Vicky Cristina Barcelona (Woody Allen, 2008) USA

Reviewed by Joel Pedersen. Viewed at Santa Barbara Film Festival

People often think they know whats up when it comes to love. The film Vicky Cristina Barcelona sets the story strait by conveying that no one really knows how love truly works. Thanks to the genius of Woody Allen, this fact is shown in a very funny but sensitive way. Also the truly beautiful and visually pleasing sights of barcelona don’t hurt.

With beautiful actors and scenery the film was bound to stand out more then most. You get to go on what feels like a vey itimate trip through spain – from the bars of Barcelona to the country charm of Oviedo.  An outstanding performance was given by Javier Bardem.  Who Americans know best as the crazed killer of the film No Country for Old Men.  Here he is smooth, suave, and sophisiticated. So much so that Christina (Scarlett Johansen) can’t help but cave to his charm, whereas the already engaged Vicky (Rebecca Hall) can only find things to disapprove of in Bardem’s character Juan Antonio. 

Vicky and Christina are American travellers. Vicky is trying to learn the ways of Catalan culture, while her companion Christina, who has just broken up with another boyfriend, is on the prowl for a good time.  Both girls find what they are looking for in the mysterious creature Juan Antonio…even his name has sexual edge. Little do they know that his ex-wife the exotic and nuerotic Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) is about to re-enter the picture.

The performance of Penelope Cruz as a crazed ex-wife is the stuff of legend.   Her range of emotion outshines her american costars.  Johansen pouts her lips in pleasure or displeasure, while Hall is always stressed and anxious.  Cruz could be manic one moment, caring and sensitive the next, but she never in any scene lost her character.  She is Maria Elena, there is never a moment that I am not convinced that Cruz is this other women, even if my eyes tell me otherwise.  Everything about her is fully commited to the character even the way she holds a cigarette.

 Juan Antonio is the stereo-typical sexy Spanish artist that every guy secretly wishes to be and every American girl wishes too find.  He is at the center of not one, not two, but three beautiful women…the drama, the desire, all make it well worth a trip to the movies for another Woody Allen classic.

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Published:
02.08.09 / 6pm
Category:
Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2009