Here’s hoping our own David Brook can get to a screening for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Cannes entry Biutiful during the few days he’ll be attending the festival. The critical reception I’ve read so far has been very much all over the place. Some loving it, some hating on it quite a bit and many in the middle talking about how well it’s shot and the actors’ performances are terrific, but also a little bit on the boring side and some have even suggested “pointless.” Ouch. So it’d be nice to have one of our own give us some insight. But either way, after his pretty terrific death trilogy and some early Oscar talk for star, Javier Bardem, I’d say I’m on board no matter what whenever a wider release hits the states; probably later this year.

The film stars Javier Bardem as Uxbal, a former drug addict living on the fringes of Barcelona, Spain, who has cancer and only two months to live. Amplifying his problems are his two kids, a part-time prostitute ex-wife who suffers from bipolar disorder, African immigrants, gay Chinese lovers who supply his bootleg goods and his touchy relationship with a crooked cop. [playlist]

Cannes released the following promo trailer with some bits from the film as well as shots of Iñárritu directing his cast and crew.