Javier Bardem is one of those actors who immediately draws your attention whenever he appears onscreen. His career started in his home country of Spain where he gradually became a renowned actor before getting notice from Hollywood.
Since then, Bardem has been one of the most mesmerizing actors in the business, delivering unforgettable performances, joining the biggest franchises and working with some of the greatest modern filmmakers. His filmography is filled with huge hits as well as smaller Spanish films working seeking out. Here are Javier Bardem’s best movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes.
mother! (2017) - 69%
Darren Aronofsky is known for making challenging films, but none have been as divisive as his psychological thriller, mother!. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as the wife of an author (Bardem) whose perfect house is disrupted by her husband’s unwelcome house guests.
The movie is certainly not easy to watch, with disturbing images and complex themes. Critics acknowledged that the ideas presented in the film might not land with all audiences, but they did praise Lawrence for her powerful performance and Aronofsky for his ambitious vision.
Before Night Falls (2000) - 73%
Bardem received his first Oscar nomination and gained a lot of attention from Hollywood for his first English-speaking role in Before Night Falls. The biographical film tells the story of Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas who defied his country’s government as an out gay man.
Critics praised the film for its unique episodic approach to telling the story of this man’s life. Bardem’s performance in the lead role was also pointed at as an aspect that elevates the film beyond the typical biopic into something special.
Everybody Knows (2018) - 78%
Bardem has had the good fortune of working with his real-life wife Penelope Cruz on several projects with Everybody Knows being their latest collaboration. Cruz stars as a woman who returns to her hometown of Madrid with her two daughters to attend a family wedding. However, the trip takes a dark turn as old secrets resurface.
Critics admitted that the movie does not fully succeed in the story it means to tell, but it is made a worthwhile drama thanks to its cast, especially Cruz and Bardem, who give powerful performances.
Mondays In The Sun (2002) - 80%
Before making a splash in Hollywood, Bardem was turning in great work in compelling and acclaimed Spanish films. Mondays in the Sun is an ensemble comedy-drama about a group of friends who, after the shipyard they worked at closes, spend their days hanging out in a bar and trying to figure out what to do next.
Bardem was singled out among the cast for his outstanding performance as the group’s directionless ringleader. Critics pointed out that the film can feel slow at times but remains a fascinating and worthwhile look at unemployment and its effects.
Live Flesh (1997) - 80%
Pedro Almodóvar is one of the most acclaimed international filmmakers of our time, responsible for some of the best Spanish films ever made. Live Flesh is his film noir about a love triangle between a husband recently released from prison, the cop who he paralyzed and the woman they are both in love with.
The movie was seen as a more restrained and even mainstream film for its acclaimed director, but the result was still a beautiful picture. With its sexy story and complex characters, Live Flesh is an engrossing drama.
Vicky Christina Barcelona (2008) - 81%
There was a time when being cast in a Woody Allen romantic comedy was a big deal for an actor. The film stars Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson as two friends spending the summer in Spain who both fall for a Spanish painter (Bardem). While staying with him, their fun is interrupted by the arrival of the man’s ex-wife (Penelope Cruz).
Vicky Cristina Barcelona juggles complex tones and story shifts, which can be off-putting. However, most critics appreciated the beautiful look of the film as well as the work from the immensely talented cast.
The Sea Inside (2004) - 84%
Just before Bardem would break out in Hollywood, he starred in this Oscar-winning Best Foreign Language Film. Based on a true story, The Sea Inside stars Bardem as a man who fought a decades-long battle to be given the right to euthanasia so he could die with dignity.
Bardem carries the film with his layered and beautiful performance, according to most critics. Though the story could have easily fallen into melodrama, most critics found that it handled the difficult subject matter with tenderness and grace.
Collateral (2004) - 86%
Michael Mann has created some of the most compelling crime films of all time, and Collateral remains one of his most underrated works. Tom Cruise stars as a hitman who abducts a taxi driver (Jamie Foxx) and forces him to drive him around Los Angeles while he takes out his targets. Bardem plays the crime boss who hired Cruise.
It’s thrilling seeing Cruise in this rare villain role as a cold-blooded killer while Foxx is excellent in a very subdued performance. Mann’s stylish direction makes for an intense and grounded thriller with heart-pounding sequences.
Skyfall (2012) - 92%
Bardem joined one of the longest and most beloved film franchises of all time with his role in the 23rd James Bond film. In Skyfall, Daniel Craig returns as a more beaten down 007 who is pulled back into work when a former agent (Bardem) begins carrying out an elaborate revenge mission on M (Judi Dench).
The first Bond film directed by Sam Mendes, Skyfall was hailed as the best-looking film in the franchise with beautifully realized sequences. Bardem was also given special praise for his mesmerizing performance as the madman Silva who has been called one of the greatest Bond villains to date.
No Country For Old Men (2007) - 93%
Bardem became a household name and created another iconic cinematic villain with his role in the Coen Brothers’ No Country for Old Men. The film stars Josh Brolin as a man who finds a suitcase filled with money in the desert and takes it. Unbeknownst to him, this makes him the target of a ruthless and relentless killer (Bardem).
The bleakest and most violent of the Coen Brothers’ film, No Country for Old Men is a haunting look at the senselessness of violence. Bardem is incredibly in this terrifying role and the dark mood of the film is broken up by the occasional comedic moment like only the Coen Brothers can pull off.
