May 21, 2013
Vicky Christina Barcelona: Delightful Woody Allen film
Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 19 March 2009 12:34
As the dust settles on Oscar for another year, the Reel Dad takes a look at a winner of an Academy Award for acting, Vicky Christina Barcelona, now available on DVD. Take a look.
Thank goodness that Woody Allen rediscovers his sense of humor and comic timing in the delightful comedy Vicky Christina Barcelona, an entertaining romp about the summer that two women spend on the Spanish coast.
As with the most entertaining of Allen’s films, this short (90 or so minutes), slight (more talk than action) and silly (not much serious going on here) film reminds us of how fun Woody can be when he doesn’t try to tell too much of a story, or expect his characters to be too grounded, or demand an audience to sit for too long. Of course, nothing he does these days can compare to the glory days of Annie Hall, Manhattan and Hannah and Her Sisters. But this latest entry is certainly a step ahead of most of what he has been delivering recently.
The lovely Rebecca Hall and the dreadful Scarlett Johansson (yes, it is time for her to become truly lost in translation) are friends bound for a summer in Barcelona. They quickly catch the attention of the charming artist Javier Bardem, who instantly invites them away for the weekend. Complications ensue when attractions conflict, fiancés arrive, and feelings get hurt, all giving Allen a chance to comment on everyone’s folly. And, just like the best of summer holidays, the film seems to end just as it is getting started.
What makes it so much fun is how Allen trusts his cast to convince the audience all of this silliness could actually occur. Except for Johansson, who has become painful to watch on screen, the performances are pitch perfect. Rebecca Hall — in the role that, in another day, would have been played by Diane Keaton — is lovely, fun, confused and hilarious. Javier Bardem reveals a comic side to his talent that may surprise many. And Patricia Clarkson is lovely in a small but pivotal role as the hostess to the young women.
But the film is stolen, grandly, by the amazing Penelope Cruz in a totally delightful camp turn as Bardem’s obsessed ex-wife. Cruz arrives on screen about halfway into the film, takes the story and the cast prisoner, and never lets anyone get a bit of attention for the remaining running time. At one moment she is wildly funny, at the next tragically human, as the actress turns the fluff into a one-woman show of a lady’s many attempts at maintaining sanity. It’s no surprise she won this year’s Best Supporting Actress Academy Award.
Visually, the movie is a feast, with the many sights of Barcelona beautifully shot. (How convenient to be able to write such dialogue as, “oh let’s meet at the Gaudi,” or “let’s have tapas.”) And how Allen shoots his stars (especially Cruz) is loving and complimentary. In many ways, this Allen effort reminds me of his delightful musical, Everyone Says I Love You. He is so in love with his setting and so adoring of his stars and so intent on delivering a yummy portion of cinema candy.
As a writer and director, Woody is best when he has something to talk about and some place to show. He has both here, from the witty characters to the lovely Barcelona landscapes. While not first-class Allen, this is a solid second-tier Woody comedy, which is definitely light years ahead of most movie offerings.
Film Nutritional Value:
Vicky Christina Barcelona* Entertainment: High. As with most junk food, the fun is in the consuming, and there’s plenty for adults to consume here.
* Message: Low. Junk food rarely delivers a message but, thankfully, does not leave an aftertaste this time around.
* Relevance: Medium. Anyone looking for a diversion from newspaper headlines will savor this journey into a fantasy world of romance and beautiful scenery
* Opportunity for Dialogue: Low. Without real nutritious value, there’s little to discuss, and this is not a film for children. Still, parents, enjoy the cinema splurge.
4 Popcorn Buckets
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