sensation of tragedy that does not always feel genuine. Even so, it benefits from a strong performance by Bardem, who is able to inject some complexity to his character despite the rather artificial plot.

• Chris W

  
  Uxbal's life is quite a mess: he's a sngle father of two, and struggles to raise them, primarily by working on the wrong side of the law trying to help out illegal immigrants. Besides navigating the underside of Barcelona to make end's meet, he also has to deal with his… More
  Uxbal's life is quite a mess: he's a sngle father of two, and struggles to raise them, primarily by working on the wrong side of the law trying to help out illegal immigrants. Besides navigating the underside of Barcelona to make end's meet, he also has to deal with his bipolar ex-wife who is a danger to their kids. Oh yeah, and he's also terminally ill with cancer. Obviously from that set-up, it is pretty clear that the film is bleak and depressing. Death and despair may be at the center of things, but there's still hope and humanity, so all is not completely lost. This is still a tough one to sit through, not only because of the tone and subject matter, but because it's two and a half hours and moves at an unhurried pace. I kinda like that Inarritiu decided to do away with the gimmick of his previous works (playing fast and loose with chronology, narrative, and interconnected storylines), because, even though that sort of thing is fun once in a while, it gets really old really fast. But, even with that element gone, I was unhappy over the fact that this film was needlessly overlong and moved slowly, especially since the plot is rather loose. It's a fine story, but it just needs to be tightened up and not so sprawling. It wouldn't be that hard to condense everythng and still get the point across. Ultimately though, things are thankfully saved due to the nice soundtrack, good cinematography, and the performances, primarily Bardem's, who is the sole reason the film is held together and ultimately works. It's a strong and moving performance, and the humanity Bardem brings with it give the audience someone to really empathize with. I cared for the character and whatr was happening, but honestly, it didn't last. As I mentioned, the film is over long, so there's lots of repetition and the film just rambles. I could only take so much before I began to get bored and stop caring as much. Even with the good stuff going on here, it's not enough to completely save things. I think that Inarritu does some good work, and, as much as I like taking a break from hollow Hollywood crap, pretentious art house fare can become just as stale as that stuff, and just as fast, too. Because some of it does work (and work well), I'll inflate what was going to be a straight C into a mild C+.

• Alireza M

  
  Successes of Amores Perros,21 Grams and Babel were for sake of both Arriaga's scripts and Inarritu's directing.A movie like The Burning Plain proves that Arriaga failed as a director and his movie isn't touching and believable at all without inarritu's directing.In… More
  Successes of Amores Perros,21 Grams and Babel were for sake of both Arriaga's scripts and Inarritu's directing.A movie like The Burning Plain proves that Arriaga failed as a director and his movie isn't touching and believable at all without inarritu's directing.In Biutiful the same happened and without Arriaga even there is no sign of inarritu's vision.

• Matthew S

  
  The world that Inarritu creates is thick and mysterious. In the first 45 minutes I thought it was over-reaching, including the personal plights of street sellers and an underground asian labor business. We become the young child, trying to make sense of all the pieces. We feel… More
  The world that Inarritu creates is thick and mysterious. In the first 45 minutes I thought it was over-reaching, including the personal plights of street sellers and an underground asian labor business. We become the young child, trying to make sense of all the pieces. We feel everyone's circumstances, and we wonder how and why they got that way. And like with children, there is a boundary between us and the father that prevents our understanding of these complexities. What we do understand is that he cares, and he wants harmony. Its this broad thickening of a mysterious world that makes the last few scenes so powerful.

• Jan Marc M

  
  A González Iñárritu transcendental film that features a determined redemption amid a threatening irreversible tragedy, Biutiful is striking and searing blessed with fluent cinematography and faultless performances, notably by Javier Bardem. Arresting.

• Kase V

  
  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 'Biutiful' is not a soulless film-its a film about a soulless place. Javier Bardem's performance is haunting and beautiful, and Inarritu's skill as a director is on full display here. The best part about the film, though, is… More
  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu's 'Biutiful' is not a soulless film-its a film about a soulless place. Javier Bardem's performance is haunting and beautiful, and Inarritu's skill as a director is on full display here. The best part about the film, though, is probably the brilliant and vivid cinematography that is crafted so assuredly here by Rodrigo Prieto. Each shot is mesmerizing and unforgettable. Yet as powerful as the film is, its flaws (although few) are very apparent. The run time of the movie is way too long, especially for the amount of sorrow and pity it induces. Plus, the ending (and beginning, for that matter) is unclear and confusing, yet it strangely feels right. For the common viewer, 'Biutiful' is a challenging film that many should choose to pass up. Yet for big movie fans and Oscar-watchers, this film is a must-see.

• Emil K

  
  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has created a long and demanding journey into one man's final months. Biutiful is not a easy film to sit through. It is near hellish vision of a man tormented by his illness. Uxbal, portayed brilliantly by Javier Bardem, is a father and a man who earns… More
  Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu has created a long and demanding journey into one man's final months. Biutiful is not a easy film to sit through. It is near hellish vision of a man tormented by his illness. Uxbal, portayed brilliantly by Javier Bardem, is a father and a man who earns his living by criminal ways. He is not a innocent man but he does it for his kids. Biutiful is film about moral dilemmas also. It put us into Uxbal's position and makes us think. While Inarritu's vision of Barcelona is something more closer to an hell on earth, there are still beautiful moments in here too. Uxbal is only trying to help people but ends up hurting many. His intentions are good but not always they go as planned. It almost feels that Inarritu has injected some religious questions here too. I cannot say that for sure, but it definetly asks big questions. Biutiful may not be as perfect as Inarritu's masterpiece Babel, but it is definetly a solid proof that he is one of the strongest voices in modern day cinema. This is journey worth taking.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"Look in my eyes. Look at my face. Remember me, please. Don't forget me, Ana. Don't forget me, my love, please."</i> This is the story of Uxbal, a man living in this world, but able to see his death, which guides his every move.… More
  <i>"Look in my eyes. Look at my face. Remember me, please. Don't forget me, Ana. Don't forget me, my love, please."</i> This is the story of Uxbal, a man living in this world, but able to see his death, which guides his every move. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> "Biutiful" is devastating. Not only isn't it a comfortable and audience-pleasing film but in this case the story's really shocking, well acted and directed and, overall, terribly sad. The film is basically about good and evil, death and life and similar topics. These themes are very effectively expressed in its atmospheric and innovative photography. Iñarritu's camera gets to detect images of fierce and brilliance in the squalor. Javier's face is painted with light and shadows, as well as with a sinister appearance suggesting strong contrition and redemption. Uxbal's efforts to make some generous deeds before his death are rendered in a terrific performance, which manages to elevate the bleak subject to a sublime level. "Biutiful" is a work of extraordinary vitality and humanity, with figures of untarnished quality (Uxbal's children and the Senegalese immigrant who'll raise them after his death). On a personal level Uxbal comes to terms with the close death but eventually shows a vision of reconciliation with the life he must leave behind. Watching the film is a really a must.

• Spencer S

  
  Another tale of death amidst troubling circumstances, in one of Javier Bardem's best roles. Particular accolades for the cinematography, bleak yet vibrant when showcasing the Spanish architecture, pedestrians, and hollow faces. The plot was winding, relying on the actors to… More
  Another tale of death amidst troubling circumstances, in one of Javier Bardem's best roles. Particular accolades for the cinematography, bleak yet vibrant when showcasing the Spanish architecture, pedestrians, and hollow faces. The plot was winding, relying on the actors to showcase emotional diatribes, bearing their souls to one another with the greatest of ease. Their psyches were at times demented, most often fervent to the point of collapsing on themselves. The dingy settings made me feel like I was at the bottom of a deep, dark hole, and I would never be able to crawl back up. Things that make this movie less than, include a running time that could have been lessened by diminishing the first and last scenes, supposedly metaphors for the land of death but come off as cheap imitation. There was also a control about Bardem's performance that was somber yet unrealistic. Death plagues this film, but sometimes not in the best way.

• Anthony L

  
  It's fair to say that I've been quite a harsh critic of Alejandro González Iñárritu's films, I'm far from being his biggest fan so I wasn't really interested in watching another but my other half is a big Javier Bardem fan, so we sat down to watch Biutiful. It… More
  It's fair to say that I've been quite a harsh critic of Alejandro González Iñárritu's films, I'm far from being his biggest fan so I wasn't really interested in watching another but my other half is a big Javier Bardem fan, so we sat down to watch Biutiful. It turned out to be a very aptly named film and one of the best I've seen in recent years. I can't quite believe it myself but all the things that have bugged me about his films over the years have all been replaced with pure brilliant film making. Gone has the dodgy editing, contrived story and unconvincing performances but probably more importantly, so has Guillermo Arriaga. Don't get me wrong, I like his work but Alejandro González Iñárritu never quite managed to do his stories justice. It turns out that Alejandro González Iñárritu is just as good a writer anyway, so it's nice that the first of his films that I really enjoyed was written by him. The acting is brilliant, Javier Bardem is always good and this must be a contender as being one of his greatest performances. The story is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, there's no schmaltz here though, the film feels very real, very brutal but all the better for it. I was captivated from the start to be honest, the film really hits it's peak two thirds in but was consistently entertaining. I think it deserves masterpiece status to be honest, as I haven't been this captivated since Breaking the Waves and that is in my top 5 favourite films of all time. Highly recommended!

• Jake .

  
  Quite frankly, I loved this movie. I wasn't totally sure what to expect, or even sure of what the plot was; but it was absolutely incredible. It's stereotypically artsy, but not pretentious; it feels the way it does, because that's how it must be. All the elements blend… More
  Quite frankly, I loved this movie. I wasn't totally sure what to expect, or even sure of what the plot was; but it was absolutely incredible. It's stereotypically artsy, but not pretentious; it feels the way it does, because that's how it must be. All the elements blend so well together, the surreal, horrific, loving, familiar; they all feel unified. Javier Bardem is incredible; while the role itself isn't necessary a memorable, standout character, it is impossible to imagine anyone else as Uxbal. I loved this, all around. It's a timeless musing on life, love, dysfunctions and horrror, the overlap and the past and present, and what it all means. Ultimately, where it all ends, even at its dirtiest, life is still beautiful.

• Everett J

  
  Alejandro González Iñárritu directed two of the best dramas of the last decade, "Babel" and "21 Grams". "Biutiful" fits perfectly next to those 2 in it's depressing tone, but it is no where near as good. Javier Bardem is very good, not quite… More
  Alejandro González Iñárritu directed two of the best dramas of the last decade, "Babel" and "21 Grams". "Biutiful" fits perfectly next to those 2 in it's depressing tone, but it is no where near as good. Javier Bardem is very good, not quite deserving of the Oscar nomination he received though. He isn't the problem here, the problem is Iñárritu's directing and storytelling. This movie moves very slow and is way to long at 2 hours and 27 minutes. "Babel" was a bit slow, but it had spurts of very dramatic moments(the maid getting busted at the border is amazing film-making). Here there is no action, just lots of sorrow and reflection. I mean, I get it, it's about a dad who has cancer and is filled with regret about his life and not wanting to leave his children alone. But really, movies are designed to entertain, and honestly there is very little entertainment value here. The movie is in Spanish, and the DVD I had didn't have an English dub, so you will need to watch with subtitles. If you are a Bardem fan, then go ahead and give it a shot as he does good. But if you want to watch an emotional drama, then check out "Babel" or especially "21 Grams", they'll show you what Iñárritu can really do.

• Cynthia S

  
  Javier Bardem made this worth watching for me. I think that his acting is just brilliant. This movie is proof that great acting does not necessarily produce a great movie, however. Having said that, it is also difficult to be enthusiastic about a film that has death as a central theme… More
  Javier Bardem made this worth watching for me. I think that his acting is just brilliant. This movie is proof that great acting does not necessarily produce a great movie, however. Having said that, it is also difficult to be enthusiastic about a film that has death as a central theme to the plot. That alone made for one very long, painful, depressing ordeal.

• Steven C

  
  "Biutiful" is Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's most ambitious film. It's ambitious because Inarritu takes his formula of disparate characters and themes pulled together by violence and transplants them inward, into a single character. The character development and… More
  "Biutiful" is Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu's most ambitious film. It's ambitious because Inarritu takes his formula of disparate characters and themes pulled together by violence and transplants them inward, into a single character. The character development and violence is all unseen. Inarritu is known for his globally expansive melodramas and violent cohesion of characters but he moves in much more interesting ways with "Biutiful." Because the violence is unseen (cancer, a gas leak, mental disorders, ghosts), the fear of it striking is palpable, death can appear at any moment. Inarritu uses this mood to make the picture feel cohesive and it works. It helps make the more curious aspects (Uxbal's part time job as a medium, his cocaine fueled nightclub experience) fit with the more tangible (his relationship with his children) ones. Special attention should be paid to Javier Bardem who ultimately makes the film congeal. His emotionally masterful performance grounds the unfocused aspects of the film and keeps the 2 and a half hour runtime from dragging. Bardem is fantastic at reflecting a characters inner violence (weather it be emotional, like the longing for his son in "Eat Pray Love" or otherwise, like his silent, murderous rampage in "No Country for Old Men). In "Biutiful" he is a man ravaged by cancer and fate and the violence of those two experiences is written all over him. "Biutiful" is without question an odd experience but it is most certainly a devastating and intriguing one.

• Fernando Rafael Q

  
  Gripping poem on the inevitability of death, grief and love. A masterpiece and director Alejandro González Iñárritu's best work to date. Guess his public breakup with writer Guillermo Arriaga didn't hurt his career at all. Biutiful is the Mexican entry for the "Best… More
  Gripping poem on the inevitability of death, grief and love. A masterpiece and director Alejandro González Iñárritu's best work to date. Guess his public breakup with writer Guillermo Arriaga didn't hurt his career at all. Biutiful is the Mexican entry for the "Best Foreign Language Film" category at next year's Academy Awards. Javier Bardem's tour-de-force performance receives excellent support from Maricel Álvarez (who plays his bipolar, alcoholic wife) and Guillermo Estrella (his son Mateo).

• Pedro H

  
  <i> Biutiful </i> Not so Biutiful A <b>incomprehensible</b> and disturbing movie that personally didn't get my attention or effect me in anyway. Besides the acting, and the soundtrack this movie in my opinion becomes complicated to a point where its… More
  <i> Biutiful </i> Not so Biutiful A <b>incomprehensible</b> and disturbing movie that personally didn't get my attention or effect me in anyway. Besides the acting, and the soundtrack this movie in my opinion becomes complicated to a point where its almost pointless. The story revolves around Uxbal, a father who struggles to maintain dignity. From working on the underground, Uxbal seeks redemption and becomes a tragic hero. The Acting is <b>extraordinary</b>, Bardem does a wonderful job every second he is on screen. His performance is mindblowing and really touches everyone in the audience. The soundtrack and the silent scenes are by far the best thing this movie has to offer, the silent scenes are powerful and truly worth it. However, everything else a movie needs, this movie lacks. The plot is almost boring and to some extent repetitive, making the movie seem <b>unending</b>. The everlasting tragedy becomes cocky and therefore makes this a really boring movie. Overall a boring movie with a powerful perfomance, yet I had a hard time understanding it and therefore it kinda...sucked. <u>Uxbal:</u> <i>Look in my eyes. Look at my face. Remember me, please. Don't forget me, Ana. Don't forget me, my love, please.</i>

• Manu G

  
  This is one very good film, but I gotta say this film might not be for everyone because of the complexity and depressing style it brings. It is indeed grim... and human. Like life, and perhaps a reflection of these days, not everything ends up happily ever after... we all are… More
  This is one very good film, but I gotta say this film might not be for everyone because of the complexity and depressing style it brings. It is indeed grim... and human. Like life, and perhaps a reflection of these days, not everything ends up happily ever after... we all are surviving each day in our own ways. This is not the film that you go to to escape from reality... it's reality facing right back at you. It paints a perspective on the lives of those living on the frayed edges of our society, in every part of the world. It is not Bardem's best role as an actor but still did an excellent job. The director as always does great movies so keep them coming. This is a story of a man in free fall. On the road to redemption, darkness lights his way. Connected with the afterlife, Uxbal is a tragic hero and father of two who's sensing the danger of death. He struggles with a tainted reality and a fate that works against him in order to forgive, for love, and forever.

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