Tags
2000's, Chris Messina, Christopher Evan Welch, Comedy, Drama, Javier Bardem, Patricia Clarkson, Penélope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Romance, Scarlett Johansson, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Woody Allen
Film Title
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Director
Woody Allen
Starring
- Rebecca Hall as Vicky
- Scarlett Johansson as Cristina
- Javier Bardem as Juan Antonio
- Penélope Cruz as Maria Elena
- Patricia Clarkson as Judy
- Chris Messina as Doug
- Christopher Evan Welch as Narrator
Witty, sexy yet tinged with a longing and pervading melancholy, Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona is an ambivalent examination of love, sex and discovery that is dappled in sun and filled with engaging work from the cast.
Best friends Vicky and Cristina decide to vacation for the summer in Barcelona and stay her distant relative Judy, who has agreed to put them up. For the straight-laced and cautious Vicky, who is engaged to be married to dull Doug, it is a trip to conduct her research on Catalan culture. Yet for the restless and searching Cristina, it is somewhere to explore and find a way to express herself and love, which so far she has found hard to do so. The two young ladies soon catch the eye of handsome artist Juan Antonio when at a party. The seductive painter was once in a stormy relationship with a fiery woman that ended in near death. The seductive painter approaches both ladies with a brazen request to spend the weekend with him, where he hopes they will enjoy dinner, see the sights and eventually fall into bed with each other. The spontaneous Cristina is immediately won over as the hint of a little naughtiness entices her, while Vicky is skeptical but tags along to keep tabs on Cristina. As the weekend progresses both women become attracted to Juan Antonio, culminating in the engaged Vicky surrendering to a highly charged encounter with him. Although Vicky attempts to forget her night of passion, she simply can’t deny being enamoured with Juan Antonio and attempts to stifle her guilt at cheating on her fiancée. Meanwhile Cristina grows closer to the artist and vice versa, leading her to quickly move in with him. Yet trouble and upheaval is just around the corner as Maria Elena, Juan Antonio’s ex-wife arrives back on the scene setting in motion a conflicting love triangle. Or should that be love quadrangle?
As both writer and director, Woody Allen’s witty dialogue and confidentially fluid direction makes Vicky Cristina Barcelona go along at a lively place, much like the electricity that sparks between the four characters. Allen has a lot to say about modern relationships and the complexities of the heart and he adroitly examines these subjects with both a passion, longing and wit. I liked how for a move that on the surface seems warm and breezy, there are touches of darkness and unearthed desires looming large over it. I thought this added another layer of engaging quality to the story blending laughs with some pathos. Visually, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is sublime and gorgeous. Wrapped in gold hues that invite you in and paint a sexy atmosphere, the cinematography is breathtakingly lovely and at times look downright delectable with its honeyed tint. Now there is one point of contention that lies within Vicky Cristina Barcelona and that is the narration. Not that it isn’t good, it is just something of a double-edged sword. It does well in setting up and closing the story, but for most of the time it is a little superfluous. That being said the voice of Christopher Evan Welch is engaging enough, it is just overused. Still this shouldn’t put you off because the movie is witty and engaging nonetheless. A sizzling soundtrack of Spanish guitars, quick drums and passion filled voices is an excellent companion to the various switches of romance and the clash of the heart and head when sensuality enters the picture.
Woody Allen assembles a very impressive cast who fill his words and characters with verve and talent. Rebecca Hall makes quite an impression playing Vicky, who is the more traditional and serious of the two best friends. We glimpse through her movements and facial expressions the suppression of desires and how it rises within Vicky as something she can’t keep control of as the vacation goes on. Scarlett Johansson is natural and footloose as the free spirit that is Cristina, who also has her own conflicts over her opinion of herself and wants to find her meaning. There is a real vibrancy and playfulness to the performance from Johansson that is hard to ignore and a real subtle beauty too. Then we have Javier Bardem who has all the necessary charm and seductive presence to burn as Juan Antonio. Yet what is really good about his performance is the way he injects it with a humour and soulfulness that in the hands of any other actor wouldn’t have worked. It is however Penélope Cruz that makes the largest impact in a role that garnered her a deserved Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Playing the unstable spitfire Maria Elena as a whirling dervish of emotion, Cruz captures the mercurial temperament, sensuality and all-consuming passion of this woman. From the moment she appears on screen, you just know that Penélope Cruz is going to own the role with her talent and unique way You simply can’t take your eyes of Cruz as she completely steals the show with a performance of both tragic and comic dimensions that threatens to ignite the screen with its fiery presence. Patricia Clarkson has a neat supporting role as the philandering wife who pushes Vicky to act with her heart and Chris Messina has the distracted dullness that makes you see why Vicky would consider a dalliance with another.
A fine romantic comedy/drama from Woody Allen, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a movie that is as lush and as sumptuous as the scenery, but unpredictable and stormy as the heart itself.
Richard Ankers said:
Great review. 😄
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vinnieh said:
Thank you Richard, I quite enjoyed this movie.
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Richard Ankers said:
It showed 😄
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vinnieh said:
I’ve been trying to watch more Woody Allen. Are you by any chance a fan?
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Richard Ankers said:
Not so much. I like the odd one but I’m not a big fan.
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t seen enough of his movies to really form an opinion.
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Satua said:
I like this one! I’m not a huge fan of Allen, I don’t get his most celebrated films like Annie Hall or Hannah & Sisters but I like this one and especially Midnight in Paris (if you haven’t seen it yet, I do recommend it!). Allen should definitely stay just behind the camera.
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vinnieh said:
I haven’t seen that much of his work, so I’m making it my mission to see more of it. I liked that this film was both breezy but had melancholy underneath. I loved Midnight in Paris and I reviewed it a while back.
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James Walpole said:
Nice review, glad to see that you also really liked this one.
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vinnieh said:
I found it both dramatic and comedic in equal measure. And the dialogue was fantastically witty.
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James Walpole said:
Yeah I recall the strong dialogue in particular. Have you seen much of Allen’s work?
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vinnieh said:
I’ve only seen this film and Midnight in Paris. I’m planning on filling in the many gaps by watching his movies. Do you have any favourites?
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James Walpole said:
Manhattan and Annie Hall are both excellent. Blue Jasmine is also an essential one to watch
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vinnieh said:
I’ve noted all of them down.
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James Walpole said:
Cool, let me know how you get on with them!
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vinnieh said:
I assure you James, you’ll be the first person to know.
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Afzal Moolla said:
Great review of a great film … Excellent, brother ✊✌👍🌻🐹
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vinnieh said:
Cheers, I had a whole lot of enjoyment writing this post.
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beetleypete said:
This film had a great cast, and many Allen hallmarks. Narration features in some of his films, though usually by the man himself. I didn’t enjoy it as much as the films that he acts in. Unlike some comments here, I really like his acting in the earlier films, and sense that he delivers his own scripts better than anyone else. He is woefully mis-cast as a romantic lead in many of them of course, but he does bring some delicious comedic nuances to his performances.
He started out as a stand-up comedian, and I used to have some vinyl recordings of his shows, which I always found hilarious. Might be worth listening to some, if you can find them on the ‘net.
Now you have started with his films, I look forward to your thoughts on ‘Manhattan’ (one of his best) and ‘Annie Hall’.
Cheers mate, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
I don’t mind narration, I just felt it was a bit overused here. Though the movie was sexy, fun and had a melancholy undertone which was good. I am looking forward to trawling through Allen’s other work.
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Cindy Bruchman said:
Nice review, Vinnieh. I loved the passion between Cruz and Bardem. I’m thinking this was the film where they connected and eventually married. I didn’t mind the sound over, it gave it a play-like feel. I am a fan of Hall. Have you tried Blue Jasmine? A great remake of “A Streetcar Named Desire”.
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vinnieh said:
Cruz and Bardem were on fire here, so much heat and passion. Blue Jasmine is on my list to watch as I’m beginning to work my way through Woody Allen’s movies.
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Cindy Bruchman said:
Have fun!
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vinnieh said:
Are you a big Woody Allen fan and is there anything you would really recommend?
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Cindy Bruchman said:
Have you seen Midnight in Paris? Awesome. 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I adored Midnight in Paris, it was a lovely film.
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Paul S said:
Penelope Cruz, Scarlett and Rebecca Hall in the same film!
Be still my heart.
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vinnieh said:
They are three very talented and beautiful ladies. And all of them are excellent in this movie.
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keepsmealive said:
Great write-up Vinnie! I do like this film for the obvious reasons. I’m not a fan of Bardem at all, though.
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vinnieh said:
Is there any main reason why you don’t like Javier Bardem?
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keepsmealive said:
Well (and here, of course, is my own opinion and not anyone else’s, probably) I’ve never seen him in a role that I believed he was that character. He’s just him. And that ‘him’ is as wooden as Denzel Washington can be. I dunno, he just isn’t an actor I’ve taken to at all. Never understood the fuss about him.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for giving your opinion. I always say, we can’t all like the same actors and actresses, that would be boring.
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keepsmealive said:
Sure thing, and fair play to all who like him and think he’s great.
I think we can all agree on the fine ladies in this film, though. Va va voom!
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vinnieh said:
I love all three ladies in this movie. In particular Penelope Cruz was superb, setting the screen on fire.
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keepsmealive said:
Yup, she does that every time!!
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vinnieh said:
She is a magnetic performer.
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keepsmealive said:
Agreed! It’d be fun to be stuck to her… 😉
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vinnieh said:
I’d love to meet her, I reckon I’d be starstruck.
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SLIP/THROUGH - Dan said:
Loved this movie too. Great review, Vinnie. If you haven’t already seen the Bardem and Cruz collabs with Almodovar, you should check em out. Super sexy, super stylish. Try Jamon Jamon on for size.
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vinnieh said:
Almodovar is another film director I need to catch up on. His movies sound very energetic and stylish. Thanks for the recommendation.
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SLIP/THROUGH - Dan said:
Oh he’s great, and his romances aren’t cheesy or melodramatic. His more recent films also champion really strong female performances. Penelope Cruz is phenomenal in her native language.
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vinnieh said:
I love strong female performances.
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By Hook Or By Book ~ Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff said:
Great review Vinnie! I’m really interested in how this all plays out as you go through his catalog of movies.
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vinnieh said:
I think it’s going to be fun go through the many films he has directed. I mean he seems to direct a movie a year, that’s some work ethic.
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Jordan Dodd said:
Great review mate. Sounds like I should probably go watch a Woody Allen movie… I literally have not seen one. This one sounds pretty decent…
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vinnieh said:
My watching of his movies is pretty limited but I’ve made it a mission to watch more of his stuff. He has directed so many movies.
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Jordan Dodd said:
Yeah I really need to get onto that, he’s done like 30 movies and I’ve seen none of them!
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vinnieh said:
He’s done a movie a year for over thirty years, that’s impressive.
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Jordan Dodd said:
Indeed!! From what I have read they seem to be of mixed quality these days. I have heard of Annie Hall, that’s one of his classics right?
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vinnieh said:
I have heard that Annie Hall is one of his classics, yet I still need to watch it.
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Jordan Dodd said:
hey at least you’ve seen more than none of his movies 😛
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vinnieh said:
I’ve only seen two.
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fragglerocking said:
Might watch it for the photography, but doesn’t sound my cuppa tea. Not keen on Woody.
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vinnieh said:
The photography is splendid in this movie.
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HusbandAndHusband said:
Since Aaron and I have just gotten back from Barcelona it would be fun to watch this one.
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vinnieh said:
Great idea, Barcelona is a beautiful place. And you two will love this sexy movie.
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emmakwall said:
Awesome review Vinnie, I read it as I ate my beef sandwich at work 🙂
Never been massively compelled to see this but for no real reason other than…not sure it’s for me! Maybe I should watch it and surprise myself 🙂
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vinnieh said:
You may be surprised. I watched it as I’m trying to watch more movies by Woody Allen. Then again, he has so many movies to his name.
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emmakwall said:
Yeah I don’t think I’ve ever watched a Woody Allen movie so I can’t really comment at all! Maybe I’ll change that soon 🙂
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vinnieh said:
There are so many to choose from, from what I’ve read he has done a movie a year since the late 60’s.
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emmakwall said:
Maybe I have seen one then lol, statistically speaking there’s a good chance!! 🙂
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vinnieh said:
If I was a director, I couldn’t do a movie a year for that long, I’d need a break.
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emmakwall said:
No way!! I need time to sleep!
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vinnieh said:
I am so lazy, they’d need to get me up every morning.
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emmakwall said:
Amen to that lol
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vinnieh said:
On another note, I was looking through some older reviews and I found a review of something really bad that you may find funny. https://vinnieh.wordpress.com/2015/03/01/body-of-evidence/
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emmakwall said:
Sweet! Thanks Vinnie 🙂
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vinnieh said:
The movie in question is really bad but it was fun to trash it.
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emmakwall said:
Sometimes it’s more fun writing a review that trashes 🙂
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vinnieh said:
I think it is. In the past I felt that my reviews were all too positive, so I decided to switch it up a little and write about some abysmal movies. There’s plenty out there to choose from.
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emmakwall said:
That’s a good idea!! I might choose a shit movie to review next, just for the fun of it! 🙂 are you doing Shitfest this year?
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vinnieh said:
If Shitfest is going ahead, I’m sure I’ll take part. May have to check my schedule though.
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emmakwall said:
Ditto, not sure I’ll have time but still look forward to reading the entries!
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vinnieh said:
If I can’t take part I’ll do the same as you.
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alexraphael said:
It’s on my shelf. Will come back very soon.
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vinnieh said:
Nice to hear, I have now begun my journey into the movies of Woody Allen. I’ve now seen this and Midnight in Paris a few years back. Can’t wait to discover more.
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alexraphael said:
Midnight in Paris is very charming.
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vinnieh said:
It has a really nostalgic tone to it.
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alexraphael said:
My latest post might interest you haha.
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vinnieh said:
I’ll give it a look.
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ruth said:
Woody Allen is a bit of hit and miss for me Vin. But I like your final paragraph there, boy I think you just might’ve sold me on this movie.
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vinnieh said:
I have lots of catching up to do with Allen’s work. Glad I have sold the movie to you Ruth, just doing my job.
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Cici said:
I watched this movie a very long time ago, not even sure I remember what it was about but I do remember I enjoyed it.
Great review Vinnie. Made me want to rewatch it!
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vinnieh said:
If I made you want to rewatch it, I have done my job. Comments like this are always great to read Cici.
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Cici said:
Job. Well. Done.
Am going to look for it, it on my movie queqe probably after gods of Egypt!
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vinnieh said:
I can’t wait to hear what you make of it Cici. Enjoy.
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Cici said:
I didn’t find it. Might have to stream it online!
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vinnieh said:
I hope you find it.
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The Wandering Mind said:
I remember wanting to see this movie when it came out. I’m not normally into romantic comedies/dramas, but the cast and the feel got my attention.
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vinnieh said:
It has just the right amount of romance, comedy and drama.
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alexraphael said:
Hard enough to keep my eyes off Penelope Cruz at the best of times haha. But yes she’s mesmeric in this. Astonishing. Lot of charm in this film. Sensual and sexual and sophiriciated.
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vinnieh said:
She is truly so beautiful and very talented. I loved her performance, she was a real spitfire.
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