A Better Life (2011)

As Good As It Gets

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

In truth, any opportunity to see the film on the big screen is welcome.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

After reading mixed reviews on IMDB, I decided to give the movie a try. It was well worth it - the film has virtually everything I look for, in film, and the only reason I wouldn't rate it higher is because of my subjective feelings for other films I love just a bit more. (I've never rated any movie a 10 on IMDB. That's just how I am.) The pace is stable, does not linger on exposition or fill the time with pointless scenes, nor does it wear you out with constant action scenes. The cinematography is as good as you could expect for a drama that isn't trying to be an "art film" - with some beautiful and gritty settings and appropriate lighting, The story is solid, with a couple of interesting surprises, and the script comes across very natural - far more so than many TV series or direct to Netflix movies. The casting and acting, however, is what carries it all the way home.I'll admit much of the time I was teary eyed watching this film, especially the ending. I don't typically hunger for "feel-good, family-friendly fare" because in the real world there is a turmoil in humanity that once you see it, you can't unsee it - and any movie that attempts to sugarcoat that while attempting to address a serious subject, to me, feels pretentious. However, in spite of this movie's excellent portrayal of a father and son in an increasingly desperate situation, the movie DID make me feel good, even while making me cry. It gave me a release.Demian Bechir make acting look easy for his Oscar-nominated role as Carlos, an undocumented Mexican immigrant working as a landscaper in Souther California and trying to support the life of his troubled teenage son. Carlos is unflinching in his dedication to supporting his child, no matter how tense things seem between them. Luis, fourteen, is increasingly restless with his life in a gritty, low-income neighborhood, where he and his friends picture their futures with less and less optimism. Day by day, the ominous proximity of gang activity beckons Luis to drop out of school and succumb to the 'hood life, which already seems to have appealed more to his best friends than the perceived alternatives of washing dishes or mowing lawns.During a heated conversation about Luis' suspension from school for an altercation with another student, Luis shouts at Carlos to "Go mow some lawns!" The helpless alienation Bechir portrays as Carlos, despite his tireless efforts to provide the best possible future for his son, is reminiscent to Kevin Spacey's father-daughter relationship in "American Beauty", though played with a much more serious tone. During one of the more heart-wrenching dialogues in the movie, Luis questions his father, "Why did you have me? Why do all these poor people have kids?" After a devastating theft threatens to destroy their future, it is interesting to see how both Carlos' and Luis' different moral codes interpret the scenarios they encounter as a team - Carlos, the law-abiding citizen, who respects authority and tries to make as little waves as possible, and Luis, with his high ideals and desire to take fairness and retribution into his own hands because nobody else will. This film, though its content could be powerful enough influence people regarding current social ssues, does not resemble a propaganda film, in case you were curious. Far from being a political commentary, it is a story about family, hard work, and difficult choices, though in order to tell that story, realistic examples are shown of the emotional deterioration faced by real people, brought on by the fear of losing their jobs or worse, the forced separation from their families or children, regardless of sole provider status. As I said earlier, "family friendly" isn't always a draw for me, but yet I feel relieved this film is appropriate enough to be shown to middle school aged kids, provided they don't mind reading some subtitles. (Most of the movie is in English but there are some Spanish parts.) Cursing and violence are fairly minimal, and there's no sex. I hope that some social studies teachers will take advantage of this film's temperance and use it to catalyze discussion with their students. "A Better Life" is a film about a hard life, one that aches with hope, and certainly should make you think, but should not make you bitter. If anything, you may find a newfound admiration for people who are faced with situations like Carlos and gratitude for comforts you took for granted. Whether or not the story itself is something you think you've seen before, I doubt you've seen it acted better. "A Better Life"'s characters are strong, courageous, and not easily forgettable. At the end of the movie, I was shaking. I couldn't wait to write this review.

This movie invokes an emotional response to immigration. I was on the edge of my seat during the movie. This film portrays a real story and is not Hollywoodized or anything. As a teacher I will show this film in class as we discuss the gritty issue of immigration. I hope my students will feel more compassion for Latino immigrants after watching this film, and see another side of the issue. A sequel should be made. I don't want to give any spoilers away - so I will keep this review strictly on the film overview. The scenes felt real, because the crew went into sketchy areas of LA to film specific scenes. The compassion the father has for his son is outstandingly portrayed in the actor's acting. The film has a great ending.

Carlos Galindo (Demian Bichir) wants nothing more than to provide his son, Luis (Jose Julian), with the life he himself never had. An illegal alien who has lived in the US for many years, Carlos works as a gardener and keeps his head down, always mindful of what deportation would mean for his son. Luis, meanwhile, is a typically rebellious teenager who doesn't understand or appreciate his father's sacrifices and who is on the brink of joining the local gang. When Carlos' boss planning to leave the gardening business and head home, he offers to sell his truck and equipment to his loyal employee. Desperate to make something happen for himself, Carlos accepts the offer and goes into business for himself, a risk he normally would not take. But when the truck is stolen by a day laborer, Carlos and Luis go on a journey to recover their property and in the process, rebuild the relationship that they've both sorely missed.I think it was a surprise to many to find Demian Bichir's name among those nominated for Best Actor at this year's Academy Awards. On a list that includes Gary Oldman, George Clooney, Brad Pitt, and eventual winner Jean Dujardin, Bichir seemed a bit out of place, especially considering some of the great work done by accomplished actors who were not recognized by the academy (Ryan Gosling, Michael Shannon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, etc.). This is one of those situations, however, that demands a viewing before judgment because, having now seen A Better Life, I can certainly understand the Academy's decision. Simply put, this is a heartfelt, power house performance by an actor that perfectly embodies his role. Carlos encapsulates elements of heartbreak and hope, misfortune and motivation and in doing so creates a deeply layered and personal portrayal. Bichir plays Carlos with subtlety, acting as much with his eyes as with his words, giving notice of the internal conflict waging within the man throughout his various struggles. It is truly an outstanding performance and one that carries significant weight.The rest of A Better Life, though, doesn't quite measure up to the brilliance of the lead performer. Many of the early scenes come off as manufactured rather than organic, a polar opposite to the path that Bichir takes with his character. It is too earnest at times and that could cause cynical jerks like me to bail on the film before it ever really gets going. To be fair, A Better Life gets better as it goes and eventually leaves the safety of borderline-manipulative Oscar bait behind in favor of a more genuine tone but in some ways that makes the first act even more frustrating. There are also a handful of scenes that could have been edited out or restructured more purposefully and many of Bichir's colleagues fail to deliver at a compatible level with the film's star. Julian shows flashes of excellence but overall I found his performance to be spotty and less-than believable. I can't say whether the blame for this rests on Julian or the film's director, Chris Weitz, but the dynamic between father and son didn't always deliver. It would have been interesting to see Bichir go toe-to-toe with a more challenging co-star, similar to the interactions between George Clooney and Shailene Woodley in The Descendants. What saves A Better Life from becoming yet another independent film that doesn't live up to the strength of its leading performer is the conclusion. Weitz saves his best work for last, creating a stirring, emotional scene in the very end in which Bichir delivers beautifully and which exhibits the very best of the relationship between Carlos and Luis. It is a hopeful, impactful finale that covers over the film's previous missteps and allowed me to leave with a higher opinion of the film than I might have had otherwise. The result is a good movie highlighted my one fantastic performance and brought home by one stirring scene.Please see my reviews at thesoapboxoffice.blogspot.com

I am intimately aware of the struggles of Latino undocumented immigrants in this country and this movie captured that struggle so well, albeit very specific to the region they live in. It shows US citizens who may not understand the significance of what these people give up in order to attempt to provide for their families. Yes, to give them a better life whether here or by sending money home to their native countries.I watched the movie twice, and cried both times, even knowing that their was no way the movie would end happily. But it did end with a glimmer of hope for the future for both father and son and that neither will give up...