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Biutiful (2011) - 7/10
Death is a topic that haunts me to some degree. Maybe as much as it does everyone and maybe more. Who's to say. When i read the description of this film i was drawn to it immediately.
Javier Bardem is the lead here. Street criminal who sells knock off merchandise. His life is a shit show. Estranged drug addict possibly prostitute wife. No family save a brother who is fucking said possible whore wife. Javier has custody of the kids. And he just found out he has cancer with months left to live.
Its serendipitous timing that i watch this having just watched (the masterpiece) Ikiru as there are some interesting parallels. The film ultimately deals with the struggles of death at an existential level but it does it while never talking about it. Instead we get a performance by Bardem that is told often silently. And it is very much an actors film. His film.
If you like Bardems work and this kind of macabre exploration is up your alley its worth a watch. It has a lot to say with out saying it and i very much think its worth hearing. Though i would say its worth watching the superior Ikiru first as this serves as a continuation of the topic in many ways and I'd wager that was intentional.
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