Jordan Brooks Vague Visages Aug 1, 2023

While Iñárritu’s tactics can become tiresome over multiple views, he is perhaps one of the greatest, single-experience filmmakers working today.

Go to Full Review

Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com Sep 3, 2020 3.5/4.0

It is a heartfelt, beautifully constructed, heartbreaking and, at times, difficult to watch downer.

Go to Full Review

Felicia Feaster Charleston City Paper Jan 21, 2020

Biutiful is a vision of a society that has broken down into layers of corruption, whose murk and misery can recall future-shock yarns like Blade Runner.

Go to Full Review

Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Nov 16, 2019

Inarritu has captured more than just spirit with this film. Biutiful is beautiful inside and out.

Go to Full Review

David Harris Spectrum Culture Nov 6, 2019 3/5

González Iñárritu has directed his gloomiest and least cohesive film to date.

Go to Full Review

Shubhra Gupta The Indian Express Apr 3, 2019 2.5/5

What kept me glued was the leading man whose increasingly ravaged eyes reflect a thousand tragedies with such ease: [Javier] Bardem is truly 'biutiful'.

Go to Full Review

Daniel Green CineVue Nov 6, 2018 4/5

A cinematic, melancholic love song to Barcelona's unrepresented communities, with Uxbal as their totem.

Go to Full Review

Brandy McDonnell The Oklahoman Aug 13, 2018 3/4

Inarritu and Bardem give just enough glimpses of hope, humanity, and yes, beauty, for the film to live up to its name.

Go to Full Review

Shelagh Rowan-Legg That Shelf May 16, 2018

By focusing on Uxbal, Gonzlez Irritu slowly sinks through each layer of this single person...It is rare in film to be given the opportunity to know one character so intimately.

Go to Full Review

A.S. Hamrah n+1 Apr 30, 2018

Irritu pays very close attention to people and to background, creating an detailed portrait of the people who live in Barcelona's margins.

Go to Full Review

Laura Hiros Rincón de cine Mar 16, 2018 4/5

The story can be distressing, hilarious, spiritual or simply biutiful, you are the one who decides. [Full review in Spanish]

Go to Full Review

Caryn James Newsday Feb 7, 2018

Irritu's trademark interwoven plots have one thread too many here, but this shattering experience-earthbound and fraught with the afterlife-is worth every undying minute.

Go to Full Review

Candice Frederick Reel Talk Online Sep 8, 2017 A+

Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to Biutiful.

Go to Full Review

Sean Burns Philadelphia Weekly May 3, 2015

The Bataan Death March of art-directed miserablim. And to what end?

Go to Full Review

Will Chadwick We Got This Covered Jul 24, 2013 7/10

The film is beautifully photographed and incredibly effective. Holding it all together is a brilliant central performance by Javier Bardem.

Go to Full Review

John Hanlon Big Hollywood Jun 30, 2013 3.0/5

This bloated drama is redeemed by its focus of a man caught between two distinctive and memorable worlds.

Go to Full Review

Mayer Nissim Digital Spy Jul 14, 2011 4/5

Bardem and Irritu draw you in to a story that says so much about not only its individual characters but also of life, exile, love, family and death.

Go to Full Review

Aaron Yap Flicks (AU, NZ, UK) Jun 21, 2011 2/5

Unwatchable without Javier Bardem's affecting, devastatingly committed performance, Biutiful plunges the viewer into a shapeless, sprawling character study that functions as nothing less than a punishing reminder of how rotten the universe can be.

Go to Full Review

Jeffrey Chen Window to the Movies Jun 16, 2011 6/10

Even though this movie piles it on, I can see its positive values and the potential it would have to reach the hearts of its audience.

Go to Full Review

Robert Denerstein Movie Habit May 26, 2011

Bardem faultless, Inarritu not so much

Go to Full Review