Juan-Carlos Selznick writes:
"Although a grubby, emotionally fraught realism prevails through most of its 148-minute running time, Biutiful begins and ends with an ethereal sort of dream vision. There’s gloom aplenty in the several stories that unfold therein, but the mystical poetry and serenity evoked in those dream visions cast a quiet, haunting spell over all that transpires."
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, produced by Guillermo del Toro, is hitting cinemas this week. We couldn't help but be reminded of how much a particular trio of Mexican directors has influenced Hollywood over the past decade: Guillermo del Toro, Alfonso Cuarón, and Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who are three of the most talented Mexican filmmakers of this generation. Find out how the made their way into Hollywood, and how they are connected through their films.
Juan Letona writes: Biutiful is the latest film by acclaimed Mexican director Alejandro González Iñarritu (Amores Perros, 21 Grams, and Babel). His latest exposition of life and death roars, with the great performance of lead actor Javier Bardem and his portrayal of a down on his luck Barcelonan.
Serious Film:
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu is a filmmaker to be reckoned with. There's no denying it.
You can feel him reaching for greatness in every inch of Biutiful. And while in certain stretches there's no question he's hitting career high-points, there's the unavoidable fact the same problems that interfered with 21 Grams and Babel are present again, raging in full force. The hope held by many that he would break free of them after parting ways with screenwriting partner Guillermo Arriaga are dashed here. The flaws are worse than ever, only arranged this time in chronological order instead of scrambled. What is it about Inarritu's films that leave me with an empty heart and a weight on my shoulders?
