Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Grimossfer Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Marva-nova Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

Miguel Neto Biutiful is a very cruel and heavy film, the script is competent , the cast is also competent , more emphasis is Javier Bardem this excellent, each field this actor surprises me more , is the direction of Alejandro G. Inarritu , and it makes a great direction , not enough to be his best work in the direction , even more so is very good, the picture is good and dark , the pace is good, the soundtrack is very good, and the film is full of moments and strong , the character Javier Bardem , Uxbal , is very interesting , one of the best characters of the actor, Biutiful is one of the best films of Alejandro G. Inarritu (which eventually would Birdman and the Revanant ) when the movie ends you feel the sensation a punch in the stomach . Note 8.6

johnfp-fallon This movie is one of the finest (and most harrowing) emotional cinematic journeys I have ever experienced. The opening two scenes raise so many questions; which are answered by the juxtaposition of the final two scenes in a wonderful (and surprising) manner. The portrayal of life in its ordinariness (and the extra-ordinariness within) is a joy in its honesty, challenge, beauty and reward. There are reflections on psychological conditions, racism and even capitalism to some extent in its portrayal of a struggling life in Barcelona. There are some very, very difficult scenes to endure; but this movie is an experience worth enduring. I would truly recommend this film; though be prepared for a not-so-easy ride.

Lucas Versantvoort Biutiful is director Alejandro González Iñárritu's attempt at recapturing the sense of drama his Death trilogy (Amores Perros, 21 Grams and Babel) had. Expectations were high not only because of the success of the aforementioned films, but because it had been four years since Babel first graced the big screen. Unfortunately Biutiful doesn't fully recapture the magic of Iñárritu's previous efforts and this may simply be because of Melodramatic Overload. Iñárritu always had a knack for compelling drama, but his films never became melodramatic to the point that it turned me off. Biutiful pretty much reached that point. If you thought Detachment was depressing, wait until you revel in the quagmire that is Biutiful.We follow Uxbal (played by Javier Bardem) as he tries to make a living for himself and his kids in Barcelona. He has separated from his wife due to her bipolarity and alcoholism, so his kids have no mother; his only immediate family is his brother who works in construction; he earns money by finding work illegal immigrants and managing a group of people who sell fake designer goods; he's diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and he can talk to the dead (with which he earns some money on the side when taking to the recently deceased on behalf of others). To provide further plot info would be to enter spoiler territory, but the above should give you a clear indication of what you can expect: tragedy.What works is Bardem's magnetic performance which is what convinced me to watch the film from beginning to end and the cinematography which capture Barcelona in a way not seen on postcards, in all its depressive beauty and dreariness. Those who were enamored by the nighttime Tokyo imagery in Babel, will find a lot to like. Also interesting is some of the camera-work during scenes involving the afterlife. The first time Uxbal walks into a room and the camera slowly pans to reveal a man clasping onto pipes on the ceiling with what can be described as an intense look on his face… Iñárritu should try his hand at horror, that's all I'm saying. Perhaps the film's highlight is the subplot involving his ex-wife. Despite her bipolarity and alcoholism, she and Uxbal try to repair their relationship and take care of the kids, until Uxbal realizes (again) she cannot be entrusted with this task, despite what she says.Overall, I think Iñárritu reached the limit of what the audience could take in terms of melodrama. Though reception was positive, in no way did it equal his previous efforts. With Babel, there was an overarching point and a sense of dramatic beauty that this film's title fails to deliver. Although Iñárritu's films deal with themes of death (hence the supernatural element in Biutiful) and mortality, Babel had more to offer (the theme of communication overcoming cultural barriers). Crucially, Biutiful lacks this 'positive element'. It feels more like a melodramatic downward spiral, as opposed to Babel which – despite all the drama – still offered a positive world-view, because it showed human suffering is universal and it is the point where cultural barriers fade away. It's unsurprising that Iñárritu's next film, Birdman, will be part drama and part comedy, which will be interesting to say the least.

CinemaClown From the director of Amores Perros, 21 Grams & Babel, Biutiful is Alejandro Gonzáles Iñárritu's fourth feature film that has a poignant story, is intimately crafted & magnificently performed and yet, the film as a whole remains a largely underwhelming affair that's stuck on one level from start to finish & if it wasn't for Javier Bardem's remarkable performance, it'd have been long forgotten.Set in the underbelly of Barcelona, Biutiful tells the story of Uxbal; a deeply conflicted man who's struggling in every facet of life. Barely making enough money to take care of his two children & separated from his wife who suffers from bipolar disorder, Uxbal's life falls apart when he learns that he is diagnosed with terminal cancer which leads him to get his affairs in order before he's gone.Directed by Iñárritu, Biutiful is the least impressive effort of his film career. There are moments which exhibit excellence in bits n pieces but the manner in which its entire story is narrated is very dull. The 2.5 hours of runtime is deeply felt, supporting characters are not at all interesting & apart from Javier Bardem's emotionally devastating performance, there isn't much to like about it.On an overall scale, Biutiful explores the themes of fatherhood, guilt, love, spirituality & mortality and has a raw, evocative feel to it but its story nevertheless feels much contrived & isn't helped by its tedious direction, unrefined script, bleak ambiance, stagnant pace or dull editing. Bardem is absolutely flawless in his role but the same level of commitment is severely lacking from the rest of its cast & crew.