Vicky Cristina Barcelona

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 3:30pm

Anyone else see it yet?

A wonderful, quirky film that's arguably Woody Allen's best in recent memory (though I didn't see Match Point, which everyone I know raves about).

Scarlett Johansson isn't much of an actress, and I can't quite tell why she's as well regarded as she is, not even very attractive, but she's very beguiling. And Woody certainly has a woody for her, she's his new Diane Keaton...but Diane has more talent.

Could have done without Rebecca Hall's storyline, though it was fun to see Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, and Pablo Schreiber again.

The real reason to see it is for the wonderful performances of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, as well as the hilariously dry narration of Christopher Evan Welch.

I hope they (Cruz and Bardem), and the film, are remembered come Awards season.

[shira467]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 3:32pm

I've seen it twice now, and tremendously enjoyed it both times!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:01pm

"...could've done without Rebecca Hall's storyline..." This fascinated me coming from someone who otherwise liked the movie. That's half the film's weighted structure, and the 3rd act payoff would have no weight without her. (The scene where she's looking at the paintings? And the resulting dramatic event there?) In the Hall story arc are dramatized the classic Allen themes of longing, the price of domestic complacency vspassion. Without the Hall POV to counter the Johannson free spirit element, there really isn't much of a struggle in the main story. This context for the Spanish couple is what allows them to be so compelling, isn't it?

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:03pm

In thinking about it, I chalk it up to Hall's being so bland.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:12pm

I agree with you -- she didn't 'pop' as she might've. I thought she was quite beautiful in some scenes, but in others, she faded into the admittedly stunning woodwork around her. I think Allen chose her because not only was she in the post HANNAH, whiney Mia mode (think HUSBANDS AND WIVES -- Farrow's dreariest in all of his films), she even had a touch of Woody in her nose-pressed--against-the-passionate-world stance. She had that female Woody Allen longing to be a romantic/sexual 'player.'

[TMarie]

Posted: 8/24/08 at 4:38pm

I think that is just sort of her natural quality - she is the same bland that I call "charmingly bland" in Starter for 10. Only because I think she is very reserved but I can't stop watching her.

And I wish Scarlett Johansson would switch it up sometimes. I think she's beautiful, and not untalented, but she is always delivering her lines the same way. In every movie, she could have make-up change her completely, and the minute she opens her mouth I would know it was her. I'm not saying every actor needs to pull out a Daniel Day-Lewis, but I wish she would do something that was not "promiscous (sp?) but supposedly empowering".

I finally really enjoyed Penelope Cruz, and obviously the scenes between her and Javier were captivating. The script was funny.

My issues with Scarlett put aside, it was a pretty flawless film.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 12:03am

I'm looking forward to seeing this one within the next couple of days. Penelope Cruz is a fine actress.

And on a side track, I'll recommend the Spanish film Princesas which is available in the USA on DVD. Excellent performance by Candela Peña.

And another side track (to save time, threads etc.) I received my Blu-ray disc of Kiss of the Spider Woman and I'm very disappointed with the quality. It looks like they just took an old used 35mm release print and did a direct transfer to blu-ray without any restoration of the picture or sound.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 10:57am

Loved the subtlety of the film. Cruz delivers an Oscar-worthy performance. I'd be surprised if she didn't win for this.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/25/08 at 11:43am

Yankee, you thought Hall was bland? Really?

She was one of my favorite things about the movie. Her and Cruz's performances were transcendent, IMO.

Cruz deserves an Oscar nomination as does the screenplay. This is one of the year's best films.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 2:19am

Ah, saw it! Good film. I thought Hall made a good contrast to Cruz, especially in that notable scene. Hall looked like an American woman going to Europe, not an American starlet vacationing in Europe. Johansson may have been missing a little flavoring or spice, but she was OK. One day there may be a role that will "make" Scarlett Johansson.

Kudos to Penélope Cruz for a kick-ass performance. She owned the screen. Loved the way she carried the hat.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:20am

Here's a lengthy interview with Rebecca Hall about VCB and her career so far for anyone who's interested.
Dave Poland sits down with Rebecca Hall

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:44am

penelope cruz looks like a baby duck. not a baby swan, but a baby duck. she should feel lucky to even be in the same movie with scarlett.

[christhefish]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 8:48am

I loved the film. I obviously agree that Peneolope was amazing, I also loved Particia Clarkson who made the most out of her small role. I also have to give points to the designers the color pallet chosen for this film was amazing. It was the prefect way to end the summer.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 1:24pm

Don't get me wrong, I liked this film and will watch it again soon, and I liked Javier Bardem's performance. However, it seems that American films always show a very stereotypical European Artist. Do all European peintres drive beautiful cars, have lovely country homes, fly about in friends' airplanes? Or as in other films, entertain lovely women on their Mediterranean yachts? Of course, there are some, but is this what Americans consider typical for a European artist?

Perhaps when I arrive in New York one of you typical New York actors will dine me in the rooftop garden of your penthouse apartment. Then we can drive about the city in your Phantom Drophead Coupé. After that we can fly (in your friend's plane, of course) to Martha's Vineyard to your country home on the beach and in some unused portion of your home you can build a recording studio that I can use for my short stay. Without thinking for a minute about the cost.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 6:10pm

I never assumed the character was a "typical European artist". I never even thought of it as a stereotype. I didn't realize there were so many films that portray European artists in such a way. I always imagined the stereotypical European artist as an angry Frenchman with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth throwing something violently across the room. Or perhaps an effeminate German minimalist wearing a black beret followed by a small entourage of avant garde fetishists. But maybe that's just me.

American films often romanticize American artists as well. Especially Woody Allen films where the majority of his characters in his modern-day films are affluent, regardless their occupation.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 8/26/08 at 7:05pm

Saw it today and loved it. It'll probably grow on me more over time and I may actually try to see it again on my next day off (Thursday).

[nygrl23]

Posted: 8/30/08 at 2:46pm

>>I agree with you -- she didn't 'pop' as she might've. I thought she was quite beautiful in some scenes, but in others, she faded into the admittedly stunning woodwork around her.<<

I agree (and I really love the way you put that).

I think she was barely containing the pain of her feelings, getting married to someone else despite everything, upholding her role as the 'responsible one.' She hurt a lot, and to me, she "faded" because of the pain.

>>Perhaps when I arrive in New York one of you typical New York actors will dine me in the rooftop garden of your penthouse apartment.<<

I once had a housesitting gig in such a situation. I could have people over, and we did have many a dinner on that rooftop. No garden, but there was a little gazebo with Xmas lights. Sigh...the best times are simple ones. In someone else's really nice apartment. Updated On: 8/30/08 at 02:46 PM

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 2:11am

Honestly, I never really got Woody Allen movies, so I didn't know what to expect with Vicky Cristina Barcelona. It was fantastic. It was well directed. Straight to the point. Also, Barcelona looks absolutely beautiful.

Every time Penelope Cruz opened her mouth, I went nuts. I always thought she was a good actress (Volver was a wonderful movie and she was great in it), but this movie made her become one of my favorite film actresses.

I never cared for Scarlett Johansson, and I still don't. She was fine in the movie, but I wouldn't have mind seeing someone else in the role.

[KrissySim]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 3:04pm

In that case, verynewyorkcurious, I'll recommend Belle Epoque in which Penélope Cruz performs with Maribel Verdú (El Laberinto del fauno - Pan's Labyrinth) and Ariadna Gil (also in El Laberinto del fauno).

A trio of high calibre Españolas and in fine film (Pan's Labyrinth is also worth seeing for different reasons).

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 9/1/08 at 11:47pm

Thanks for the recommendation, KrissySim. I could always use film recommendations, so if there's anything else you think I should see, please let me know.

I've seen Pan's Labyrinth. It was a wonderful movie. I am looking at Maribel Verdú's profile on IMDB and I think I've seen her in something else besides Pan's Labyrinth and Y Tu Mama Tambien, but I don't remember what.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/2/08 at 2:09am

I'm glad Hollywood finally learned what to do with the wonderful Penelope Cruz. She was brilliant in the Almodovar films she did in Spain, then she was brought over here and was stuck doing an infinite number of awful films in which her talents were never showcased in favor of turning her into another sultry exotic image. It was so refreshing to see her in VOLVER and re-discover her. It's wonderful that Woody Allen is doing her talent some justice in this movie. And I she definitely fits the world of NINE so well (how great would it have been to see her reunited with Bardem in that musical...oh well).

[KrissySim]

Posted: 9/2/08 at 1:29pm

In that case, I'll also recommend La Lengua de las mariposas starring Fernando Fernán Gómez, one of Spain's greatest actors (born in Peru, actually and died this past November in Madrid, he was also in Belle Epoque) and with one of Spain's top actresses, Elena Fernández. This is a beautifully told story, though not a comedy like Belle Epoque, La Lengua de las mariposas (Butterfly is the DVD title, or Butterfly Tongues in American theatres) is a more serious but gently told story with a powerful ending.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 3:23am

Just rewatched this and, I have to say, that it definitely improves upon a second viewing. It's so subtle that you barely notice how tragic and sad it ultimately is. This is the Woodman's best film in years and even better than MATCH POINT.

[Taryn]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 10:15am

This is the Woodman's best film in years and even better than MATCH POINT.

That's not saying much. Watching Jonathan Rhys Meyers act is about as interesting as watching paint dry.

[lusciouslace]

Posted: 12/18/08 at 12:44pm

Taryn, I'd say the same thing for Miss Scarlett, too. Very very lacking of personality in my opinion. Always one note. So those two together in Match Point...I'm not sure I could handle it.