Vicky and Cristina are two sexy young Americans, on the loose in Barcelona for the summer in this Woody Allen offering that explores the "ins and outs" of seduction. Cristina (the lovely Scarlett Johansson) is a free and easy bohemian type, while Vicky (the equally lovely Rebecca Hall) exudes rationality, practicality, and common sense. At least at the beginning.
There are many ways to be seduced, not the least of which is the sound of Spanish guitars in the romantic milieu of Barcelona. Enter the ultra-persuasive Juan Antonio, (Javier Bardem) a smoldering artistic type who, upon meeting the two girls, unabashedly proposes that they join him for a threesome with the line: "Life is short, life is dull, life is full of pain." (Geez, I wish I'd thought of that when I was dating Barbara Jo Wilkerson!)
What ensues is an unpredictable love triangle. The heat is turned up further when Juan Antonio's spooky ex-wife, played convincingly by Penelope Cruz, re-enters the picture and turns the triangle into a quadrangle, with amusing complications.
Allen's dialogue is so distinctively "Woody" that one cannot totally avoid picturing the writer/director mouthing those words instead of his characters, which can really screw with your head when it's one of the beautiful women speaking!
One of the marks of a good movie is that you don't want it to end. I was thoroughly seduced by Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and I bet you will be too.
Cigarette?
Grade: B+
TIMMY'S TIDBITS: Scarlett Johansson had been cast in the 2005 film Thumbsucker --but dropped out before filming started. (Unfortunate...there would have been something quite sexy about watching Scarlett sucking her thumb!)
A Scarlett quote: "I don't think human beings are monogamous by nature."
Penelope Cruz dated Tom Cruise for about three years. (Had they married, she wouldn't have had to change her name.)
Penelope likes to have stray cats around. After filming All The Pretty Horses in 2000, she became a vegetarian.
A Penelope quote: "Sometimes I think I'm an Italian trapped in a Spanish woman's body."
Ok, I am now looking at your blog before visiting the local Blockbuster...it'll save me time standing there wondering "Is this any good"...I'll rent this one next time.
ReplyDeleteUgh. Tim, this film went nowhere. It was just an excuse for Woody Allen to put Scarlett in a film. I usually like Javier Bardem but I thought his character was slimy and I wanted to slap Vicky and say "sort it out already!" Penelopy Cruz was good but under-utilized and Scarlett just kept showing me her armpit. Sorry, but these wealthy artistic wanky type characters are alienating and it shits me.
ReplyDeleteCLAIRE,
ReplyDeleteYou have some good points, but I like romantic movies...so I was willing to overlook all that stuff! LOL
P.S. I didn't notice Scarlett's armpit--guess I was looking at other areas of her body!
LOL...yes, Scarlett has some far more attractive parts than her armpit! I guess I was just disappointed by this film when I'd heard so many people rave about it. And I don't mind a good romantic flick either but it HAS to be well done.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I like your new page design...so much that I've just spent hours sorting out my own! ;)
CLAIRE,
ReplyDeleteHave you ever really looked at Scarlett's elbow? Now there's a turn on!
Glad you like the new design...I know it's easier to read, for one thing. I'll check out your site to see what you've done with it!