El buen patrón

What makes for a Good Boss? Successful in business. Dedicated to the company. Loyal to his workers. At first glance Blanco (Javier Bardem) seems to check all the boxes and more. Blanco runs a respected corporation building weight scales. He's charming, handsome and loves to get up close and personal in all his affairs.

Writer-Director Fernando Leon de Aranoa sets in motion a fairly simple plotline. Blanco's company is up for a prestigious industry award. Within a few days, an official committee will be touring his factory and offices to see if they are worthy. As expected, over those days little fires start popping up: A disgruntled worker (Oscar de la Fuente) is laid off, a pretty new intern (Almudena Amor) catches Blanco's eye, his trusted Production chief (Manolo Solo) is letting his home issues affect his work etc. Etc..

At first, these seem like petty issues which Blanco can put out without much muss amounting to small nuisances on the way to the next prized plaque in his trophy case. De Aranoa's script and direction are sharp. Little details are cleverly dropped in at precisely the right moment. As they accumulate, the story becomes a sly, dark satire. Bardem's breezy charisma is clear and ever-present, but, the actor subtly reveals a more steely side. The supporting cast is strong with Zeltia Montes' score boosting them along for the ride.

In the end the cynical capitalist message is that to be a truly 'Good Boss' one only has to think about what benefits only a single person no matter how large the corporation: YOU.

THE GOOD BOSS was last year's official Best International Film Oscar submission by Spain somewhat controversially edging out Almodovar's excellent PARALLEL MOTHERS. Both are really fine movies that are certainly worth seeing.

Fame and reputation is the priority of the boss with repeated spotlight shown on the wall of company awards. He takes huge pride and greatness of his achievements by indulging in all the fake commitments to his employees. They are not family, just resources to get things done. Last survey scene is so sarcastic with feminism, diversity and caring for elders in the company. All about balance. If not balanced, make it balanced. Like a bullet.

The writing of the dialogue is terrific. Every carefully-scripted word and situation is loaded with bad blood, mercilessly shelling out the miseries of labor relations in Spain. Bardem's performance as a paternalistic and cronyistic businessman is superlative. A necessary condition to fully enjoy the film, since everything revolves around him. A tad slow development of the story notwithstanding (stylistically justified around a metaphor of balancing the scales?), we are in for a ride.

Javier Bardem performs the character of a seemingly likeable fatherly figure boss that is extremely twisted, rule-bending and immoral underneath, perfectly. Even though at times the script is incredibly cringe and hyperbolic, this satire successfully delivers the message of the limits that corruption and corporate world can make people reach. It is a comedy that you leave feeling more disturbed than a drama or a thriller.

It would appear comforting that there are still companies out there that genuinely care about the welfare of their employees, treating them like members of a big, loving family. And that's the image that Blanco Scales tries to convey, one that's placed the organization in the running for a regional business award, one of many such honors it has received over the years. Making this possible is the company's owner, a kindly paternal sort who seems concerned about the well-being of his staff - that is, insofar as it affects the company's welfare. This approach, however, often leads to undue meddling in the lives of workers, so much so that the boss will go to almost any lengths to achieve his goals by way of his employees and their families, especially when it comes to reflecting the proper image he's trying to project, a practice ultimately fraught with troubling complications. Writer-director Fernando León de Aranoa's latest serves up a biting satire about the business world and the extremes to which businesses will go to present squeaky clean, politically correct portraits of themselves to an easily gullible public, tactfully burying the compromises and questionable tactics they often must do in realizing that goal. This offering is a perfect vehicle for Javier Bardem as the oily protagonist, playing the part with just the right amount of insincerity to be convincing without looking cartoonish, in a role backed by a superb ensemble of supporting characters. It's regrettable that the picture gets off to a painfully slow start during much of the first hour, but the film more than makes up for this shortcoming in the second half, turning wickedly funny and occasionally disquieting in the second half. Be patient with this one, giving it ample time to develop; you won't be disappointed with the payoff.