Directed by: Woody Allen
Released: 2008
Country: United States, Spain
Genres: Romantic, Comedy-Drama
Main cast: Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Chris Messina, Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, Christopher Evan Welch
Rating: 4 out of 5
Review
Woody Allen's ''Vicky Cristina Barcelona'' is yet another memorable and moving film- A film which remains in our memory because it is such a wonderful, such a touching film. It is not that it is touching throughout, but as the movie ended, I was thoroughly impressed with it.
Yes, ''Vicky Cristina Barcelona'' is a great movie, and in fact, one of the best films of 2008. You don't know if it is a great movie while starting watching the film, but by the time the movie has ended, you know that it is an excellent film. Though it is light and sometimes bizarre, this film is enough likeable, simply wonderful.
The film starts as two very good friends, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) come to visit Barcelona and stay with Vicky's relative Judy (Patricia Clarkson). They excitedly explore the city. Now, one day, while at an art exhibition, they see a painter, Juan Antonio Gonzalo (Javier Bardem). Later, while Vicky and Cristina are having a drink, he approaches them, and invites them to spend the weekend with him at Oviedo, where they would explore the city and at night he would make love with them. Vicky is astonished, but Cristina agrees cheerfully. Though Vicky is reluctant, she accompanies Juan Antonio and Cristina to Oviedo. There Cristina gets food poisoning. Meanwhile, the next day, Vicky and Juan Antonio explore the city, and they become intimate to each other.
They return to Barcelona. Vicky doesn't tell Cristina about her relation with Juan Antonio. Meanwhile, Vicky's fiance Doug arrives in Barcelona as he would like their wedding to take place in Spain. They are soon married happily. Meanwhile, Juan Antonio and Cristina start living together. On the other hand, Vicky still secretly loves Juan Antonio.
But things get more complicated after Juan Antonio's ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz), attempts suicide. She moves in with Cristina and Juan Antonio. And then...
I have told enough of the story; revealing more than this would not be okay.
Written and directed by the brilliant Woody Allen, ''Vicky Cristina Barcelona'' meets with almost all your expectation. The story is brilliant and the screenplay is excellent. The bright cinematography makes the film look beautiful. Often, there are Spanish songs playing at the background. And, the background music is also quite good. The combinations of all these make it such a wonderful movie.
As the protagonists, Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson give brilliant performances as Vicky and Cristina respectively. Javier Bardem gives a quite good performance as the painter Juan Antonio.
But the most brilliant performance is given by Penelope Cruz, as Maria Elena, the mentally unstable ex-wife of Juan Antonio. She gives a truly excellent performance (She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for this film). I won't give details of the characters as it may spoil the movie for you.
The story becomes more engrossing as it goes on. Really. And all these happen over a period of just one summer!
Overall, this movie is wonderfully impressive: nice, excellent, and overall, touching!
4 out of 5
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