Vicky Cristina Barcelona
I will see any film that Woody Allen makes. That is because even not so good Woody is better than much of the stuff that is out there today. But his new film Vicky Cristina Barcelona is absolutely fabulous.
Two friends - Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) travel to Barcelona to spend the summer there. They will stay with Vicky's cousin Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark. The two women are as different as can be. Vicky is straightlaced and not very adventurous. She likes things that are predictable. She is engaged to nice but rather dull Doug (Chris Messina). Cristina, on the other hand, is a free spirit who ready for anything.
One night while at an art gallery they spot the charismatic painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). Cristina is very intrigued with him and can't help but stare. Later on that night Juan invites them to spend the weekend with him at Oviedo. Vicky is reluctant to go but Cristing is ready. They wind up going.
Many critics tell the whole story of what happens next. I won't. But I will say that things develop between each woman and Juan. After the weekend they go back to Barcelona. Doug decides to come to Barcelona to be with Vicky and Cristina moves in with Juan. But after a while Juan's unstable ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) shows up and she winds up living with them.
That is all I will say about the plot. The film is wonderful. Allen's writing is sharp as a nail. And his directing is spot on. Johansson is doing some of her best work here. The relatively unknown Hall fully captures the emotions of the confused Vicky. Cruz is amazing - she is funny and tragic at the same time. Clarkson does terrific job with her small role. And then there is Bardem. His Juan could have been just some shallow Don Juan. But he is much deeper than that and you can see that when you look into his eyes. Add Javier Aguirresarobe's beautiful cinematography and some wonderful music and you have one of the best films of the year. And it made me even more anxious to visit the city of Barcelona.
There are many laughs in VCB and it is shot in a breezy style. But the subject matter is quite serious. Can we ever be truly happy in love? Or is it not possible.
I am still thinking about the film hours after I left the theater. The best way to describe it in one word is bittersweet. And that is the same word I would use to describe life.
Two friends - Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) travel to Barcelona to spend the summer there. They will stay with Vicky's cousin Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark. The two women are as different as can be. Vicky is straightlaced and not very adventurous. She likes things that are predictable. She is engaged to nice but rather dull Doug (Chris Messina). Cristina, on the other hand, is a free spirit who ready for anything.
One night while at an art gallery they spot the charismatic painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). Cristina is very intrigued with him and can't help but stare. Later on that night Juan invites them to spend the weekend with him at Oviedo. Vicky is reluctant to go but Cristing is ready. They wind up going.
Many critics tell the whole story of what happens next. I won't. But I will say that things develop between each woman and Juan. After the weekend they go back to Barcelona. Doug decides to come to Barcelona to be with Vicky and Cristina moves in with Juan. But after a while Juan's unstable ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) shows up and she winds up living with them.
That is all I will say about the plot. The film is wonderful. Allen's writing is sharp as a nail. And his directing is spot on. Johansson is doing some of her best work here. The relatively unknown Hall fully captures the emotions of the confused Vicky. Cruz is amazing - she is funny and tragic at the same time. Clarkson does terrific job with her small role. And then there is Bardem. His Juan could have been just some shallow Don Juan. But he is much deeper than that and you can see that when you look into his eyes. Add Javier Aguirresarobe's beautiful cinematography and some wonderful music and you have one of the best films of the year. And it made me even more anxious to visit the city of Barcelona.
There are many laughs in VCB and it is shot in a breezy style. But the subject matter is quite serious. Can we ever be truly happy in love? Or is it not possible.
I am still thinking about the film hours after I left the theater. The best way to describe it in one word is bittersweet. And that is the same word I would use to describe life.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:40 PM
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