The Good Boss: The BRWC Review

24th August 2022

The Good Boss: The BRWC Review By Robert Andrews.

Having been nominated for a prestigious business award, Blanco Scales eagerly awaits the arrival of a committee to determine their fate in the competition. With the owner, Blanco (Javier Bardem) setting his sights on the coveted award, his concerted efforts to maintain order are jeopardized by a number of employees, whose personal issues threaten to disrupt the day-to-day operations of his precious business.

The Good Boss delves into the fascinating and conflicting roles of a leader in the workplace, with Blanco facing the impossibility of striking a balance between his roles as a caring friend and a ruthless businessman. Bardem’s leading performance drives the story forward, with Blanco’s warm and caring sensibilities being juxtaposed with a ruthless desire to maintain order. Beneath the guise of a superficial smile, Bardem excels in his portrayal of a manipulative and conflicted figure, whose measured temperament unravels in a stress-inducing turn of events.

Blanco’s mounting problems force him to meddle in deteriorating relationships, whilst also having to contend with the wrath of a former employee, who relentlessly protests against his dismissal by camping outside the company entrance. The Good Boss often blurs the lines between tragedy and comedy whilst in exploration of such tragic circumstances, as viewers will find themselves deviating between pitying and condemning Blanco’s misfortune, as he gradually loses control of the destructive events unfolding around him.

Bardem’s charismatic ways prove entirely fitting of the film’s self-destructive protagonist, with the leading man excelling in moments of awkwardness and misfortune. As Blanco’s patience is worn down by the stressful prospect of the upcoming committee visit, he is forced to sacrifice the principles of his company for the sake of a coveted award. The Good Boss frequently touches upon the theme of balance, which naturally feeds into the principles of a business that is responsible for the production of high-quality industrial scales.

The exploration of this theme does verge on overkill at times, amidst several monologues relating directly to balance, with the film often utilizing physical scales to promote a sense of unbalance in the story. Nevertheless, the core themes at the heart of The Good Boss’ entertaining and tragic tale raise interesting arguments regarding the role of management in the workplace.

Bardem’s exceptional performance certainly accounts for a great deal of what makes The Good Boss so enjoyable, especially in light of the film’s intriguing central theme, as Blanco demonstrates the impossibility of skirting the line between friendship and business.

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