Javier Bardem

Javier Bardem is the youngest member of a family of actors that has been making films since the early days of Spanish cinema. He got his start in the family business at age six when he appeared in his first feature, "El Picaro" (The Scoundrel). During his teenage years he acted in several TV series, played rugby for the Spanish National Team, and toured the country with an independent theatrical group. Javier's early film role in the black comedy, "Jamon, jamon" (Ham Ham) propelled him to instant popularity and threatened to typecast him as nothing more than a brawny sex symbol. Determined to avert a beefcake image, he refused similar subsequent roles and has gone on to win acclaim for his ability to appear almost unrecognizable from film to film.


No Country For Old Men - The Coen Brothers - 2007
Violence and mayhem ensue after a hunter stumbles upon some dead bodies, a stash of heroin and more than $2 million in cash near the Rio Grande. Based on the novel, 'No Country For Old Men' by Cormac McCarthy. Bardem has been nominated for an Academy Award for his performance as the ruthless gun for hire, Anton Chigurh.
Trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5T3LM8gjUsw

Mar Adentro/The Sea Inside - Alejandro Amenabar - 2004
The real-life story of Spaniard Ramon Sampedro, who fought a 30 year campaign in favor of euthanasia and his own right to die. This is my favorite performance by Javier Bardem. In fact, it is probably my favorite performance by any actor ever. It is absolutely mind blowing, and totally transcends the language barrier. Please dont let the cheesy trailer keep you from watching this movie. Winner of the Best Foreign Picture Academy Award
Trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=PxXb_YZ-CQI

Los Lunes Al Sol/Mondays In The Sun - Fernando Leon de Aranoa - 2002
This movie follows the story of five former shipyard employees who meet every day at a bar for drinking and small talk. Santa is their rebel leader, who dreams to move to Australia, and is being sued by the owner of the shipyard for breaking a 8,000 pesetas light. The insecure Jose feels inferior because his wife Ana is forced to take temporary work in a tuna can factory. Paulino is permanently trying to find a job through unsuccessful applications. The Russian Serguei studied in Soviet Union to be an astronaut and seems to accept his life status. The depressed Amador misses his wife, who left him some time ago. For all of them, each jobless idle day looks like a Sunday.
Trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=OSSdhmj6BVY

The Dancer Upstairs - John Malkovich - 2002
Probably the worst movie on this list, but still more than worth watching because of Javier Bardem's performance. A police detective in a South American country is dedicated to hunting down a revolutionary guerilla leader.
Trailer: http://imdb.com/title/tt0118926/trailers-screenplay-E17245-310

Before Night Falls - Julian Schnabel - 2000
Episodic look at the life of Cuban poet and novelist, Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990), from his childhood in Oriente province to his death in New York City. Javier Bardem received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in this. A side note: The director of this, Julian Schnabel, also made 2007's Diving Bell and the Butterfly which has just been nominated for 4 Academy Awards, including Best Director.
Trailer: http://imdb.com/title/tt0247196/trailers-screenplay-E14686-310

Carne Tremula/Live Flesh - Pedro Almodovar - 1997
Pizza delivery man Victor is having an argument with Elena, whom he met a few days ago, but she was high then and doesn't want to hear about him. Reacting to the noise, two cops, young David and older Sancho, arrive at the scene, the gun accidentally goes off.. Four years later David is a wheelchair basketball star, he's married to Elena, Victor is released out of prison and their destinies begin to cross again.
Trailer: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NwjsaVD8RPM&feature=related