The Good Boss

In the end, Fernando León de Aranoa’s film suggests that there may not be a lot of daylight between a good boss and a true villain.

Wickedly warped.

Whether or not Blanco is able to save his factory, Bardem is able to navigate the narrative missteps surrounding him and ultimately make The Good Boss worth a look.

Despite some quality craftsmanship, “The Good Boss” ultimately doesn’t pay off. Capitalism should be more fun than this.

Bardem’s mischievous turn anchors the slickly executed action, but little of substance lingers from the surface dip into corporate life.

I like it a lot. It's a very different kind of role for Javier Bardem, not someone we think of in terms of comedy.

Bardem soars in these settings: soothing, dissembling and manipulative. As a modern Machiavelli with an MBA in management, he is riveting.

It's usually a black comedy that enjoys a compelling performance from Javier Bardem, but often loses its satirical balance and falls into weary boredom as it outlines his social critique of unemployment, injustice, and capitalism. [Full review in Spanish]

'The Good Boss' keeps you hooked throughout its clever screenplay depicting everyday scenarios with unique twists.

Bardem is in virtually every scene and obviously the movie revolves around him, but the supporting cast is completely convincing as well. Manolo Solo is particularly good as the constantly frazzled production manager.