By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Starring: Eduard Fernández | Guillermo Estrella | Hanaa Bouchaib | Javier Bardem | Maricel Álvarez
Country: mexico, spain
Year: 2011
Running time: 148
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1164999/
Thom says: “I have no idea why it took me so long to see this cinematic gem. The film was nominated for best Foreign Film in the 2010 Oscar race, Javier Bardem is always a mesmerizing actor, & I’ve become a fan of director Iñárritu. He has continually grown for me from film-to-film: AMORES PERROS, 21 GRAMS, BABEL, & now this. And the latest is the strongest entry yet. Be warned: it would be difficult to find a film more grim than this one. Iñárritu doesn’t make happy films but this one is the most depressing yet. Bardem plays a hustling black marketeer living in Barcelona with his two young children. He’s separated from his junkie/alcoholic wife who nonetheless keeps forcing herself back into his life. To make matters worse he has inoperable cancer and doesn’t have long to live. And to drive the final nail in the coffin his current work involves both Asian & African illegal immigrants and horror after horror occurs. A fantastic prologue and epilogue transforms the film into poetry, far surpassing the end results in THE TREE OF LIFE. Bardem continues to impress in his award-winning role. The images are continually compelling and serve as a beautiful counterpoint to the dissonance of the story. Iñárritu has become a must-see director. 5 cats”