The good life

THIS IS the real Javier Bardem, an actor with a profound understanding of both his craft, and, it seems, the human condition.

After holidaying on screen in his last movie, playing Julia Roberts’ love interest in the light and rather frivolous Eat, Pray, Love, he’s now back with a far darker and tragic piece that displays the sheer breadth of his talent.

Directed by Mexican filmmaker, Alejandro González Iñárritu, the deeply-moving Biutiful earned Bardem the best actor award at the Cannes Film Festival, while also scooping a Golden Globe nomination for Best Foreign Film.