The hardest movies to review are the ones you respect and admire but don’t love and also — and this is the crucial part — aren’t angered by. Director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s Biutiful is just that sort of film. The story of Uxbal , a single father with terminal prostate cancer and the burden of a life without stability, is soulful, tragic and made with loving care. But it’s also so gloomy that you’re not sure who to recommend it to. Before sending anyone off to see it you would feel the urge to pack their pockets with a few provisos, such as these encouragements: Bardem is amazing . If you believe in the afterlife, this one’s for you. And, on a more practical note, this film will make you feel good about paying for life insurance and getting regular prostate exams .
