Vicky Cristina Barcelona

[detective mills]

I love the cast and it's been getting really good reviews. I haven't really looked into much, I don't think I've even paid attention to the trailer, but Allen, Bardem, Cruz, and Johannson may get me to see this.

[Bourne101]

http://l.yimg.com/img.movies.yahoo.com/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/weinstein_company/vicky_cristina_barcelona/vcb_galleryposter.jpg

Directed by Woody Allen

Written by Woody Allen

Genre: Comedy/Drama/Romance

http://l.yimg.com/img.movies.yahoo.com/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/weinstein_company/vicky_cristina_barcelona/_group_photos/scarlett_johansson9.jpg

Tagline: Life is the ultimate work of art

Vicky and Cristina, these two young Americans spend a summer in Spain and meet a flamboyant artist and his beautiful but insane ex-wife. Vicky is straight-laced and about to be married. Cristina is a sexually adventurous free spirit. When they all become amorously entangled, both comedic and harrowing results ensue.

http://l.yimg.com/img.movies.yahoo.com/ymv/us/img/hv/photo/movie_pix/weinstein_company/vicky_cristina_barcelona/_group_photos/javier_bardem8.jpg

Starring: Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Evan Welch, Penelope Cruz

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material involving sexuality, and smoking.

Runtime: 96 minutes

Not sure about this one. Not really my kind of film, but the cast is great, and it has been getting pretty good reviews.

[Bourne101]

You know shit is fucked up when the opening post ends up showing second.

[ilovemovies]

Looks pretty good. I haven't seen too many of Woody Allen's movies but from what I've seen the only movie of his I didn't care for is the rather forgettable Small Time Crooks. It's not even a terrible movie just a very underwhelming one.

[detective mills]

You know shit is fucked up when the opening post ends up showing second.

Haha, seriously, they need to fix this. It's getting real annoying.

[Moviefan1234]

My number one film opening in August, this looks like a real return to form by Woody Allen. The cast is great, the premise is intriguing, and it looks great.

[KingofKings2525]

Love the cast, will be seeing this.

[AshleysDad]

No nudity with threesome sex? Why bother?

OH, Sorry. That was the little head talking. The only story I am interested in from Woody is how the heck he got away with statutory rape of Soon-Yi when Roman Polanski did not.

[Lazy Boy]

I will probably see this, even though everyone's been towing the line that every subsequent Woody Allen film will be his return to glory, and it hasn't happened yet.

[Powerslave]

I'm excited for this. I'm a huge Allen fan, and although he's not exactly the most consistent director around these days, this does look like it'll be a solid film, and the reviews seem good thus far.

[brodeurnumber1]

OH, Sorry. That was the little head talking. The only story I am interested in from Woody is how the heck he got away with statutory rape of Soon-Yi when Roman Polanski did not.

Because she was like 20 when Allen started banging her and Polanski banged a 13 year old. And Allen really has been mostly miss lately but Match Point was excellent so he still has it in him at least.

[AshleysDad]

Because she was like 20 when Allen started banging her and Polanski banged a 13 year old. And Allen really has been mostly miss lately but Match Point was excellent so he still has it in him at least.

Yeah, sure she was. That is what they told us.

[SpikeDurden]

It looks pretty good, hopefully more in the same vein as Match Point, because I thought that was excellent.

[thedudeman69]

I thought Cassandra's dream was good, i might check this out on DVD.

[axel2k8]

Smoking is mature thematic material? God help us all.

[Tweek]

Yeah, sure she was. That is what they told us.


Say that he did have relations with her while she was a minor. He didn't get caught. It's not like there was a trial and he got off scot-free. (or did I miss something? lol)

[dfd3657]

I had no idea that this movie existed until 20 minutes ago, but I fucking adore Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz (No Country and Volver FTW) so I'll definitely be catching this.

[AshleysDad]

Say that he did have relations with her while she was a minor. He didn't get caught. It's not like there was a trial and he got off scot-free. (or did I miss something? lol)

In the court of public opinion and reality, he was tried and convicted. They are still married, so good for them. I just feel bad for Mia Farrow.

[DrJellyfingers]

I had no idea that this movie existed until 20 minutes ago, but I fucking adore Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz (No Country and Volver FTW) so I'll definitely be catching this.

you probably just didn't know the title. it's been known as the movie where Scarlett and Penelope kiss for the past year or so.

[Tweek]

In the court of public opinion and reality, he was tried and convicted. They are still married, so good for them. I just feel bad for Mia Farrow.

Yeah, I was talking about the court of law (which exists in reality). Thought you were referring to that as you mentioned Polanski getting away scot-free. But yeah, good for 'em (Woody Allen and Soon-Yi), I guess.

Mia Farrow... Well she's still getting roles which is better than a lot of actresses her age dagnabbit.

[bigred760]

I'm not a big fan of Woody Allen's, but am a fan of Javier Bardem. I'll keep this one in mind, but it's not a definite.

[chinton]

I was wondering how long it would take until Allen's personal life got dragged in. I know its a big factor in how people view him, but I just don't really think about it in connection to his films.

[Moviefan1234]

I was wondering how long it would take until Allen's personal life got dragged in. I know its a big factor in how people view him, but I just don't really think about it in connection to his films.

Because people don't know how to leave people's personal lives out of their judgment of films. It's sad.

[LordSimen]

Not a fan of Woody Allen's work. Will pass on this one.

[ilovemovies]

God the first half of this movie was so damn boring. When Penelope Cruz finally shows it gets better although not by a whole lot. Javier Bardem was so great in No Country for Old Men but in this movie he's only good in his scenes with Cruz. In every other scene he's completely lifeless. He has great chemistry with Cruz but absolutely zero with Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall. Hall is actually really good here and is arguably the best thing about the movie. She's also extremely lovely. I'd love to see her have a great role in a great movie. Unfortunately, this ain't it. Johansson is okay. This is definitely not her best performance.

I can't even begin to describe how much I hated the voice narration in this movie. It was totally boring and utterly pointless. Not needed at all.

Ultimately, this is a weak and rather limp effort from Woody Allen. From all of the movies of his that I've seen this is easily his worst. It's occasionally amusing during the second half. There are some great sparks between Bardem and Cruz but it's not enough. Ultimately, the movie was just silly and inconsequential and completely forgettable.

5/10

[Lazy Boy]

4/10

Gorgeous setting, semi-gorgeous women (never have been too hot on Cruz) all in service of Woody Allen's usual mind-numbingly boring, arch dialogue about fashion, class, sex, politics, art, blah blah blah...I felt like digging my nails into the plush theater seat armrest, at a little over an hour and a half, this felt as butt-numbing as Match Point. And, not to knock the greatest filmmaker alive or dead, but Stanley Kubrick's expose of relationships and his POV on what defines "passion" is from a different era, and was very frigid and archaic in Eyes Wide Shut; similarly, a seventy something mensch director making a three way (girl-guy-girl) entirely unsexy is a tribute to a impotent old man on Viagra corpse fucking. It's painful to watch and hard to understand, "why does he keep going on?" Back to the glue factory, Seabiscuit.

Rebecca Hall is the best thing about the movie, I agree with the above sentiment. Too bad she's another surrogate for Allen, frigid and analytical, prone to neuroses, although I would say she's one of the better written female characters he's had, not that it's saying much.

[dman476]

ilovemovies and Lazy Boy are dead on. That's all I have to say.

[chinton]

I have to disagree on Match Point. Thats the only Woody Allen of late that I would call great even though its a remake of Crimes And Misdemeanors.

The last film that i felt Woody was on top form was the wildly underrated and incredibly bitter Deconstructing Harry. Most critics cite the earlier and also looked over Husband And Wives as his last great truly classic film.


I think i liked Vicky more than everyone else but I agree with the general sentiment.



You see the problem I have with late period Allen films( I classify this as everything after Harry) is that for newcomers to his work I think it really clouds their minds of what Allen is truly capable of.


I sincerely hope that young viewers don't honestly believe that Hollywood Ending, Jade Scorpion, Cassandras Dream among others are truly representitive of his work.


I feel like whenever seeing a late period allen film all filmgoers should be automatically required to watch Annie Hall( still the greatest rom-com ever made), Manhattan (still the most cerebral and mature examination of the foibles of nuerosis and love in NYC). Hell even show them his supposedly minor films like the misunderstood and and underrated Stardust memories or the breezy Manhattan Murder Mystery.

All of those films are still relevant today.

Sadly that Woody Allen is gone and i wish critics would stop looking at every Allen film as Annie Hall part two. That Allen is gone and not coming back. Just fondly remember his classic films.

[Lazy Boy]

I'll choose to remember Stardust Memories over both of those (meaning, Annie and Manhattan). Glad to see you find it underrated as well, chinton. Most people didn't like that, but it's probably in my top three fave Woody films, along with Purple Rose and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex. I hated Deconstructing Harry, and probably the last film of his that I find more than just a passable trifle was the incisive Husbands and Wives.

So, it's not like I'm choosing to ignore his earlier classics, it's just that he keeps churning more of these mediocrities out and should just rest on his laurels, his greats. I don't know if he has a great film left in him, I know others have faith.

[chinton]

I'll choose to remember Stardust Memories over both of those (meaning, Annie and Manhattan). Most people didn't like that, but it's probably in my top three fave Woody films. I hated Deconstructing Harry, and probably the last film of his that I find more than just a passable trifle was the incisive Husbands and Wives.


I realize I'm in the minority on Harry so I wont even argue that one. Still its nice to see Stardust Memories has a fan aside from me. Husbands And Wives has strngely become forgotten as well.

Lazy Boy could you do me a favor and remind of your top Allen films.

[Lazy Boy]

Lazy Boy could you do me a favor and remind of your top Allen films.

Top five:

1. Stardust Memories
2. Hannah and Her Sisters
3. The Purple Rose of Cairo
4. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex
5. September/Interiors (tie)

[Cop No. 633]

Good point Chinton. I even love Woody's slapstick like Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex... and Take the Money and Run... even Zelig. I think that's classic Woody for me. I like Annie Hall, but I'd much rather watch those three films. I like that Allen has dabbled with different moods in his filmmaking, but yeah, his late films haven't been nearly as good, even Match Point, which took me a second viewing to really like a lot.

I might catch this one. I don't know yet though... I still would want to see if Tropic Thunder was a funny flick. Also, I do agree people need to stop bringing up the personal lives of directors/actors unless it is brought up within the film. Sort of like the gratuitous shots of teens without shirts in Jeepers Creepers 2 after knowing about the director's history.

[chinton]

Top five:

1. Stardust Memories
2. Hannah and Her Sisters
3. The Purple Rose of Cairo
4. Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex
5. September/Interiors (tie)


Nice list. I have to give you major props on supporting Memories. I still need to get around to Interiors and September.

My top five are


1. Manhattan
2. Annie Hall
3. Purple Rose of Cairo
4. Hannah And her Sisters
5. Stardust Memories.

[Lazy Boy]

Nice list. I have to give you major props on supporting Memories. I still need to get around to Interiors and September.

Definitely see September. It's quite overlooked. Probably the most he's ever come to emulating Ingmar Bergman.

[chinton]

Good point Chinton. I even love Woody's slapstick like Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex... and Take the Money and Run... even Zelig. I think that's classic Woody for me. I like Annie Hall, but I'd much rather watch those three films. I like that Allen has dabbled with different moods in his filmmaking, but yeah, his late films haven't been nearly as good, even Match Point, which took me a second viewing to really like a lot.

I might catch this one. I don't know yet though... I still would want to see if Tropic Thunder was a funny flick. Also, I do agree people need to stop bringing up the personal lives of directors/actors unless it is brought up within the film. Sort of like the gratuitous shots of teens without shirts in Jeepers Creepers 2 after knowing about the director's history.


His more zany humor will always be funny.


While he was obviously still finding his voice as a driector and even writer Take The money, Bannanas, and Sleeper are still hysterical and hold up to this day. In fact they're funnier than most comedies today.

Love And Death is really the perfect early Woody film. It still contains genuine laughs but take everything in a much more bigger scope, thematically and visually. His dance with Death at the end always gets me.

Oh and the bank robbery in Take The money is still one of my favorite comedy scenes.

[dman476]

I love Love and Death and Stardust Memories too. Bananas and Take the Money never did it for me. But Sleeper is hilarious.

Not asked for, but top five anyway.

1) Manhattan
2) Radio Days
3) Purple Rose of Cairo
4) Mighty Aphrodite
5) Love and Death/Stardust Memories (tie)

[Katsumoto]

I'm also gonna chime in here...

Top 5

01. Manhattan
02. Crimes And Misdemeanors
03. Hannah And Her Sisters
04. Purple Rose Of Cairo
05. Annie Hall/Interiors (Mega-Opposites)

I remember a couple summers ago, when a few of us schmoes went on a Allen Marathon, my good buddy ChemicalRomance and I completed his filmography.

[ilovemovies]

I must confess I haven't seen any of his movies from the 70's including Annie Hall. Only a few of his 80's movies as well.

Of the movies of his that I have seen I personally think his best movie is Another Woman. That and The Purple Rose of Cairo are great movies.

I also thought Anything Else was incredibly underrated.

Match Point was good but not great IMO.

I also found Scoop to be underrated.

Dman reminded me of something. In my review I said that this movie, Vicky Cristina Barcelona was the worst of Allen's movies that I have seen. I was wrong. I forgot about Bananas. That is his worst movie. I thought that movie was a piece of shit. Makes Vicky Cristina Barcelona look like a masterpiece by comparison.

[detective mills]

I really need to get to watching some Woody Allen films. He's one of those filmmakers whom I've just never gone out of my way to check out his movies. I've only seen Match Point, Melinda and Melinda, and half of Annie Hall. I'm planning to work my way through his filmography eventually, but tomorrow I plan to see this one. I hope it's not as bad as you guys say it is. I really enjoyed Match Point a lot though, and I don't have very high expectations.

[AshleyBashley]

I've been LOVING Allen's modern stuff but the title of this movie just kills me...could it get anymore pretentious? And I really got something against Johansson, how'd did my 'Ghost World' darling fall so damn far?

[dman476]

That is a good point...that title is quite bad, but surprisingly it doesn't seem like many have talked about that.

I too miss the Ghost World Scarlett...I think.
Maybe it was just the film.

[chinton]

I was never impressed with Scarlett. She's one of the most overrated actresses of our time.

[ilovemovies]

I think the title is fine. I don't see what is so wrong with it.

And suddenly Johansson has become underrated. There appears to be a backlash against her now and I think it's a damn shame. I like her a lot. She's just okay in this movie but she was terrific earlier this year in The Other Boleyn Girl.

She was miscast and so-so in The Black Dahlia but other than that I've liked her in everything else.

[dman476]

I don't know, it just seems she's playing the exact same character all the time even when she's not. Her acting palette isn't too wide.

And the title is just...pretentious. I guess.
I mean, it's Vicky and Cristina and Barcelona. It kind of makes sense, but then it doesn't.

It's like Bangkok Dangerous which is another stupid title.

[ilovemovies]

I disagree that she plays the same character in every movie.

The Other Boleyn Girl, Scoop, The Prestige, Match Point, The Island. Those are very different characters and she's solid in all of them. More than solid in The Other Boleyn Girl. She really is excellent in that movie IMO.

Not to mention that I absolutely fell in love with her in Lost in Translation. That and The Horse Whisperer still remain my favorite performances of hers.

But I really like her.

[Lazy Boy]

I don't know, it just seems she's playing the exact same character all the time even when she's not. Her acting palette isn't too wide.

Agreed. I had high hopes after Lost in Translation, but she's rather boring since, no matter what character or period she's playing. I probably haven't liked a performance of hers since Girl With a Pearl Earring.

Probably telling when Allen gives her a line such as "I have no talent." Snip, snip, bite your lip, you might be on to something...;)

[SpikeDurden]

I really loved this film. It's definitely a work of a very mature, aged artist, but at the same time it feels fresh and young and vibrant. It's easily his best work since Match Point, which I thought was nearly a masterpiece. The film is hilarious and tragic, and is a brilliant and thoughtful meditation on love and human neuroses. The cast is wonderful, Penelope Cruz is truly magnificent, and Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johansson are great as well. Relative newcomer Rebecca Hall matches up well to the more seasoned cast, and Patricia Clarkson rounds out the cast quite nicely. What would an independent film be without her nowadays? The film is also remarkably sexy and frank, and also beautiful, with stunning art and images of Barcelona and other areas of Spain. I also loved Allen's use of an omniscient narrator, which I felt gave the film a very literary feeling but also made the film feel very free and flowing, and also gave it a fable-esque quality. It truly makes Vicky and Cristina's summer in Barcelona feel magical. Which, in may ways, is what the film is. Woody Allen, undoubtedly one of our all time great american directors and writers (seriously, the screenplay is fantastic and the imagery stunning) hasn't lost it after all of these years, despite some misfires along the way.

[Hannibal21]

I really loved this film. It's definitely a work of a very mature, aged artist, but at the same time it feels fresh and young and vibrant. It's easily his best work since Match Point, which I thought was nearly a masterpiece. The film is hilarious and tragic, and is a brilliant and thoughtful meditation on love and human neuroses. The cast is wonderful, Penelope Cruz is truly magnificent, and Javier Bardem and Scarlett Johansson are great as well. Relative newcomer Rebecca Hall matches up well to the more seasoned cast, and Patricia Clarkson rounds out the cast quite nicely. What would an independent film be without her nowadays? The film is also remarkably sexy and frank, and also beautiful, with stunning art and images of Barcelona and other areas of Spain. I also loved Allen's use of an omniscient narrator, which I felt gave the film a very literary feeling but also made the film feel very free and flowing, and also gave it a fable-esque quality. It truly makes Vicky and Cristina's summer in Barcelona feel magical. Which, in may ways, is what the film is. Woody Allen, undoubtedly one of our all time great american directors and writers (seriously, the screenplay is fantastic and the imagery stunning) hasn't lost it after all of these years, despite some misfires along the way.

For a while I thought I was the only one here (out of those who have seen the film) who loved this movie, glad to know that I'm not alone. I think that, quality wise, this is just as good as Match Point and easily one of Allen's best endeavors since Husbands & Wives, espeically when placed among the several mediocre efforts he's been churning out in this decade. Penelope Cruz is absolutely stunning in this. The lines of dialogue that she has with Javier Bardem in spanish are maddeningly hilarious.

And just for the sake of it, my top Woody Allen movies:

1. Hannah and Her Sisters
2. Manhattan
3. Annie Hall
4. The Purple Rose of Cairo
5. Another Woman
6. Crimes and Misdemeanors
7. Broadway Danny Rose (why hasn't this gem been mentioned yet? just saw it last year and it gave me a warm fuzzy feeling like no other Allen film has)
8. Interiors
9. Husbands and Wives
10. Match Point

Favorite muse of Allen's is easily Mia Farrow. The two of them had the sort of unparalleled magic that just clicked on screen in a way that no other woman can bring to these movies.

And I agree with the above regarding Scarlett Johansson's blandness as an actress. I thought she was the next best thing after her double whammy in 2003 with Lost in Translation & Girl with a Pearl Earring (I also liked her as a child actress and loved her in Ghost World), but since then she's been barely competent (even in something great like Match Point, she was the weak link)...... That said, while I don't think this film is a return for her to greatness (if she's ever had that), she may have just given her most natural, unaffected performance in years.

[redfiretruck]

LOVED this movie! So beautiful, and ScarJo is always amazing. After this and The Cheetah Girls 2, I seriously want to like live in Barcelona now!

[dman476]

Hannibal,

Broadway Danny Rose is awesome. It's not top 5 material for me, but it's definitely top 12. Very funny.

I think it's fair to mention, on my side, that I didn't like Match Point either. Very dull film.

It seems that while Woody is still adept at cranking out that nice thesaurus language, his recent films lack the charm of his earlier works. I think the closest he's come to that this last decade has been the Curse of the Jade Scorpion, and even then it's a far cry from real Woody like Everyone Says I Love You.

Here's hoping Whatever Works (the Larry David pairing) is finally up to par, but that seems unlikely.

[Sigur509]

For sure will catch this on DVD.

Manhattan
Crimes and Misdemeanors
Husbands and Wives
Hannah and Her Sisters
Annie Hall

[AshleyBashley]

It's like Bangkok Dangerous which is another stupid title.

roflmao! Ok, benefit of the doubt, it's a remake...so i don't know what's more pretentious the title or the fact they put Nick 'dude, seriously what's that on your head?' Cage in the lead. Ah, I have much to ponder about it seems.

[hoojib127]

It's like Bangkok Dangerous which is another stupid title.

I was beginning to assume that's how a Thai person whose English is rather coarse would say it (i.e. omitting the verb). : ?

As for this film, other than "Match Point," it's the only other post-"Bullets Over Broadway" Woody film I've seen and I really liked it. 8/10

[AshleyBashley]

Match Point was fucking brilliant, despite the fact S.J had absolutely no emotion what so ever.

[blankpage]

SPOILERS

Finally got to see this yesterday, and to be honest...I was disappointed. It was a very beautiful film, Javier and Penelope were fantastic, but the rest of the film seemed so...hollow. The dialogue was smart, but it seemed so irrelevant and dis-connecting to the story. I got nothing from it. I think the only time I felt emotionally involved was towards the end. Instead of discussing wine and fine art while in the midst of complicated emotions, it actually adressed the issues vocally. When Patricia Clarkson's character admits she's no longer in love with her husband, or when Javier and Penlope bicker back and forth...THAT was dialogue that actually pertained to the narrative.

I didn't hate the film by any means, but the first half just seemed so non-concerning to the story that it was really distracting.

Woody's still the man, and always will be though.

5/10

[53rdand3rd]

I positively loved VCB, and I'm kind of shocked I'm the only one. I give it an A-. I have it at #80 on my Top 100 favorite films.

[Potzer! 37]

I think I'm actually starting to understand the uber love for films like Iron Man and Dark Knight (the former I saw and really enjoyed the latter I've yet to see)...I am a Woody Allen fan boy...as long as he sticks to his strenghts (or better yet, avoids his few weaknesses) I love all his films.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona was another 5 for 5 for me. I LOVED the narrator with the dry delevery and comments (reminded me of a book and of Husbands and Wives, which also had a narrator with a similar tone).

Vicky and Cristina are both interesting from the outset and their differences seem to be what binds them together as friends (yin and yang if you will). Both of their story's were insteresting and nice to see what each would do (obviously Scarlett's being more fun). Reminded me of "Hannah" (Lee's story was slow and soft, and Holly's full of raw emotion and tense laughs).

Bardem is a great actor and his character is wonderful. The way he expresses his thoughts (on whatever) is pure Allen for me...great little speeches here. His interactions with Rebecca were a nice change to the creepy coldness of "No Country". His scenes with Scarlett are good, but that story (and the film, both comedically and plot wise) take off when Cruz shows up. Her first scene (speak English!) really made me laugh and as I learned more about her, I was fasinated by her and related to how she felt (when Scarlett leaves them, her reactions are perfect (stupid American...you know nothing! Nothing! Nothing!). She's a shue-in for an Oscar nod...

On the flip side, Rebecca's story takes it's time and is about one thing really (she is regretting her marriage and thinking what if). Hall's quiet performance (and her climax with Cruz and the gun) are great to watch and really pulled me in.

Of course the flick looked great and sounded great (those songs were wonderful). The long takes and soaking up the scenery of Spain (and the Island they visited) was great to see. I have nothing bad to say about this film...which also goes for Cassandra's Dream, Match Point, Melinda and Melinda, Anything Else...and so on...only of few of Allen's films are not five stars for me (Scoop is a 3.5 or 4 depending and of course Scorpion is a touch watch (3 at best) but the occasional laugh and the cast make it watchable for me (and Theron is hot stuff))

My top five (at the moment)
5. Love and Death/Anything Else
4. Melinda and Melinda/Match Point
3. Broadway Danny Rose/Shadows and Fog
2. Radio Days
1. Annie Hall (obviously)

That was really hard (I fell horrible that I left out Everyone Says I Love You, and Interiors and Husbands and Wives and Deconstructing Harry and Sweet and Lowdown and Bullets Over Broadway...I really love damn near all of his films).