A Better Life (2011)

Directed by Chris Weitz. Starring Demián Bichir, José Julián, Dolores Heredia, Carlos Linares, Chelsea Rendon, Isabella Rae Thomas, Joaquín Cosío, Gabriel Chavarria. [PG-13]

Earnest drama of an undocumented illegal (Bichir) in Los Angeles who struggles to connect with his teenage son (Julián) and whose newly-acquired truck gets stolen during a gardening job. Despite some similar themes, it’s not exactly a Bicycle Thieves rip-off/homage, but the story treads a predictable path to its sad conclusion; a poignant tale, told simply, although too sentimental for its own good at a couple of junctures. After American Pie, About a Boy, and one of the Twilight sequels (among others), director Weitz continues to elude categorization, but it’s a jack-of-all-trades (“master of none”) effort on his part, aided significantly by Oscar-nominee Bichir’s thoughtful, oft-internalized performance. Weitz also co-produced, as did Jami Gertz.

67/100