Review : Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

With Penolpe and Scarlett it oughta be sexy!!

 

 

A girl majoring Catalan studies and her filmmaker girl friend seek out Barcelona and its wonders and fall in love with the same man, which leads to some unconventional, dangerous and funny results and a lifetime worth of experiences.......


 What can I say? Its just brilliant. I knew it before hand that it will be good. But what I got was just mindblowing. I was a rom com specialist not so long ago, before the horror bug bit me. And what this movie brings to the table not many can compare. Amazing sight and scenery combined with not so deep but entertaining storyline and some fine acting and you get Vicky Cristina Barcelona. I must admit its not the best Woody work,but hey its a rom com and it tries something new. What more can I say? 


Woody Allen as always directs this marvellously. He transports us to Barcelona through some tremendous help from the DOP. He always writes his own movie. And maybe that helps as his vision is clearly printed on every scene and situation. His characters are creative people who talk deep and sometimes superficially. And are ready for change. But this movie doesnt have the deepness or sweetness of other movies but when compared to the rom coms of the new century this sure is a masterpiece. Nothing much new, but is trying to be. And still you'll be captivated as one conversation after another captures you in. You may be aghast at certain situations if it were in any other movie, but you admire it in this. Woody creates something fresh from some stale situations and puts a little twist here and there and you know you are in a master class on love and relationships. Plus the fantastic dialogues can be quoted again and again. Just beautiful writing!!

Increasing the beauty of Barcelona!!

 


Woody is unbelievable but he gets lucky and finds amazing actors to do his bidding. Everyone was born to do their respective part or so he makes us feel. Just look at Scarlett Johannson(Cristina) and Rebecca Hall(Vicky). Perfect as the "unconventional" and "conventional but can be open to unconventional" respectively, characters. Scarlett has that temptress feel and Rebecca looks more understated. And who better to seduce them than the mind numbing actor Javier Bardem(Juan Antonio). He dives into his troubled painter character with panache. Where Bardem ends and where the character starts it just can't be said. In a particular scene he asks the two friends to sleep with him. In my mind only he could put such a indecent proposal in such a decent way. He is pure brilliance. And when you talk of brilliance how can Mrs Bardem be far behind? Penelope(Marie Elena) as the tempestuous ex wife of  Antonio makes a rather late entry but is bang on from the start. Her behavior and cursing in Spanish as Bardem shouts to her to speak in English as Scarlett looks on confused, are some of the best scenes in the movie. It tackles some unconventional themes and issues of tolerance which looks totally fine as the ladies and the lone ranger Bardem give one of the best performances ever.  Some fine support from Chris Messina(Doug) , Patricia Clarkson(Judy) and Kevin Dunn(Mark) make this a Rom com I can proudly add to my favourite collection. Well done!!



I know Barcelona is a great city to shoot a movie in. And even better if its a romance. That city is incomparable when it comes to exuding romance. Just so beautiful and natural and historical. Such things are hard to find in America. So Hollywood looks more towards Europe to film their rom coms and its a very good thing. Plus the camera work by Javier Aguirresarobe(Twilight Saga, Warm Bodies) is brilliant. He captures it well and the lighting work in some scenes just speaks a thousand words. I was with Scarlett and Hall in Barcelona. I can say that. Also some nice editing and sweet background music just puts to ease any apprehension and makes us delve deeper into the lives of four people with so much difference but quite many things in common too. Nothing to complain about....



HighTension Verdict: Rom Coms may not be breaking any grounds but this one tries and has many new things to give to you. Added with the benefit of the beauty and culture of Barcelona rest assured you will be in Barcelona for two hours and learn all the things that Woody and Barcelona has tell you. Go for it and experience Barcelona......


BEST Quote :

Maria Elena: You speak no Spanish?
Cristina: No ,I uh-uh studied Chinese.
Maria Elena: Chinese? Why?
Cristina: I thought it sounded pretty.
Maria Elena: Say something in Chinese.
Cristina: Me?
Maria Elena: Mm-hm.
Cristina: Um... ni hao ma?
Maria Elena: You think that sounds pretty?

HighTension Meter: 8/10.