In an era of overdone 3-D and too many sequels to count, there are few movies that make a lasting impact.  “Biutiful,” directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, does just that.

Javier Bardem plays Uxbal, a loving father of two and the middle man between an underground Chinese sweatshop and the Africans who sell the counterfeit goods. At the beginning of the film, he learns he has terminal cancer and only a few months to live. As he struggles to get his life in order, he must protect his family, his divorced bipolar wife, his business and himself.

Uxbal is multifaceted, and Bardem portrays his compassion, fear and aggression brilliantly.  He is the only actor in the film Americans would recognize, and his performance here is as electrifying as his roles in “No Country for Old Men” and “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” He handles Uxbal’s troubles with patience and sensitivity, which creates a memorable character and performance.

The movie’s setting, unlike its title, is anything but beautiful, depicting a gritty Barcelona and the squalor people are forced to live in. Despite all of this, Uxbal tries to set an example for his children and right the wrongs in his life.

Cinematically the film shines, with scenes of apartment landscapes and polluted cityscapes emphasizing the sadness in the character’s lives. The juxtaposition between Uxbal’s desire to do good and the events and scenery around him is striking.

Bardem and director Inarritu present a film and story that is depressing yet well done, and the Academy should recognize “Biutiful” for it’s excellent acting and cinematography at the Oscars.