Biutiful

Poetic, and sad, but also extremely manipulative. Not even the genuine relationship that Javier Bardem has with Maricel Álvarez can save it. I'm sorry, but Iñárritu is too transparent and violent in his handling of the most basic emotions, which he treats as an investment, and it really is - the gain is recognition and heartfelt weeping. I'm not interested in participating in that. (26/06/2017)

A raw Barcelona odyssey, a tribute to the big city, and Bardem's remarkable one man show with cancer. Unfortunately, it doesn't have any "filler" or other connective tissue in between, so a lot of interesting images, handheld camerawork and a few solid scenes are wasted. It lacks drive, it lacks an emotional charge, and it’s too long. Iñarritú wants to play the same music he did in 21 Grams, but he doesn't have a good enough score, or rather, he has a story and characters you can't understand or relate to. (23/12/2016)

Hmm, what should I say about Biutiful? Probably the most interesting thing for me were the relationships in the main character's weirdly functioning family. The film had a strongly depressing atmosphere, but since I don't have an ounce of sympathy for global migration, some poignant moments left me completely cold. Plus, when I finished watching the film, my skin felt itchy all over, and I had an urge to take a shower as soon as possible and then vacuum the whole apartment. (03/03/2018)

I’m giving this three stars for one simple reason—I went into it expecting an emotional rollercoaster that would completely wreck me. But, to my surprise, it didn’t hit as hard as I thought it would. Maybe I was bracing myself too much, or maybe it just wasn’t as overwhelming as I'd imagined. The whole movie is undeniably sad from start to finish, with Javier Bardem carrying the weight of it all, and the ending definitely packs a punch. But as a whole, it felt like something was missing. I wanted more depth in the emotions, not just constant sadness. (19/02/2012)

Many film fans have a problem with Biutiful and criticize it as being unnecessary, unfinished, or problematic. The fact is that this film has basically the same film qualities as Iñárritu's previous films, but it is much more depressing, hopeless, and tragic in every way, which makes it simply unbearable for many. It is as likable as cancer with all its metastases, which relentlessly devours the body of the main character. Tragic motifs were present in Iñárritu's previous works as well, but the director balanced them with the attractiveness of the environment and the plot. That does not happen here. The film is very ordinary, traditionally slow, and inexorably heads toward a sad ending. Overall impression: 80% (I can't give it a fifth star for the concentrated depression, even if the film deserves it). (26/03/2012)