I'll be frank, I think Woody Allen is overrated. He's a one-trick pony who writes the same characters every single movie, especially the ones starring himself. He's a wormy, neurotic nerd who somehow always bags the youngest, hottest chicks. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'd probably do the same thing if I were him. But I'm not, and so the criticism stands. Other than Annie Hall, which is a masterpiece that I fully admit was correct in beating out Star Wars for best film in 1977, I've found most of Allen's work to be middling at best, atrocious at worst. I swear to god an eleven year old had to have written Scoop. In recent years, Allen's creative output has been a see-saw ride, to say the least. He peaked with the outstanding Match Point in 2005, reached a new low with Scoop, and now he's mining some new territory in Vicky Christina Barcelona.
"New territory" in the sense that he hasn't produced a film this overtly sexual in quite some time. The story revolved around two best friend, Vicky(Rebecca Hall) and Christina(Scarlett Johannson), who are polar opposites on the scale of love. Vicky is more conservative, more analytical in her thinking on the subject. Chrstina is more gregarious, more sensual. She hops from guy to guy never quite able to find one who excites her for the long term. Both women are extremely beautiful and intelligent, like most Woody Allen characters. There's no dumbing down of the subject matter here, every word seems calculated for maximum effect.
The two take a trip to Barcelona so that Vicky can finish her Masters degree. Rebeeca left behind her dependable but boring as hell fiance back in the States. The two meet up with Anton Chigurh, excuse me, Juan Antonio, played obviously by the great Javier Bardem. Cattlegun be damned, he instantly slays both women with his obvious sexuality and utter lack of contempt for tact. He outright tells both women he wants to sleep with them both, and for lack of a better word: It works. Not that he gets both right away. Vicky takes an instant dislike to him, but her contempt clearly belies her interest. Christina is instantly smitten, and the two agree to fly away with Juan Antonio to some beautiful eyeblink of a city. Circumstances arise which allow for Vicky and Juan to spend the majority of the getaway alone, and the two become close. Christina however ends up dating Juan while Vicky ponders where this leaves her current situation with her fiance, who I must repeat ain't terribly exciting. He's the type who's idea of "fun" is sitting around discussing Bill Gates' golf score with the other account managers. Juan Antonio on the other hand, oozes machismo. He's brash, brooding, mysterious, and a talented artist. A deadly combination if there ever was one. It was like looking in the mirror.
What develops is an intriguing and decidely adult love triangle. Er, make that a love rectangle. Vicky pines for the excitement Juan provides; Christina thinks she's found the one man who truly can satisfy her; Juan wants everything and nothing at the same time; and let's not forget Juan's ex-wife Maria Elena, who has the juiciest role in the entire film. She plays Juan's beautiful but clearly insane ex with so much raw emotion it practically jumps off the screen. She intrudes on every body's angst in such a powerful way that she practically steals the entire film. I'd tell people to see it just for her performance alone.
For the most part everyone performs as best as they are able, especially Cruz and Bardem who are consummate pros. Even my girlfriend found herself drooling over Juan Antonio, until I told her "Wait til I show you No Country for Old Men". See if you like him then. The problem is that Scarlett Johannson, who is clearly becoming Woody Allen's pet girl, never seems quite comfortable in her role. It's weird, considering she's such an attractive actress, but whenever she's trying to be sexy it comes off as forced. She's always playing AT something, rather than becoming the character. Rebecca Hall does an admirable job, and maybe it was the script but I found her performance stiff and wooden. Still, I enjoyed this film a great deal and hope this means better things in the future for Woody Allen. Then again, I said the same thing after Match Point and I was promptly smacked in the face with Scoop and Cassandra's Dream, two turds if there ever were any. I'll try to hold out hope for the best.
"New territory" in the sense that he hasn't produced a film this overtly sexual in quite some time. The story revolved around two best friend, Vicky(Rebecca Hall) and Christina(Scarlett Johannson), who are polar opposites on the scale of love. Vicky is more conservative, more analytical in her thinking on the subject. Chrstina is more gregarious, more sensual. She hops from guy to guy never quite able to find one who excites her for the long term. Both women are extremely beautiful and intelligent, like most Woody Allen characters. There's no dumbing down of the subject matter here, every word seems calculated for maximum effect.
The two take a trip to Barcelona so that Vicky can finish her Masters degree. Rebeeca left behind her dependable but boring as hell fiance back in the States. The two meet up with Anton Chigurh, excuse me, Juan Antonio, played obviously by the great Javier Bardem. Cattlegun be damned, he instantly slays both women with his obvious sexuality and utter lack of contempt for tact. He outright tells both women he wants to sleep with them both, and for lack of a better word: It works. Not that he gets both right away. Vicky takes an instant dislike to him, but her contempt clearly belies her interest. Christina is instantly smitten, and the two agree to fly away with Juan Antonio to some beautiful eyeblink of a city. Circumstances arise which allow for Vicky and Juan to spend the majority of the getaway alone, and the two become close. Christina however ends up dating Juan while Vicky ponders where this leaves her current situation with her fiance, who I must repeat ain't terribly exciting. He's the type who's idea of "fun" is sitting around discussing Bill Gates' golf score with the other account managers. Juan Antonio on the other hand, oozes machismo. He's brash, brooding, mysterious, and a talented artist. A deadly combination if there ever was one. It was like looking in the mirror.
What develops is an intriguing and decidely adult love triangle. Er, make that a love rectangle. Vicky pines for the excitement Juan provides; Christina thinks she's found the one man who truly can satisfy her; Juan wants everything and nothing at the same time; and let's not forget Juan's ex-wife Maria Elena, who has the juiciest role in the entire film. She plays Juan's beautiful but clearly insane ex with so much raw emotion it practically jumps off the screen. She intrudes on every body's angst in such a powerful way that she practically steals the entire film. I'd tell people to see it just for her performance alone.
For the most part everyone performs as best as they are able, especially Cruz and Bardem who are consummate pros. Even my girlfriend found herself drooling over Juan Antonio, until I told her "Wait til I show you No Country for Old Men". See if you like him then. The problem is that Scarlett Johannson, who is clearly becoming Woody Allen's pet girl, never seems quite comfortable in her role. It's weird, considering she's such an attractive actress, but whenever she's trying to be sexy it comes off as forced. She's always playing AT something, rather than becoming the character. Rebecca Hall does an admirable job, and maybe it was the script but I found her performance stiff and wooden. Still, I enjoyed this film a great deal and hope this means better things in the future for Woody Allen. Then again, I said the same thing after Match Point and I was promptly smacked in the face with Scoop and Cassandra's Dream, two turds if there ever were any. I'll try to hold out hope for the best.
7/10
