Vicky Cristina Barcelona is Woody Allen‘s newest movie.
A slight disclaimer before I start: I’m a fan of his early work, but his latest movies sucked so much that I shouldn’t have bothered to watch them. Yet, somehow, I can’t leave it be. So, if you can’t stand bitter comments about Match Point or Cassandra’s Dream (my review here), better not read this.
Anyhoo, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is okay, I guess. It definitely isn’t as abysmal as the aforementioned movies. But it’s not very good, either.
Plot: Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are best friends and decide to go to Barcelona together. Both girls are complete opposites – Vicky is the practical, calm, rational stereotype, whose life seems happy, but actually, she’s very unhappy because there’s no passion in it, while Cristina is the impulsive, fickle artist-stereotype, who goes from one relationship to the next, never actually being able to stay anywhere for long. When they meet the painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), who barely escapes the fate of being a complete stereotype himself, both fall for him. Which of course can’t end well, especially since Juan Antonio’s manic-depressive artist cliché ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) is still very present in his life.
If I was Rebecca Hall, I would be very angry about this marketing – she’s more of a main character than Penelope Cruz.
While this movie had a lot of the problems Match Point and Cassandra’s Dream had – namely over-the-top writing, clichés instead of characters and too little jokes [seriously, this is supposed to be a comedy and maybe has two funny scenes], it also had Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, who outdo themselves in this movie.
Bardem’s Juan Antonio is a completely amazing guy. Bardem’s one of those people who can turn their sex appeal on or off, depending on what is required [another person able to do that is Gary Oldman], and it is so on in this movie. Plus, Juan Antonio’s complete honesty not only makes him really likeable, but it’s also the only thing to save him from being a stereotype.
Cruz’ Maria Elena unfortunately doesn’t escape the cliché, but Cruz plays her with such passion and utter commitment that it works again.
The rest of the cast isn’t bad, although mostly unremarkable, but unfortunately, their characters are badly written. Which is especially sad for Patricia Clarkson, who is such a cool actress and completely wasted in this movie.
The story feels a little bit like Woody Allen gave us a glimpse of one of his masturbatory fantasies. And honestly, this is not something I wanted to know, actually.
And I really didn’t like his bias against the practical, collected Vicky. I mean, I know, when people speak of love, they usually mean the hot, passionate kind. But there’s also a steady, calm one [and I guess even more types than just those two] and it’s no less love than the tantrum-throwing, possessive passion.
But this movie draws the conclusion [more or less] that while neither love automatically makes you happy, at least with the passionate kind you’re not lying to yourself. And I don’t buy it. I don’t think that people are automatically unhappy because they’re choosing someone steady.
Anyway, I’m surprised that this movie got so many nominations and is still a contender for the Oscars. And it won the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy. Seriously? People have not seen a funnier movie this year? That is so sad…
While this movie is not a complete No-No, it’s more of a “Well, if you absolutely have to see it, I’ll come with you. If not, I’ll probably rent it sometime.”
kalafudra's Stuff 
Actually, I thought the vast majority of western cinema tends to have that bias against “steady, calm love” (although I must say, SOMETHING seems to be wrong with that phrasing), although there are of course counter-examples. Even when the main character is the shy/reserved type, like in many movies, he or she is often called on to do some outrageous romantic act to prove that he/she can fulfil the “hot, passionate” side of the equation when the need comes.
Although of course this could be just good/easy script-writing rather than a point of personal philosophy: the “calm” love stories rarely have the kind of drama that could make a movie work, unless the script is exceptionally well crafted.
I don’t think that anything is wrong with that phrasing. Most of western cinema [you’re right – it’s not only this movie] just makes you believe that something’s wrong with it. :)
I think it’s the easy way out – grand gestures are of course easier to capture. But a good writer and director can make it work.
Oh boy, I can’t think of any examples. :) Little Voice perhaps. I’ll continue thinking about it.
You’re right, Rebecca Hall is more of a main character. But she’s been getting the short straw in a lot of movies. Even in Frost/Nixon, she is almost a set decoration.
Onto the movie – I loved Bardem and Cruz as the and the turbulent, almost violent passion between their characters. There is something poetic about love that destroys the lover.
You’re right, it’s not up there with Allen’s best. Its the best of his recent works. And even a minor Allen movie is way better than most of the junk that comes out anyway. Here’s hoping he is on an upward swing.
Oh, I’m definitely hoping that it’s going up now. And you’re right, it’s way better than what I’ve seen lately of him.
Bardem and Cruz were great. But the thing is that as poetic a concept it may be, it’s also a really, really old one. And just like gum you’ve been chewing too long, it doesn’t really taste anymore.
Oh well… let’s keep our fingers crossed for a movie, where Rebecca Hall is represented according to her role in it. :)
I remember reading a review about one of Allen’s movies where the reviewer had observed, quite accurately, that his best characters were the ones who were well off and attractive. And that they all live extraordinary lives.
About the gum allegory – it does not apply to me. Violently passionate destructive relationships still tugs at the romantic in me.
Talking of Rebecca Hall, have you seen Starter For Ten?
The thing is that almost all his characters are well off and attractive. Except maybe for Cassandra’s Dream, where they were only attractive. I mean, even when Woody Allen plays a role in one of his movies, he’s attractive [better: he thinks he’s attractive].
Anyway, sometimes that’s part of his charm, sometimes it goes terribly on my nerves. I don’t really know what the tipping point is.
Well, we’ve all got our weak spots, romantic or otherwise. And if “Violently passionate destructive relationships” is yours, I guess you could be worse off. ;)
Starter for Ten lives on my computer waiting for me to finish the semester and have time to watch it. :) Is it any good?
Starter for Ten… well it depends. I am James McAvoy – Dominic Cooper – Rebecca Hall fan. And all three are in it, and all of them play their type.
That doesn’t sound like the greatest recommendation, somehow. :)
I mean, your enthusiasm is almost unbearable. ;)
It is. It’s a quaint little film from the UK. And you know how quaint little UK films are…they have a certain charm.
That’s true. Well, next week I should have the time to watch it. Will know more then.
[…] Allen’s film “Vicky Christina Barcelona“. Not really familiar with his kinds of movies. I did see “Match Point” and that was a great film. Reading reviews he is either hit or […]
[…] Three of my favorite: “Annie Hall”, “Deconstructing Harry”, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” […]