Vicky Cristina Barcelona + mini reviews
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Directed and written by Woody Allen
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson
Plot: Two American friends, the neurotic, engaged, grad student Vicky (Hall) and the free spirited artist Cristina (Johansson) travel to Barcelona to spend their summer. While there, the friends both become involved with a charming painter (Bardem) who has a very volatile ex-wife (Cruz).
Review: It's kind of funny. Woody Allen spent the majority of his career making brilliant, classic movies about loving - and falling in love in - New York City. Annie Hall is one of the most romantic break-up movies ever made. Manhattan is a gorgeous love letter to the city. So, it's funny then that Allen has found his creative resurgance by going overseas. First he made his come back picture with Match Point in London. Then he did his solid slapstick comedy Scoop in London. Then he made the strong Cassandra's Dream in London. Now he's in Spain and Vicky Cristina Barcelona is everything a Woody Allen movie should be - it's smart, it's funny and it's poignant. Woody Allen has a lot to say about love. He asks a lot of questions and knows that there are no answers. While Cristina deals with her entangled relationship with a painter AND his wife, she tries to define love - but Allen knows there is no way to define it. Instead, his new film tells a simple tale about two girls and the romantic entanglements they encounter in a foreign country. And Barcelona looks beautiful! The cinematography is gorgeous (witness the amusement park and the bike riding scenes). It's also nice to see how Allen has grown as a film maker. Years ago, he would have stock piled as many jokes in the film, no matter how silly. Here, there is a particular moment where a character is set to tell a joke he warns is bad... and Allen cuts out of the scene. He's more interested in character development know and not just getting a cheap laugh. He doesn't need cheap laughs. His writing is as crisp and witty as it was thirty years ago.
Best Thing About It: Well, Woody's sharp writing, for one. [Witness the scene when Cruz' Maria Elena admits to going through Cristina's luggage because she does trust her. She explains, "I didn't know if you wanted to harm me. After all, I've had thoughts about killing you."] Also, Cruz is a force to be reckoned with. The film is great from start to finish but when Cruz comes on screen, the movie really ignites. She's violent and aggressive and romantic and tragic and volatile and exhausting and straight up hilarious. I've never seen her this way before. She's very impressive here and heading for a second Oscar nomination. (For the record, Hall was surprisingly strong as well.)
Worst Thing About It: The narration takes a while to get used to but it's not bad per se. Other than that, Woody needs to move on to a new muse. Johansson just doesn't have the acting chops that his previous muses did (Farrow, Keaton, Weist).
Summary in Ten Words or Less: Woody is as funny and intelligent as ever!
Grade: A-
Directed and written by Woody Allen
Starring Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson
Plot: Two American friends, the neurotic, engaged, grad student Vicky (Hall) and the free spirited artist Cristina (Johansson) travel to Barcelona to spend their summer. While there, the friends both become involved with a charming painter (Bardem) who has a very volatile ex-wife (Cruz).
Review: It's kind of funny. Woody Allen spent the majority of his career making brilliant, classic movies about loving - and falling in love in - New York City. Annie Hall is one of the most romantic break-up movies ever made. Manhattan is a gorgeous love letter to the city. So, it's funny then that Allen has found his creative resurgance by going overseas. First he made his come back picture with Match Point in London. Then he did his solid slapstick comedy Scoop in London. Then he made the strong Cassandra's Dream in London. Now he's in Spain and Vicky Cristina Barcelona is everything a Woody Allen movie should be - it's smart, it's funny and it's poignant. Woody Allen has a lot to say about love. He asks a lot of questions and knows that there are no answers. While Cristina deals with her entangled relationship with a painter AND his wife, she tries to define love - but Allen knows there is no way to define it. Instead, his new film tells a simple tale about two girls and the romantic entanglements they encounter in a foreign country. And Barcelona looks beautiful! The cinematography is gorgeous (witness the amusement park and the bike riding scenes). It's also nice to see how Allen has grown as a film maker. Years ago, he would have stock piled as many jokes in the film, no matter how silly. Here, there is a particular moment where a character is set to tell a joke he warns is bad... and Allen cuts out of the scene. He's more interested in character development know and not just getting a cheap laugh. He doesn't need cheap laughs. His writing is as crisp and witty as it was thirty years ago.
Best Thing About It: Well, Woody's sharp writing, for one. [Witness the scene when Cruz' Maria Elena admits to going through Cristina's luggage because she does trust her. She explains, "I didn't know if you wanted to harm me. After all, I've had thoughts about killing you."] Also, Cruz is a force to be reckoned with. The film is great from start to finish but when Cruz comes on screen, the movie really ignites. She's violent and aggressive and romantic and tragic and volatile and exhausting and straight up hilarious. I've never seen her this way before. She's very impressive here and heading for a second Oscar nomination. (For the record, Hall was surprisingly strong as well.)
Worst Thing About It: The narration takes a while to get used to but it's not bad per se. Other than that, Woody needs to move on to a new muse. Johansson just doesn't have the acting chops that his previous muses did (Farrow, Keaton, Weist).
Summary in Ten Words or Less: Woody is as funny and intelligent as ever!
Grade: A-
Mini Reviews
Bangkok Dangerous - Brainless and pointless. Nicolas Cage needs to stop making movies. It doesn't get an F because of the Asian actor who was actually quite interesting. Grade: D
Son of Ranbow - Great little British movie about a boy who can't watch TV or movies and his sudden desire to make his own version of Rambo. It's funny and charming although a little uneven. Grade: B
How to Rob a Bank - Stars Nick Stahl who I adore beyond words. It's an interesting concept but I'm not sure it's executed well enough. I mean, sure it's flashy but it's more style than substance. I know it's trying to make a point (the government is nickle and diming us into the poor house) but it's not really a point that needs to be made. Believe me, we're aware. Grade: C+
An American Crime - Great acting from Catherine Keener and Ellen Page. Keener plays a suburban mom struggling to make ends meet who locks Page's character up in a basement and tortures her (or approves while her kids and the neighbors torture her) for a few months. Based on a true story. It was interesting enough - it just could have been... edgier. Plus, not sure if I loved the ending. Or the fact that it took the majority of the movie to get to where it was going. Grade: C-
Labels: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johannson, Vicky Christina Barcelona, Woody Allen
posted by Jennie @ 10:53 PM
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