Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

A Better Life Blu-ray Movie Review

A better Blu-ray collection awaits with the addition of this title.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman November 14, 2011

What your buyin’ is the American dream.

Call it luck, call it fate, but whatever it is that's the end result of the roll of a dice and a dream is different for every man, every situation, every time. A Better Life is the steady, absorbing tale of an illegal immigrant who works hard and wants to make a better life for himself and his son but who runs into trouble through no real fault of his own. It's the story of a dream, a foundation, a simple want for something better, of hard work and determination, of understanding and emotion, of a burgeoning relationship between father and son that might be more important than money in the pocket, tools in the truck, and jobs lined up. It's a movie that demonstrates that dreams don't always come true, that real life is something far removed from the fantasies of Hollywood and seconds-long clips on the evening news. There's a complexity to living and a truth behind the old saying that says something about "one day at a time." Life is a series of events and turns of fate. It's not always what people make of it, it's not always fair, it's not always easy, and for some, even, it's not always hard, but if life is anything, for certain, it's that it is completely uncertain, ready to take anyone, anywhere, anytime in a drastically different direction that even the best of intentions may not be able to fully counter, that even the most steady heart and honest soul cannot defeat.

Trabajando.

L.A.-based gardener and illegal immigrant Carlos Galindo (Demián Bichir) is working hard just to make ends meet. Though he only needs to support himself and his teenage son Luis (José Julián), it's a struggle to keep up. But Carlos has been saving up money, and with some financial support from a relative, he's able to buy his boss' truck, tools, and client list. Suddenly, he's a small business owner. He vows to make things better for himself and his son, to get him to a better school that's not just a glorified day prison. Unfortunately, Carlos' dream is short-lived. He hires a fellow immigrant worker off the street to help him out, only to have the man steal his truck and take away everything he's worked so hard to accomplish. Now, Carlos and Luis must track down the thief and attempt to get their lives back together, or if they fail, see it fall apart just when things looked like they were working out for the better.

A Better Life is a movie about dreams. But it's a realistic movie about dreams. Director Chris Weitz's (New Moon) movie doesn't pull any punches, and it most certainly doesn't dive headfirst into sentimental movie magic land where "happily ever after" replaces the cold, hard facts that truly define life outside the theater. This is nevertheless a very touching, very real, very relatable, very powerful film because it refuses to succumb to the fairy tale vision of the world. Though it doesn't necessarily adhere to general cinematic principles but instead focuses on the way things really are or really may be, it's not about the folly of dreams. It's instead about the reality of dreams in a world that's not always fair, not always clear, not always understanding, not always tailor made and polished like a Hollywood script. A Better Life portrays life as it is, not as it should or should not be. It's a touching tale of one man and his son struggling to find their place in life, a story about just making it through, trying to improve on circumstances, and living day to day, accepting life's unpredictabilities but trying to combat the negatives while embracing and cherishing the positives, no matter how fleeting or how lasting they may be. In a way, it's a story about survival, showing that survival isn't about always having a few extra dollars on hand but about learning and understanding how the world works and taking a shot at beating the odds. Win, lose, or draw, isn't that all anyone can really do?

At its center, A Better Life is the story of a decision spiraling out of control. Be it fate, be it bad luck, be it a case of "never meant to be," or be it just the way the world turns, just the way the sun rose, just the side of the bed awoken on, nobody knows, which is both the beauty of A Better Life and its most somber element. In that way, it's very much a slice-of-life movie. There's no rhyme or reason, just life. As such, the movie has a very identifiable and readily-evident and steady heartbeat to it. Its success is its simplicity, its honesty, its authenticity. It's the latter that seems to have been the driving force in the making of the movie. It feels very real, and the movie makes it easy for anyone to relate to the characters and the community in which they live, not because of ethnicity, circumstances, or location, but because of the pulse of raw humanity that runs through them. The actors are fantastic, with Demián Bichir delivering a powerful performance as a man who's internally balanced, thoughtful, and caring. He exudes a real-world credibility in his work ethic, relationship with his son, and adherence to values and principles, even when his life appears to be shattering before him. He represents something of a real-life hero, not for actions taken but for his balance and dedication to self, never allowing circumstance to get the better of him in a world that daily seems to preach hate and violence as answers to problems. His Carlos Galindo certainly isn't a flawless character, but that's what makes him so endearing. Life is a collection of experiences. Right or wrong choices in the past will yield consequences, but they can also build character, and it's a strong inner-character that's at the center of the story and that carries it no matter the outcome.

A Better Life Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Summit Entertainment's Blu-ray release of A Better Life is a stunner. This is a wonderfully crisp, clear, clean, and robust image that impresses with every passing moment and under any lighting condition. Colors are fantastic; whether bright green grasses and leaves or the worn earthy tones that comprise most of Carlos' work clothes, the transfer works though a marvelously balanced and natural color palette and yields one of the most impressive assortments of colors available in high definition. Better still, black levels are superb; they're dark and deep but never crush out any details in the frame, with nighttime exterior shots particularly impressive. Fine detail is marvelous all around the frame; urban jungle concrete elements, the rough texture of tree trunks, and fine stitches and frays on clothing are a sight to behold. Few transfers hold up this well in terms of color and detail combination. Aside from a few very minor white speckles and a trace amount of banding, there are no technical flaws to be found. Summit's image is wonderfully filmic and perfectly balanced throughout. The studio might not release many discs, but their new releases are some of the best the format has to offer, this being no exception.

A Better Life Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

A Better Life arrives on Blu-ray with a balanced and respectable DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. Music is airy and smooth, enjoying perfect spacing and seamless transparency. More potent music, like a couple of Hip Hop tunes, play with strong clarity and a thumping low end. The track yields excellent ambient effects, too. Inside Carlos' home, a police car siren moves from side to side as it drives by, and the drumming of a jackhammer realistically penetrates the silence of his slumber. Chirping birds and background music and the din of chatty students at Luis' school are nicely immersive and satisfying. Otherwise, this is primarily a dialogue-driven picture. The spoken word is clear and remains grounded in the center speaker. It's never lost under or forced to compete with surrounding elements. This is an even, impressive soundtrack from Summit.

A Better Life Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

A Better Life features three extras, chief amongst them an audio commentary track.

• Audio Commentary: Director Chris Weitz and Actor Demián Bichir deliver an informed commentary track that yields plenty of pertinent information regarding both the ins-and-outs of the film and the culture that surrounds it. They also discuss the work of the additional cast members, character dynamics both scripted and implied, filming some of the more complicated scenes, shooting locales, the film's ethnic authenticity, the picture's themes, and more. Viewers who loved the film will want to give this track some time.
• Deleted Scenes (1080p, 5:18): Facundo Visits Luis, Carlos Goes to Workers Corner, Leaving South Central, and Charro Boy. Available with optional director commentary.
• Music Video (1080p, 3:16): "Jardinero" by Ozomatli.

A Better Life Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A Better Life is a very well made picture about life and dreams. It's not entertainment as a form of escapism, but rather a movie that strives to paint a very real picture of the world in which it exists. It's a movie in which everything just is, whether it affects the characters positively or negatively. At its core, however, is a movie about character, about trying to do right, daring to dream, even in a world that would rather just say "no." Great acting, steady direction, and a moving story of humanity make A Better Life a movie built on a solid foundation and one that's definitely worth a watch. Summit Entertainment's Blu-ray release of A Better Life delivers strong video and audio to go along with a few supplements. Recommended.