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Javier Bardem, Maricel Alvarez, Eduard Fernández, Hanna Bouchaib, Diarytou Daff ... see more see more... , Cheng Taishen , Cheikh Ndiaye , Lio Jin , Luo Jin , Guillermo Estrella , Rubén Ochandiano , George Chibuikwem Chukwuma , Lang Sofia Lin , Yodian Yang , Tuo Lin , Xueheng Chen , Xiaoyan Zhang , Ye Ailie , Xianlin Bao , Ana Wagener , Karra Elejalde , Nasser Saleh , Tomás del Estal , Ángel Luis Arjona , Dolores Echepares , Adelfa Calvo , Manuel Solo , Violeta Pérez , Germán Almendros , Isaac Alcaide , Nacho Moliné , Carmen La Lata , Annabel Totusaus , Eduardo Gómez , Ramón Elies , Juan Vicente Sánchez , Félix Cubero , Carmen Peleteiro , Federico Muñoz , Leticia Albizuri , María Casado , Judith Huertas , Aroa Ortiz , Victoria M. Díaz , Sonia Cruz , Sophie Evans , Luna Jiménez Colindres , Dunia Montenegro , Rodica Ioana Ungureanu

Biutiful is a love story between a father and his children. This is the journey of Uxbal, a conflicted man who struggles to reconcile fatherhood, love, spirituality, crime, guilt and mortality amidst ... read more read more...the dangerous underworld of modern Barcelona. His livelihood is earned out of bounds, his sacrifices for his children know no bounds. Like life itself, this is a circular tale that ends where it begins. As fate encircles him and thresholds are crossed, a dim, redemptive road brightens, illuminating the inheritances bestowed from father to child, and the paternal guiding hand that navigates life's corridors, whether bright, bad - or biutiful. -- (C) Roadside Attractions

Flixster Users

74% liked it

18,116 ratings

Critics

64% liked it

138 critics

R, 2 hr. 28 min.

Directed by: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Release Date: December 29, 2010

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DVD Release Date: May 31, 2011

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Stats: 1,760 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (1,760)

  • blacksheepboy
    February 24, 2012
    blacksheepboy
    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.
  • cosmo313
    February 1, 2012
    cosmo313
    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 e... read morex-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+.
  • Alireza64ir
    November 18, 2011
    Alireza64ir
    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 s... read moreame happened and without Arriaga even there is no sign of inarritu's vision.
  • fb1672039553
    November 7, 2011
    fb1672039553
    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 ev... read moreeryone'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.
  • fb1216165431
    September 10, 2011
    fb1216165431
    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.
  • fb100001048934982
    September 5, 2011
    fb100001048934982
    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 an... read mored 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.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    July 6, 2011
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "Look in my eyes. Look at my face. Remember me, please. Don't forget me, Ana. Don't forget me, my love, please."

    This is the story of Uxbal, a man living in this world, but able to see his death, which guides his every move.

    ... read morek">REVIEW
    "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.
  • FrizzDrop
    June 23, 2011
    FrizzDrop
    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 showc... read morease 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.
  • SirPant
    June 23, 2011
    SirPant
    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 ... read morevery 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!
  • neverteaseaweasel
    June 20, 2011
    neverteaseaweasel
    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 t... read moreogether, 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.

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Critic Reviews

Lisa Kennedy
February 11, 2011
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Iñárritu has a delicate yet searing sense of intimacy, which cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto captures with hand-held determination. Full Review

Rick Groen
February 11, 2011
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Watch Bardem here -- his eyes speak heart-rending volumes. Full Review

Peter Howell
February 10, 2011
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

With the exception of an otherworldly prologue that remains mysterious well into the film, Biutiful is an unusually linear feature for Iñárritu, but no less involving or challenging than his previous ... Full Review

Tom Long
February 4, 2011
Tom Long, Detroit News

An overloaded agony parade of a film that's such a grim march to devastation that it should be hard to watch. And, OK, it is. But with Bardem at its center, it's like watching a lush train wreck. Full Review

Steven Rea
February 3, 2011
Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer

[Bardem] draws from a deep, deep well of love, pain, and who-knows-what-else. Full Review

Colin Covert
February 3, 2011
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Biutiful" is devastating. Full Review

Dana Stevens
February 3, 2011
Dana Stevens, Slate

It's the kind of film that congratulates the viewer on her tolerance for the spectacle of unrelieved misery. Full Review

Bill Goodykoontz
February 2, 2011
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic

Bardem's performance makes it not just bearable but rich and compelling. Full Review

Anthony Lane
January 31, 2011
Anthony Lane, New Yorker

The movie's mood might well have proved unendurable were it not for the proud and sympathetic presence of Bardem. Full Review

Peter Rainer
January 29, 2011
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

Iñárritu is far from untalented -- Amores Perros had sequences as powerful as anything in the films of Luis Bunuel -- but misery has become his shtick. Full Review

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    • Tito: It's dangerous to trust a man who is hungry.
    • Ana: What is it? A booger?
    • Uxbal: Don't forget me, my love, please.
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