Vicky Cristina Barcelona
December 27th 2008 09:24
WHEN American best friends Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) decide to head to Spain for the summer, they do so for very different reasons. Sensible Vicky is about to be married and plans to do research for her masters in ‘Catalan Identity’, while open-minded Cristina merely craves excitement and experience.
Not long into their stay, the women encounter a mysterious, playboy painter named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) who invites them to the provincial town of Oviedo for the weekend. Hopeless romantic Cristina accepts immediately and convinces Vicky to go with them, albeit reluctantly.
After Cristina becomes ill, JA puts all of his energy into bringing Vicky out of her shell – and into his bed. She eventually gives in to the seductive atmosphere and starts to question her relationship with her future husband. However, she manages to resist temptation, leaving the door open for Cristina, who soon moves in with the artist.
While it’s not writer/director Woody Allen’s best effort, it’s enjoyable while it lasts and some of the locations are breathtaking. The performances are good throughout, but special mention has to go to Penélope Cruz, who plays Juan Antonio’s wonderfully mad ex-wife Marìa Elena.
If you’re after a traditional romantic comedy, this probably isn’t the film for you, but as a microcosmic study of love, lust and passion, it does a decent job. Romances in the real world often have no resolution, so I don’t see why movies necessarily should either.
Not long into their stay, the women encounter a mysterious, playboy painter named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) who invites them to the provincial town of Oviedo for the weekend. Hopeless romantic Cristina accepts immediately and convinces Vicky to go with them, albeit reluctantly.
After Cristina becomes ill, JA puts all of his energy into bringing Vicky out of her shell – and into his bed. She eventually gives in to the seductive atmosphere and starts to question her relationship with her future husband. However, she manages to resist temptation, leaving the door open for Cristina, who soon moves in with the artist.
While it’s not writer/director Woody Allen’s best effort, it’s enjoyable while it lasts and some of the locations are breathtaking. The performances are good throughout, but special mention has to go to Penélope Cruz, who plays Juan Antonio’s wonderfully mad ex-wife Marìa Elena.
If you’re after a traditional romantic comedy, this probably isn’t the film for you, but as a microcosmic study of love, lust and passion, it does a decent job. Romances in the real world often have no resolution, so I don’t see why movies necessarily should either.
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