The Good Boss (2021)

Title: The Good Boss (2021)

Runtime: 2hrs

Director: Fernando León de Aranoa

Hard work, Balance, and Loyalty are everything in Fernando León de Aranoa’s The Good Boss. 

Julio Blanco (played by Javier Bardem) is the owner of Básculas Blanco, a company that produces and manufactures industrial scales. With his company awaiting a visit from a committee that will determine whether Básculas Blanco will be given an award for excellence, Julio Blanco goes into overdrive. He makes it a point to remind his workers that they are all one big family and that their problems are his problems. But can Blanco solve all the problems of his employees before the committee comes to visit?

Things get off to a rocky start as José is let go. He refuses to leave until someone explains to his children, that he’s drug into the factory with him, why he no longer has a job and why they are going to lose their home. After being escorted out, José parks his car (that he now lives out of) across the street from the factory on public land. He makes signs, screams all day into his bullhorn, and refuses to stop until Blanco is taken down. What makes José’s protest so much more impactful is that Blanco has to drive past it twice a day. 

Blanco’s Head of Production, Miralles (Manolo Solo), is yet another pesky fire that keeps popping up. Things aren’t well at home for Miralles and it is having a significant impact on his work performance and the performance of Básculas Blanco as a whole. Blanco does all he can to try and help Miralles get his head in the game. He even goes as far as to accompany Miralles on a stakeout to try and catch Miralles’ wife in the act of cheating. 

If trying to get all of this under control before the committee visit wasn’t enough, Blanco decides to create his own issues. With a new round of interns starting, Blanco keeps a watchful eye on one intern in particular, Liliana (Almudena Amor).  As they spend more time together, the distinction between what is right and what is wrong begins to blur. 

With the committee visit coming up fast, Blanco does all he can to guarantee he receives the reward for excellence. In the pursuit of excellence however, the truth behind the meaning of family is put to the test. 

Javier Bardem commands your attention and keeps you engaged throughout the two hour runtime. Even the most mundane task becomes interesting when Bardem is the one doing it. While a bit of a slow burn, this one is definitely worth the time. Check it out and let me know your thoughts when you can say “I’ve Scene That!”

4/5