Sold on Spain
April 29th 2009 01:16
It took a whole month, between work, school, softball and moving, but I finally watched Woody Allen's latest, Vicky Cristina Barcelona. And even with my hesitations about Woody Allen missing the mark in his recent films and the inclusion of ScarJo again, I completely feel like this movie is a fantastic success, 100% MUST SEE.
I won't lie, at first, I was slightly put off. The use of a narrator (Christopher Evan Welch) threw me off immediately. Do any other Allen films use an omniscient narrator (other than Allen himself)? I quickly realized this wasn't going to be another Allen film in the sense of Manhattan/Annie Hall, nor would it be another departure from the Allen I love like Match Point/Scoop were.
We meet Vicky (played by the very beautiful Rebecca Hall. This is the second time her and ScarJo share the screen. They both performed in one of my favorites: The Prestige.) and Cristina and get the lowdown immediately. Vicky is miss priss who has her life all picture-perfect planned out with white linen and a boring fuddy of a fiance. While Christina is the bohemian wanna-be artist, psuedo-slut, follows the wind, etc type of person. Clearly, an odd couple, but they are honest to goodness friends.
The two woman take a vacation in Barcelona. They met a sultry, mysterious man--an artist named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem--yup the same stoic psycho, Anton Cigurh, in No Country for Old Men). Juan pursues them both and interesting things result (that does not imply a threesome.) But the movie doesn't really get started until Maria Elena, played brilliantly by Penelope Cruz, Juan's ex-wife shows up.
I think Penelope Cruz must be one of my favorite actress. Yes, she is beautiful, but she has never for one minute in any scene ever, relied on just looking good to get her through it. She conveys an emotion that is pure entertainment. I won't go too far into details, but she steals the movie.
What's amazing about this movie, for me at least, was that I started out thinking, yup that Vicky, she's better off. Christina's romantic ideals will just end in pain and heartbreak (been there, done that). But by the end the movie, I realized that Christina has a kind of courage that I want--must have--in life. She seeks what she wants and is never afraid to move ahead. It makes sense that as she gets older, as she learns from past mistakes (at the beginning of the film she's getting over an ex, and it's made clear that she's had several fly by the seat of your pants relationships) that the drama, the craziness, the meaning of love etc, it all changes, there are no rules. Christina could "get in" involved, diving in head first, becuase she knew that she had the strength to "get out" if needed to. She's admirable in her ability to keep a level head considering how enthralled she can become. Vicky on the other hand, has trouble forging ahead, which leaves me wondering what the quality of life for her will be in the end. I think she's wondering that in the end. Part of me feels like her plain and simple life is good for her. She'll always wonder if the grass is greener, but some people are better off just wondering and I think she knows that.
This movie definitely makes the watch "this to learn the way relationships/sex should really be." I guess the only other movie on this list currently is: Conversations with Other Women.
I won't lie, at first, I was slightly put off. The use of a narrator (Christopher Evan Welch) threw me off immediately. Do any other Allen films use an omniscient narrator (other than Allen himself)? I quickly realized this wasn't going to be another Allen film in the sense of Manhattan/Annie Hall, nor would it be another departure from the Allen I love like Match Point/Scoop were.
We meet Vicky (played by the very beautiful Rebecca Hall. This is the second time her and ScarJo share the screen. They both performed in one of my favorites: The Prestige.) and Cristina and get the lowdown immediately. Vicky is miss priss who has her life all picture-perfect planned out with white linen and a boring fuddy of a fiance. While Christina is the bohemian wanna-be artist, psuedo-slut, follows the wind, etc type of person. Clearly, an odd couple, but they are honest to goodness friends.
The two woman take a vacation in Barcelona. They met a sultry, mysterious man--an artist named Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem--yup the same stoic psycho, Anton Cigurh, in No Country for Old Men). Juan pursues them both and interesting things result (that does not imply a threesome.) But the movie doesn't really get started until Maria Elena, played brilliantly by Penelope Cruz, Juan's ex-wife shows up.
Penelope Cruz
I think Penelope Cruz must be one of my favorite actress. Yes, she is beautiful, but she has never for one minute in any scene ever, relied on just looking good to get her through it. She conveys an emotion that is pure entertainment. I won't go too far into details, but she steals the movie.
What's amazing about this movie, for me at least, was that I started out thinking, yup that Vicky, she's better off. Christina's romantic ideals will just end in pain and heartbreak (been there, done that). But by the end the movie, I realized that Christina has a kind of courage that I want--must have--in life. She seeks what she wants and is never afraid to move ahead. It makes sense that as she gets older, as she learns from past mistakes (at the beginning of the film she's getting over an ex, and it's made clear that she's had several fly by the seat of your pants relationships) that the drama, the craziness, the meaning of love etc, it all changes, there are no rules. Christina could "get in" involved, diving in head first, becuase she knew that she had the strength to "get out" if needed to. She's admirable in her ability to keep a level head considering how enthralled she can become. Vicky on the other hand, has trouble forging ahead, which leaves me wondering what the quality of life for her will be in the end. I think she's wondering that in the end. Part of me feels like her plain and simple life is good for her. She'll always wonder if the grass is greener, but some people are better off just wondering and I think she knows that.
This movie definitely makes the watch "this to learn the way relationships/sex should really be." I guess the only other movie on this list currently is: Conversations with Other Women.
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Comment by Optomistic Opportunism
Bohemian Hiphop
Japanese Jazz Funk
Optomystic Opportunism
hearing the term 'pseudo-slut' for the first time here on orble has made me crack up. i saw the movie and agree with the context, just couldn't put it into words like that myself.
penelope cruz was perfect in her role, acting doesn't get much better than that. its also cool the way u review, making it personal as to give it blogging authenticity...
i'd recommend the spanish film festival and "My Year Without Sex" coming out next week, but as i see u aren't in sydney. regardless, i'll stick around for more reviews.
keep on sistah,
Opto
Comment by heather van de mark
Women on Screen