A Better Life Photos

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Cast

Demian Bichir
as Carlos Galindo

José Julián
as Luis Galindo

Dolores Heredia
as Anita

Joaquín Cosio
as Blasco Martinez

Nancy Lenehan
as Mrs. Donnelley

Tim Griffin
as Juvie Officer

Eddie 'Piolín' Sotelo
as Himself

Gabriel Chavarria
as Ramon

Carlos Linares
as Santiago

Trampas Thompson
as School Security Officer

Valorie Hubbard
as School Secretary

Isabella Rae Thomas
as Linda

Robert Anthony Peters
as Truck Driver

Richard Cabral
as Marcelo Valdez

Isabella Balajadia
as Bella

Giselle Nieto
as Gigi

Luis A. Colocio
as Ruthie's Uncle

Ray Moreno
as Ruthie's Uncle

Yelyna de Leon
as Ruthie's Mother

Rolando Molina
as Jesus

Taide Acosta
as Young Woman

Joe Renteria
as Bearded Man

Isidro Vallin
as Payaso

Magi Avila
as Shot Girl

Harry Ambriz
as Mexican Singer

Henry Ambriz
as Mexican Singer

Miguel Alejandro Gaxiola
as Voz de Mando Singer

Jorge Gaxiola
as Voz de Mando Singer

Robert Renderos
as Busboy

Charles Currier
as Auto Mart Security Guard

Marlon Correa
as Prison Guard

Adrian Mojica
as Police Officer

Todd Felix
as Gabe Wettenal

J. Eddie Martinez
as Rey

Jason Medwin
as ICE Officer

Tom Schanley
as ICE Officer

Abraham Chaidez
as Coyote

Alexandre Desplat

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News & Interviews for A Better Life

Critic Reviews for A Better Life

Audience Reviews for A Better Life

• Jan 22, 2014

  Chris Weitz, stay the hell out of Mexico, you stereotypical, melodramatic and overtly sentimental imbécil!! 46/100
  Edgar C Super Reviewer
• May 23, 2012

  I chose to watch it due to the Oscar nomination of the protagonist and indeed I saw a very powerful performance of this stoic and dignified Mexican immigrant in the USA trying to provide a better life for his son. However, outside this notable performance the film is both predictable and full of clichés and thus will quickly be forgotten.
  Nicolas K Super Reviewer
• Mar 09, 2012

  A Better Life is a emotional journey through the lives of an illegal immigrant and his son. A Better Life is one of the greatest film 2011 has given us. This film has great performances from José Julián and especially Demian Bichir. You need to see this movie because of Demian Bichir. Demian Bichir, who was also in the 'Che' movies, gives arguably one of the best performances this year. In A Better Life, Bichir gets to shine in the leading role and he does exactly that. José Julián who has never acted in a mainstream movie before, gives a suprisingly excellent performance playing Bichir's son. Julián has more talent than almost any popular young actor you can name: Taylor Lautner, Justin Bieber, Ashton Kutcher and the list goes on. I could never know what the director Chris Weitz was going to do with this movie. In 2002 he made a terrific movie and that was About A Boy (Starring Hugh Grant, Nicholas Hoult). In 2009, however, he made Twilight Saga: New Moon (Starring Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner) which is one of the worst films i've ever seen. But luckily for us, he takes this story and he transforms it into an emotional journey for the audience. I also have to give credit to the shots throughout the film. Rarely do shots in a film actually bring out emotion in the viewer. This film really gets you to connect with the characters. If you don't connect with them (which some people apparently don't) then this film is no good. It most likely will get boring for those viewers. On the other hand, if you do connect with these two characters, you really get to feel what they are feeling. Chris Weitz takes you out of reality and even though they never say it in the movie or it is never even said, there is one question that's running through your mind; "What if that was my father and I?". If you don't have this question running through your head then you won't be able to feel bad for them. If you don't feel bad for them, it ruins the whole movie because that is the main thing Chris Weitz is trying to do with this movie. I definitely reccomend this film. Demian Bichir gives a masterful performance, Chris Weitz does what he did 10 years ago with About A Boy and even though I didn't talk about it, the screenplay is quite good.
  Anthony L Super Reviewer
• Feb 20, 2012

  Corny telenovela full of one dimensional characters. Next time try to make a better movie.
  Tsubaki S Super Reviewer

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