2008 Woodie Awards
Woody Allen's sun-splashed 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' is amusing but not a return to greatness
Cate Marquis
Issue date: 8/25/08 Section: Arts and Entertainment
The title of Woody Allen's latest film "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" sounds like the name of a character but is actually a list of the main characters in the story.
In "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," two young American women, Vicky and Cristina, spend a summer of romantic, sexual adventure in the art-filled city of Barcelona, Spain.
Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) and Vicky (Rebecca Hall) are visiting Barcelona for the summer, staying with Vicky's ex-pat American relative, Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark (Kevin Dunn).
Vicky and Cristina are close friends who share many similar views, but they are very different people. Down-to-earth, practical and serious-minded Vicky is engaged to Doug (Chris Messina), whose job kept him from joining her on the trip.
Cristina is drifting through life, still unsure what she wants to do after college. Unlike steady Vicky, Christina is an impulsive person with a taste for sexual adventure.
Despite their very different natures, they find themselves drawn into romantic entanglements with the same hot-blooded Spaniard.
After a chance meeting at an art gallery, both women take an impromptu trip to an art-filled village with a seductive, charismatic painter named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem).
To stir the pot more, the Spanish artist is recently divorced from his unstable, fiery, abusive artist wife Maria-Elena (Penelope Cruz), who tried to kill him with a knife.
Despite their violent history, Juan Antonio is still entangled with his ex-wife. Flirtations, shifting sexual liaisons and romantic chaos ensue among some spectacular settings.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is an amusing and cerebral comedy, rather than the sexy romp its plot summary might suggest. There is more talk about sexual trysts than steamy scenes, but everything happens with an ironic tone and a dry wit that lifts it above bedroom farce.
The romantic city of Barcelona is as much a character as Vicky and Cristina in director/writer Woody Allen's film. The photography is very nice and the use of Barcelona's wonderful modern art architectural gems, particularly the work of Antonio Gaudi, is superb.
In "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," two young American women, Vicky and Cristina, spend a summer of romantic, sexual adventure in the art-filled city of Barcelona, Spain.
Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) and Vicky (Rebecca Hall) are visiting Barcelona for the summer, staying with Vicky's ex-pat American relative, Judy (Patricia Clarkson) and her husband Mark (Kevin Dunn).
Vicky and Cristina are close friends who share many similar views, but they are very different people. Down-to-earth, practical and serious-minded Vicky is engaged to Doug (Chris Messina), whose job kept him from joining her on the trip.
Cristina is drifting through life, still unsure what she wants to do after college. Unlike steady Vicky, Christina is an impulsive person with a taste for sexual adventure.
Despite their very different natures, they find themselves drawn into romantic entanglements with the same hot-blooded Spaniard.
After a chance meeting at an art gallery, both women take an impromptu trip to an art-filled village with a seductive, charismatic painter named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem).
To stir the pot more, the Spanish artist is recently divorced from his unstable, fiery, abusive artist wife Maria-Elena (Penelope Cruz), who tried to kill him with a knife.
Despite their violent history, Juan Antonio is still entangled with his ex-wife. Flirtations, shifting sexual liaisons and romantic chaos ensue among some spectacular settings.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is an amusing and cerebral comedy, rather than the sexy romp its plot summary might suggest. There is more talk about sexual trysts than steamy scenes, but everything happens with an ironic tone and a dry wit that lifts it above bedroom farce.
The romantic city of Barcelona is as much a character as Vicky and Cristina in director/writer Woody Allen's film. The photography is very nice and the use of Barcelona's wonderful modern art architectural gems, particularly the work of Antonio Gaudi, is superb.
Click here for info on movie passes!
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Serge
posted 8/26/08 @ 9:11 PM CST
I would like inform you that Scarlett Johansson (actress)actually is a clone from original person,who has nothing with acting career.Clone was created illegally by using stolen biomaterial. (Continued…)
Post a Comment