Ranking the Films of Alejandro G. Iñárritu So Far

Alejandro G. Iñárritu is a filmmaker who generates strong opinions, both positive and negative. Ever since winning back to back Best Director Oscars for Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) and The Revenant (taking Best Picture for the former as well), there seems to be a dividing line of opinions. Is he the auteur who crafted small scale devastating fare like Amores perros or the pretentious navel-gazer who made Bardo (or False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths)? Could the answer be somewhere in between? The release this week of Digger sure won’t change opinions, given the real split reactions that film has generated. Still, given the movie’s high profile and all of the statements made about Iñárritu of late, it only made sense to put forth my ranking of his filmography. So, that’s exactly what I did.

In my review of Digger (here), I gave an honest assesement of Iñárritu’s latest work, writing in part:

Director/co-writer Alejandro G. Iñárritu never fully gets a handle on tone here. The screenplay he penned with Alexander Dinelaris, Nicolás Giacobone, and Sabina Berman (Berman and Iñárritu also share a Story By credit with Jez Butterworth) is all over the map, constantly making the same points over and over again. Iñárritu and company don’t wait long to reveal the hook/twist of this story, to the point where I actually think it’s a mistake to be hiding it, but once we understand what’s actually going on, one part of it becomes far more interesting than the other. Iñárritu does direct the hell out of this one, with some great visuals (go figure, Emmanuel Lubezki is great at his job), as well as amazing production design from Dennis Gassner, but the pacing becomes very slack. Cruise and Iñárritu are a good fit together and seemed to embolden each other, so if nothing else, it’s quality casting. The score from Cosmo Sheldrake is very different, which mostly works, and the ending actually lands really well, but getting to the finale is a bit of a chore. This is a slightly over two hour flick that plays like a nearly three hour one. It’s fascinating, sure, but frustrating too, in equal measure.

Previously, my review (here) of Bardo (or False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths) included the following:

Co-writer/director Alejandro González Iñárritu does some of his best work here, though other elements are some of his most lacking. The script, credited to him and Nicolás Giacobone, is a weak link, as it really does meander and threaten to navel gaze more than you’d like. At the same time, the music by Bryce Dessner and especially the cinematography from Darius Khondji shine, mixing with Iñárritu’s bold direction. Khondji in particular is the MVP of Bardo. This impeccable craftsmanship results in a standout sequence like a big party on a dance floor. Nothing here is small. Pacing is rough, but that comes with the territory of a work of this length. There’s a hump to get over, transitioning to the third act, but as long as the movie hasn’t lost you, you’re headed towards steadier waters.

Below, you can see how I think Iñárritu’s movies stack up. He’s always someone I find fascinating to to consider, whether I like his work or not. I spoke to him about Bardo (here) and found him far more engaging than that flick, for example. In terms of his best, I think it’s between Babel and Birdman, though I can hear an argument for nearly everything he’s made. Where does Digger debut on this list? Found out next…

Here now is my ranking of the films of Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Behold:

8. Digger

7. The Revenant

6. Bardo

5. Biutiful

4. 21 Grams

3. Amores perros

2. Birdman

1. Babel

What is your favorite film from Alejandro G. Iñárritu? Let us know!