Movie Review: A Better Life Is A Must See
- Details
- Category: New at the Movies
- Published: Friday, 24 June 2011 18:38
- Written by Lupe Haas
A BETTER LIFE may be the Boyz n' the Hood for Latino audiences. The honest non-stereotypical look at immigrants in Chris Weitz' A BETTER LIFE makes this film a must see.
Acclaimed Mexican actor Demian Bichir stars in A BETTER LIFE as an illegal immigrant struggling to make ends meet as a single father to a rebellious American-born teenager. Working as a gardener for long hours, Carlos worries about his son Luis, the influence of gangs and his fear of being deported. When his boss offers to sell Carlos his truck and gardening equipment, he takes a big risk to be his own boss. He promises his son that they will have the better life they dreamed of. Tragedy strikes when someone he trusts steals his truck and livelihood. Together, father and son team up to locate the truck -- their only hope to live out the better life. During the search, Carlos and Luis grow closer as they reconnect with each other as obstacles are thrown their way.
Not since Gregory Nava's El Norte (1983) has there been a more compelling film about Latino life in the United States and the sacrifices people make to survive -- no matter the consequences. While it's not a film about illegal immigration, adding that element to the characters certainly makes it more relevant and dramatic. Carlos lives with the constant fear for his son joining a gang and not making ends meet with the added stress of staying invisible as an illegal worker. The story is relatable to anyone whose parents struggled to give them a good life, regardless of immigration status.
John Singleton's Boyz n' the Hood portrayed inner city life and the struggles for young black men to stay out of gangs. A BETTER LIFE does the same. Chris Weitz film doesn't pass judgments on the gangsters in the film, instead showing them with their families and a way of life for those with no hope for the future. It's not the gangs recruiting Luis and his friend Ramon but Ramon himself trying to convince Luis that they will never get out of the hood so they might as well join a gang.
As expected, Demian Bichir does a wonderful job as Carlos in an Academy Award worthy performance. It would be shame if he were not recognized by Hollywood. Demian appeared in Steven Soderbergh's Che as Fidel Castro, another noteworthy performance from the Mexican actor. He's one to watch. Next, he will be starring with Blake Lively, John Travolta, Uma Thurman and Salma Hayek in Savages, an Oliver Stone film now in pre-production.
Chris Weitz (Twilight: New Moon, American Pie) filled other roles with non-professional actors which helped add authenticity to the film. Newcomer Jose Julian plays Luis with an honesty and realness for his first on screen performance. Former real life gang members played themselves in a very natural way and not in a threatening manner -- they were merely background for what could happen to Luis if he didn't make it out of the neighborhood. Chris told CineMovie in our sit down that he let the actors go off script and speak conversational Spanish for the immigrant characters, and the Latino kids and gangs their own manner of speaking in real life. The result was a true to life portrayal of this life in the barrio. It was perfect.
Director Chris Weitz handled the subject matter with great care and didn't come off as preachy or one-sided like Robert Rodriguez's over-the-top film Machete. The characters are humanized and the true to life scenarios make this film even more tangible. The portrayals are not your typical stereotypes of U.S. Latinos we have grown accustomed to seeing in recent movies like From Prada to Nada. The crux of the story is the father and son relationship and the gap that often occurs with multi-generational families. As someone who comes from immigrant parents, this hit close to home and I came out appreciating what my parents sacrificed to give my sister and I an education.
As an audience member, you're rooting for them to find their truck and live out their American dream. You feel the pain of the character's dilemma. And when you get to the end, you are highly-invested in this relationship that will certainly leave you tearing up. Men in the press screening could be heard sniffling -- that's how powerful this story is.
It would be a great disservice to A BETTER LIFE if it got lost in the summer blockbuster shuffle. As director Chris Weitz put it, it would be a "tragedy" if this film is not seen by everyone including those anti-immigration proponents who get to see the human side of the issue.
A BETTER LIFE is in select movie theaters in New York and Los Angeles and expanding to other cities in July.