Beatriz at Dinner

Roadside Attractions | Release Date: June 9, 2017

5.3	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 52 Ratings

USER RATING DISTRIBUTION

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Watch Now

Buy on

Stream On

Expand

Review this movie

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Please sign in or create an account before writing a review.

Check box if your review contains spoilers

0 characters (5000 max)

User Reviews

User score By date Most helpful

Brent_MarchantJun 23, 2017

At times brilliant, at times frustrating, this dark, sociopolitical satire gives viewers much to ponder both practically and metaphysically, a rare fusion for a film these days. It also manages to maintain a fair amount of suspense at anAt times brilliant, at times frustrating, this dark, sociopolitical satire gives viewers much to ponder both practically and metaphysically, a rare fusion for a film these days. It also manages to maintain a fair amount of suspense at an event -- a dinner party -- that would seem an unlikely setting for such a narrative quality. Salma Hayek gives one of the year's best performances thus far, more than adequately backed by a superb ensemble of supporting players. Admittedly, it's a little disappointing that the film draws upon a plot device that's been used before to wrap things up, even if it's employed in a way not seen before. But, this disappointment aside, "Beatriz at Dinner" gives us much to think about at a critical juncture in our country's -- and our reality's -- history.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

All this user's reviews

markthecriticJul 4, 2017

Tasteful and subtle, and the tension between Salma Hayak and the party hosts is riveting. I wish the movie ended differently. Even with the ending, the time and money spent on this movie was well spent.

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

All this user's reviews

GinaKJun 26, 2017

A very interesting and very emotional movie with wonderful performances by Selma Hayek and John Lithgow in a strong cast. The ending surprised me, and led to much discussion afterwards. How do you face a society in which the men in power andA very interesting and very emotional movie with wonderful performances by Selma Hayek and John Lithgow in a strong cast. The ending surprised me, and led to much discussion afterwards. How do you face a society in which the men in power and their fawning wives are rich, callous, and self-centered, leaving you no hope of a better future? Beatriz makes her choice. Is it the right one?… Expand

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

All this user's reviews

rebaNov 7, 2017

I wish the ending had been different, but for me there was hope that Beatriz' warning to Strutt's gang will come true and they will learn: It WILL touch you, she said with conviction. The damage they are doing, the revolutionary backlash, theI wish the ending had been different, but for me there was hope that Beatriz' warning to Strutt's gang will come true and they will learn: It WILL touch you, she said with conviction. The damage they are doing, the revolutionary backlash, the dying of the planet will affect you 1% eventually too. And I think the candles they sent obliviously out hinted at one of the immediate ways they would be touched. Some people feel others' pain too much to last long, and Salma shows this in her face very well.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

All this user's reviews

pdw123Jul 19, 2017

This is an incredible independent film so no reason for the "trolls" on here trying to slam it probably just because of its perceived politics which are debatable, but that's what a great film does--makes you talk about it afterwards.This is an incredible independent film so no reason for the "trolls" on here trying to slam it probably just because of its perceived politics which are debatable, but that's what a great film does--makes you talk about it afterwards. Clocking in at just over 80 minutes, proof that you can edit a film that short and still it just works--the plot, acting, dialogue, everything--even the cinematography and dream sequences she has are beautiful. And, supporting cast is also brilliant. There are very few mainstream/lamestream studio films that I could say that about these days!… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

All this user's reviews

StevieGJDJun 18, 2017

John Lithgow's character in "Beatriz at Dinner" is not Donald Trump. The screenwriter says it is based on the dentist who got caught killing a Lion a few years ago on Safari and braggingly posting it on social media. Lithgow's Doug Strutt isJohn Lithgow's character in "Beatriz at Dinner" is not Donald Trump. The screenwriter says it is based on the dentist who got caught killing a Lion a few years ago on Safari and braggingly posting it on social media. Lithgow's Doug Strutt is not only about the pursuit of wealth; he is also about doing it at any cost, killing and displacing people, rampantly destroying the environment, committing crimes willy nilly; and he also a hedonist who loves to go hunt and kill big game. The only things Trump about him are that he is rich and he owns, among other things, real estate. It is truly only the most superfluous view of Strutt that makes him Trump. The screenwriter, in an interview, said that he is not nearly as bad as Trump and was based on the aforementioned dentist. I'm not sure. Strutt, absent the moral qualms one should have with his worldview, is a charming dinner guest, quite unlike Beatriz. Selma Hayek bravely takes on a complicated character; she has no makeup, wears the frumpiest of clothes and has atrocious bangs. Its hard to make Selma Hayek look frumpy; she does here. Her character also either doesn't understand or doesn't care about social norms or normal conversational cues. I have known plenty of bright, motivated, committed and annoying people like her. She says exactly what she thinks, even though it is incredibly rude and has no hope of changing the minds of the other guests; she needs to be heard. The fact that she earnestly believes in what she is saying does not detract from the cringes one has when she unleashes. The movie is short and clearly makes its main points. But the end is rather dark. That some people don't understand what happens or who Beatriz is, is quite frankly dumbfounding. It is clear what happens and it is clear who she is. She is an alternative medicine, spiritual healing, masseuse, who has a strong sense of her personal dogma. She is not formally educated, but "learned" in the ways of chi and aura, and other such things. I literally have met so many people like her. You just don't see them at this party of a group of Southern Orange County, money hungry, robber barons. She does not belong there. And that disconnect is where the uncomfortable cringes and dark humor reside. THIS MOVIE IS NOT FOR EVERYBODY. If you loved Get Out, you will probably like this; it operates in a similar social satire dark comedy place. But Beatriz is not particularly about the Latina experience in America in the way Get Out is about the black experience in America. But this is rife with social satire. The only thing I'd say this has to do with Trump is, if you voted for Trump you probably will hate this movie.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

All this user's reviews

KenRAug 12, 2018

I did not expect this movie to be so absorbing or to take on such a compelling subject. Salma Hayek has delivered some emotive performances but maybe nothing quite as personally intense as she gives here. No movie can please everyone and thisI did not expect this movie to be so absorbing or to take on such a compelling subject. Salma Hayek has delivered some emotive performances but maybe nothing quite as personally intense as she gives here. No movie can please everyone and this one won’t change that but, for the sensitive viewer, it certainly should offer quite a bit to contemplate. Mike White’s script effectively studies the differences between those who have much (like, way more than they need) and those who care dearly for what little they have. Performances are uniformly good but some have tried to draw comparisons between Trump, and the character of the high-profile building developer played by John Lithgow but, any number of ultra-rich opportunists fit this image, including the Clinton's and Obama's of this world – so I can’t buy that interpretation whatever.

Miguel Arteta’s direction keeps these observations on track while the strikingly stylish imagery delivered by director of photography Wyatt Garfield, is nothing short of poetic (no cheap handheld shots to spoil this potent character study) Lovely descriptive music, scored by Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh (mixed with other compositions) adds just the right touch for this thoughtful examination of a group of self-obsessed business people - meeting for dinner & playing the ‘relationship’ game (spelt big $) along with an outsider who wears her heart on her sleeve, and calls these deals out for what she feels they are. The ending is somewhat ambiguous and I felt the story deserved a little better - did the writer not have the courage to take on today's business ethics or is this just another example of the now trendy --woman on the verge theme-- currently popular with movie makers? Some aspects of this story brought to mind another compelling ‘dinner’ film: “Wetherby” from ’85, written by David Hare. Beatriz’ is well worth watching and even deserves to be revisited. Some language here and there.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews