Each year, The European Film Festival is one of the movie highlights of the year – and this time is no different running between October 13 and 23. Here is a short review by DIANE DE BEER on one of the films:
THE GOOD BOSS
SPAIN
Director: Fernando León de Aranoa
Cast: Javier Bardem, Manolo Solo, Almudena Amor
Genre: Comedy Drama
Time: 116 minutes
Spanish with English subtitles – 2021
Javier Bardem is one of those actors always worth watching. Not only does he pick his projects well, but his acting prowess is astonishing.
It’s especially when he is not the hero that all his instincts seem to kick in as he taps into even the darkest soul he has to portray.
As the title of this one suggests, he is anything but The Good Boss and again, few of us as employees would not recognise this manipulating, truly wily, yet awful human being. He is only concerned with his own well-being and whatever serves his personal needs.
That’s why his downfall is so delightful to experience especially in the capable hands of Bardem, who plays the smarmy owner of a family-run factory. If you need further persuasion, the film scooped a record-breaking 20 nominations at the 36th Spanish Goya Film Awards, winning 6 (Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Score and Best Editing).
It was also the Spanish entry for Best International Feature Film at the 94th Academy Awards.
De Beer Necessities 