Can a movie be too well made for its own good? Stylish and painterly, with moments of great lyricism, it flies over the Spanish countryside to the sea...the film does everything in its power to escape the claustrophobia inherent in the story.

Bardem is simply astounding as Sampedro.

If ever there was a film that deserved to get the proverbial bump from Oscar, this is it. Rarely has any film so focused on death felt so vibrantly alive.

Javier Bardem gives the performance of the year and barely has to lift a finger to do it.