Biutiful

This movie isn't intended for people who plan to see Just Go With It or The Eagle. This movie is entrenched with misery and tragedy and followed by death. Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu leaves nothing to chance in his effort to display tragedy of the human spirit. Everything about this movie from the characters to the environment is falling apart and there is little to do but sit there and be weighted down by people just trying to survive.

Inarritu tells the story of a Uxbal, a low level criminal who recently finds out he has very little time to live. He needs to get all his affairs in order and at the same time come to grips with the finality of his life. He also must provide for his young children all while his brother screws him over at work and his bipolar wife tries to reenter his home life. His life is a mess and he has very little time to fix it.

We are introduced to Uxbal as a man who can communicate with the dead, and ease the transition for both the deceased and the loved ones they leave behind. This story line is probably inserted to enforce the perception that no one knows how to properly face death. While it enriches the character, it adds nothing to the story. I understand why the director wanted to keep that part of the character in the movie, but it serves no purpose in advancing the story and even detracts a little from the character.

This is just one example of the clutter that is involved with the movie. We also see juxtapositions between deported African dealers and imported Chinese slave labor. His detached nature from his father, wife, and brother while at the same time trying to leave a lasting legacy and protection for his children. It seems that not only is Uxbal trying to do too much in a short amount of time, but those behind the scenes are trying to jam so much social commentary that it all seems forced. Inarritu is trying to weigh the audience down with the tragedies that occur in the third world, but because he is trying to say too much, it's tough to hear any of his message.

The messenger and mouthpiece of all this tragedy helps to grab the audience and keep them engaged while everything else around the story seems overwhelming. Javier Bardem is in his comfort zone when tragic conditions look to envelop his character. The look in his eyes can tell you everything you need to know about him. He is not evil, although involved in some underhanded schemes to make money, you never question the morality of the character, although you probably should. He does all he can to do right by the people around him and still tragedy and suffering follow him wherever he goes. Bardem owns the role and carries the film on his shoulders. His character is heart wrenchingly devastating, and draws you into the story even when it seems to be trying too hard.

The scenes with his children as he prepares them for his departure may be the most touching moments. He does all he can to create lasting memories so that he will be remembered unlike his own father who he is quick to dig up and make a quick buck off of. But instead some of those scenes seem to just get lost in the clutter of the story. Inarritu has a tendency to overload his story with movies like Babel coming to mind.

Really the tragedy of the film is that it does not achieve its desired effect. Had it not been for Bardem who shoots this movie into the academy awards it would have just been lost in the other art house films that are out now. C+