"Biutiful" with Javier Bardem Deserves Its Roger Ebert Thumbs Up

"Biutiful" with Javier Bardem deserves its Roger Ebert thumps up and more. So why did A.O. Scott at "The New York Times" say such nasty things about it?

"Biutiful" Summary: Uxbal (Javier Bardem) has it all - terminal cancer, an estranged wife who's mentally ill, and a brother who betrays him. He's also in constant trouble with the law due to his job that consists mostly of taking a cut from illegal immigrant workers. It's a side of Barcelona that most tourists don't see. Even in the midst of all this, he struggles to be a loving father and treats the workers with more decency than his colleagues. As one crooked cop says, you can't trust a hungry man. "Biutiful" depicts a starving man trying to be trustworthy, and makes it easy to sympathize with the criminals who can't rise above their desperation.

"Biutiful" Reviews by Roger Ebert and A.O. Scott: Roger Ebert credits the film for Bardem's performance and its heartfelt moral sense. On the other hand, A.O. Scott says it's "banal." After claiming that Bardem is playing some kind of Jesus character, Scott says the movie "traffics in a vague theology of uplift" rather than authentic religion. As a Buddhist, I see nothing vague in the concept that Uxbal's positive actions create a positive experience for him after death. I've got nothing against religions where believers have faith in an omnipotent god, but I've also got no doubt that virtuous action is my only hope for liberation. Given its beauty and importance, it's sad to see the film get only 58 out of 100 from 28 critics at Metacritic.

More Awards: Javier Bardem's nomination for the Academy Award Best Actor Oscar is the first time that a performance entirely in Spanish has been nominated in this category. The film has also been nominated for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year. That's on top of Bardem's award for Best Actor at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.

One Cliffhanger Cleared Up: Skip this spoiler if you haven't seen "Biutiful" yet. Javier Bardem and the director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu have both assured audiences that the nanny Ige really does come back for the kids. I thought it was obvious but some people missed it.

I'm just sad only 3 local theaters are even showing "Biutiful" here in Washington DC. Javier Bardem's performance and the film's message about goodness make me agree with Roger Ebert on this one.