Mexican Director Miguel Arteta's "Beatriz at Dinner" Stars Salma Hayek & John Lithgow

This is a new age "lah lah" film set in LA about an altruistic healer, Beatriz (Salma Hayek) who is in touch with nature, animals, human suffering and an overblown sense of her self-importance.  Beatriz cares for a goat inside her home which doesn't sit well with her neighbors who hear its constant braying.  She appears to be a kindhearted, free spirit who practices natural healing on cancer patients and provide massages to the wealthy to provide herself a meager living.  We see the tenderness & connection she has for the cancer patients she treats.  Beatriz treated a young female patient who recovered.  She became friendly with the patient's affluent mother, Cathy (Connie Britton).  Cathy is both grateful & now a regular client, although it's a long drive from LA to reach the guarded, wealthy community where Cathy and her husband Grant live in luxury overlooking the ocean.  During her massage, Cathy is most sympathetic to Beatriz's tale of woe; her pet goat was slaughtered by her neighbor.  Nevertheless, Cathy must get ready to host a dinner party that evening and Beatriz needs to leave.  Except, the old clunker won't start.  Beatriz explains to the harried hostess she needs to wait for her friend to come & fix the car but he won't be there for hours.  The classy, Cathy invites Beatriz to stay for the dinner but needs to check with her husband Grant.  Grant makes it clear Beatriz is not wanted at this important business dinner.  He reluctantly grants permission after making clear class distinctions between themselves and the help.  The two other well dressed couples soon arrive.  Doug (John Lithgow) is a wealthy alpha male that mistakes Beatriz for the help.  Alcohol consumption is free throwing and the vegetarian, granola, tree hugging Beatriz imbibes along with the others.  But, nobody puts Beatriz in the corner.  The doe eyed innocent Beatriz is not intimated by these wealthy, well dressed & well traveled people.  The scenes with Beatriz observing the other's obnoxious boastings of their homes & vacations are priceless.  Things start to heat up over drinks & Beatriz is not hesitant to say what she thinks about spirituality & environmental toxins.  The power plays between Beatriz & Doug become the main attraction.   Doug asks if she's here illegally.  When he passes cell photos of his rhino kill on safari, Beatriz whose already overstayed her welcome, throws his phone & calls him disgusting.  The new age film becomes murky.   The peace loving, tree hugging Beatriz shows her more hostile & violent side.  The A list cast does a superb job.  The movie mixes new age, Gatsby gangster era and film noir.  The movie is best when there's a clashing of the social classes but it breaks down from too much self-righteous pontification.