20 for 2009 - Biutiful

Here's a thing. Number 18 on my most anticipated films list is one I know virtually nothing about.

I know it's an Alejandro González Iñárritu film, so expect many cross cuts and a cavalier attitude to timelines, and I know it stars the incredible Javier Bardem. I know nothing else.

IMDB states it's about "A man involved in illegal dealing is confronted by his childhood friend, who is now a policeman." Or basically the plot from Angels with Dirty Faces, only without the angels.



Here are some library pictures of Alejandro and Javier, in case you've forgotten what they look like.



We do know some background to the film, though. This is the first film Iñárritu will direct without a script from Guillermo Arriaga after their much publised creative split. He has however surrounded himslef by the same technical crew that worked on 21 Grams and Babel, so there will be some parity with previous work.

It is also worth noting that Bardem dropped out of Nine, the musical adaptation of Fellini's 8 1/2 in order to take a rest, and has then come out of that rest by taking this role. So the part, if not the film as a whole, must be reasonably tempting.