The Good Boss - Film Review

The Good Boss - Film Review

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Posted 2022-04-14 by Tricia Ziemerfollow
I was invited to review this movie at the media screening at the Cinema Nova, which I can describe as a true "art house" in the heart of Carlton in Melbourne. The theatre complex flows beside and above Melbourne's famous Brunetti's Cafe' . This restaurant's cuisine celebrates the best of Italian dishes, desserts, gelato and the culture of Lygon Street. So if you find Brunetti's, you will find the impressive entrance to this grand old theatre.



The Cinema Nova has been hosting the best of Australian, International, independent, and art house movies since 1992. It also hosts many of the major film festivals of Melbourne and stage show productions with 16 theatres running.

I love foreign films, so I was excited to review this one. You may want to say, "I cannot deal with the subtitles". I feel this movie pulls you in so quickly, cleanly and professionally, they literally disappear as the story unfolds.

This Spanish film, called simply The Good Boss, addresses an ongoing issue in any and every working environment. Written and directed by Fernando Leon de Aranoa, this film handles a long term problem with comic levity and dark art. This is Fernando's third film and his best. And possibly the best Spanish film of the year.

Award-winning actor Javier Bardem plays Blanco, and Manolo Solo and Amor Almudena, as the other main leads, deliver this story brilliantly.



Recently also starring in Being the Ricardos with Nicole Kidman, Javier is the winner of an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and a Golden Globe Award. The Good Boss is so good, it has been nominated for 50 awards, so far, and won 26.

In the first scene, Javier as Blanco comes across as a truly caring and incredibly charming, humble CEO/owner of the business who believes in work-life balance in society and the nurturing of his employees.

The first hint of how his "nurturing" of employees may go a step too far unfolds in the very first scene as he says a heartfelt goodbye to a very beautiful young female employee who apparently has "grown beyond the company". The lovely lady does not seem as happy and exhilarated with her new job path. Your radar will be pinging.

Blanco is also very excited about an upcoming award that the business is shortlisted to win. In his desperation to add this award to his expansive trophy chest, he promises he will help smooth over any issues in his path. Blanco empathetically states, "Every employee's problem is my problem".

This comic storyline becomes a roller coaster ride you would never expect. Things start to unravel when Blanco decides to retrench a long term employee with two children who is in his 50s. This subplot and message are sublime.



I find in current society believes, especially in Australia, anyone over 40 no longer has any intelligence or experience or wisdom or understanding of people and should no longer work. Or you have gotten too expensive for the "profit" margin to manner even after giving your whole life to a company. And if you are a woman, you are even worse off. So go on - live on the dole.

Therefore the gentleman drags his children to the factory and rages he will never get another job and his children will be homeless and starving. Far too accurate a scene. Blanco does not relent. Blanco warming statement "Your problem is my problem" seems to have dissipated into thin air. Also, interesting as he inherited everything and has barely lifted a finger in his life, he obviously cannot relate to a "worker".

The embittered employee decides to fight back and sets up a protest camp across the road and starts living in the back of his car slowly befriending the security guard at the front of the factory. He refuses to move no matter what. The toilet humour eventually "outs" as it must one way or another.

The comedy builds as new actors and new plots roll into the mix.

Blanco's best friend, one of the managers, and his wife are having marital problems, which starts affecting the efficiency of the business and risks ruining the upcoming "visit" by the voting dignitaries. Blanco puts on his most charming manner to try to bring them back together. There are secrets within the secrets to be discovered.

Blanco takes on a new beautiful apprentice and the action escalates very quickly with unforeseen results.

Finally, his oldest employee's "drop kick" son gets into strife with the police, so Blanco brings the lad to help his wife at her dress shop. Instead, all his motorcycle friends drive off-trade.

This wonderful movie uses breathtaking plots twists, gently comic dialogue and spectacular cinematography to portray the very darkest of current issues in our society. You are either laughing at the quips and twists or gasping at the twists, but you are pulled along to a finale that leaves you stunned. You will leave with the stunning music of Zeltia Montes repeating itself in your mind.

In this movie, director/writer Fernando exposes the deepest of flaws of human nature and the misuse of being in a position of power for private gain. He shines a harsh light onto the crude choice of profit and accolades over basic human decency and the impact of no compromise. And I believe he spotlights reverence and support for the growing strength and intelligence of women in society.
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The Good Boss%% is a must-see and is now in cinemas. I would not recommend this for children under 18. It runs too close to the bone and would raise too many questions to be answered in our younger generation. But a great flick for your older children to start a deep dialogue about what they will encounter in their working life.

This theatre is also dining and wine-friendly. You can bring drinks into the theatre as well as be served food. Also, it has an internal lift for those who need assistance. The staff on duty were very responsive and helpful. For me, that makes this movie 9 out of 10 for both the film and ambience.



#comedy
#film_reviews
#humour
#movie_reviews
%wneverywhere
83607 - 2023-06-11 06:43:39

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