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Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Director: Woody Allen

Time Out rating

Average user rating

32 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

Woody Allen’s European tour heads south to Spain for a funny, lusty film that will have fans breathing a sigh of relief after the embarrassing gulf between intention and reality that was ‘Cassandra’s Dream’. A little distance goes a long way: while Allen’s cock-eyed attempts to infiltrate the greasy spoons of Kentish Town in his last film or the country houses of the Home Counties in ‘Match Point’ proved too much for British audiences, most will be happy to swallow the Spanish and Catalan clichés – Gaudí, Miró, long-haired lotharios with guitars – that Allen lays on liberally in return for a light, witty, sexy exchange of views on flirting, relationships, commitment and the ongoing clash of lifestyles in the old and new worlds.

It helps Allen’s cause that his story is about Americans in Europe: two graduates, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) – one dark-haired, sensible and engaged to a humourless, chino-fancying financier, the other blonde, instinctive and single – arrive in Barcelona to spend the summer at the home of expat friends of Vicky’s family.

The pair’s conflicting attitudes to life and love are challenged by a gift from the Spanish gods: Javier Bardem is Juan Antonio Gonzales, an artist whose looks and lifestyle typify Allen’s perverse, tongue-in-cheek idea of the wild Latin temperament. When Juan suggests a weekend away in Oviedo and, maybe, some love-making (Vicky scoffs, Cristina pants) a love triangle emerges that not only highlights and upsets Vicky and Cristina’s differing ideals but also lumps them together in the same camp when the triangle morphs into a square: enter Juan Antonio’s hot-headed ex-wife Maria Elena, played by Penélope Cruz, who makes even Cristina look like a nun sucking lemons. Allen seems to be saying: Americans, get over yourselves. Our sympathies are squarely with the free-living and loving attitude of Juan Antonio over Vicky’s uptight mask or the drippy attitudes of her fiancé Doug (Chris Messina), who arrives mid-film.
The script is witty and playful, the casting just right: Hall and Johansson make for a warm contrast and Cruz and Bardem are more than willing to indulge Allen’s Spanish fantasies while running with the comedy of their characters’ love-hate relationship. Cruz only appears halfway, but Allen sets her up brilliantly with Bardem dropping mysterious mention of his fiery ex into every other sentence.

Exploring the mystery of what makes intelligent men and women tick in harmony and disharmony is what Allen does best, and so we’re back in the territory of ‘Husbands and Wives’ or ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ with this jaunt, which neither takes itself too seriously nor wastes its ideas with sloppy craftmanship, both of which have upset his plans before.
The film has a pleasing pace, using voiceover to hop between scenes, some of which are mere tableaux. There’s no Allen or Allen alter-ego in this film, although we hear his puppeteer’s voice: ‘If you don’t start undressing me soon, this is going to turn into a panel discussion,’ breathes Cristina to Juan. ‘Let’s not get into one of these categorical imperative arguments,’ pleads Doug, summoning the ghost of Allen marching through Manhattan with Diane Keaton. After a hiccup at immigration, Allen can keep his passport – for now.

Author: Dave Calhoun

Time Out London Issue 2007, 5 - 11 Feb, 2009

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User reviews of this film

Ophelia said...

Posted on Feb 02 2012 01:35 I feel that a lot of people are looking far too simply at this film. I found it less than hilarious, but it rang true throughout and showed off a far deeper meaning than most, if not all romantic comedies have really managed to portray. For some the film is a 'lightly entertaining but essentially meaningless tale' and for others it is a 'deep and fascinating insight into idea's and relationships that fall outside of the common world.'
I thoroughly enjoyed this film, it intrigued me right until the end and I found myself considering the light, simple idea that love really is something that can only be experienced through short-lived passion. I also enjoyed the repetitiveness of the music (The Spanish song that only came on when Vicky and Juan Antonio were together, the theme music gently letting us know, at the end of the film, that it wasn't going to be a simple happily ever after, etc), and the occasional jolt of the stomach when realizing that I shared a connection with, and understood the musings of the characters.
Anybody who see's this film as 'a Spanish sleazeball posing as a misunderstood artist so that he can get a couple of girls to have a threesome with him' is frankly being extremely small minded, and missing the essential points in this fascinating film that is disguising itself as an un-witty romantic comedy.

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jackie134 said...

Posted on Aug 22 2010 17:06 A pleasure to watch, great characterisation and acting, the classical guitar music sets the scene. It is amusing, thought-provoking, definitely sensual and sexy, very entertaining and a mature romantic comedy. So many people do what is expected of them rather than follow their hearts and dreams. Which is the right path to take in life! What regrets are harboured in hearts and what impulses stay as embarrassments? I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining and wonderfully presented film. Unlike some other reviewers, I thought the narrator added to the texture and depth of the film. A really entertaining and super film

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RK said...

Posted on Mar 20 2010 12:29 Light, funny. Bardem and Cruz are excleent

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Jane Allen said...

Posted on Aug 31 2009 13:11 Banal, vapid, trite, passe: pre- not post-modern. Penelope Cruz's "supporting actress" award was well earned, but there was nothing to support. Johannsen was a wet dish-cloth in comparison. About as subtle as a disney movie, as deep as a saucer of sour milk, with a cop-out narration to boot. Avoid!

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Michael said...

Posted on Jul 01 2009 20:09 How can anyone say this a bad film, i think to many people have gotten use to "guns" & "violence" look deeper into the film and you will see what i , and many others seen. Magic film :)

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Richard said...

Posted on Mar 11 2009 03:17 Even worse than the execrable Match Point - Woody Allen has used up his nine lives. The voice-over was so irritating and inane. None of the characters were particularly interesting, bar Penelpe Cruz's Maria. It was smug and condescending towards Americans for their supposed materialism - the contrast with the caricature of cultured, sophisticated artistic Europeans was very subtle. Woody still wanting to be Bergman, I guess. And the menage a trois? More late middle-aged fantasies. Vicky is doing a Master's in Catalan identity but can't speak a word of the language. Well, of course.

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DV said...

Posted on Mar 09 2009 14:15 My mistake, Allen fans; his new film premieres next month, April 22 NYC.

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DV said...

Posted on Mar 09 2009 14:08 Pretty good for a recent Woody film, although it's a shame he has lost his flair for screwball comedy. But then he is about 80; aren't people allowed to change style?
A film about passion and people's varying abilities to control it. Javier's sexual confidence is extreme and funny. The ladies, Scarlett in particular, blossom in his presence. Rebecca is a tougher nut to crack, but when she does...
(Perhaps, if we're extremely lucky, his next film - Whatever Works - which has just premiered in NYC, will live up to the hilarity of some of his earlier movies. Larry David stars!)

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Amanda said...

Posted on Mar 05 2009 17:41 It really annoys me when people criticize a film because it centers on people, rather than say the bangs and blow ups that they'vegrown used to because of being bombarded by the recent trendsof Hollywood. Woody Allen is a director notorious for making films that focus on the characters- therefore, the diologue and story are central. So, you don't go to a Woody Allen film if your attention span is that short that you can't remain seated for longer than five minutes in order to give the film a chance and allow for you to become familiar with the characters, It's like life, you have to be patient if you want to understand the nature of people! It is for this reason that I find Woody Allen film's so interesting and refreshing- for, they center on another way of life and give us an insight into alternative perspectives! It's definately refreshing in comparison to your average Hollywood blockbuster.

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Paula Moreira said...

Posted on Mar 01 2009 22:36 The most sensual, interesting, personal, eccentric movie of the year. Woody Allen is an absolute genius, the script is so realistic and vibrant and each character delivered an amazing performance throughout the whole movie. It would be a huge mistake not to watch it! A work of art!

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SteveH said...

Posted on Mar 01 2009 10:17 This felt a bit like Sex and the City does Barthelonya, but without the sex, as the leading characters trough their way through tapas and red wine at a variety of art shows, guitar recitals, and architectural tours. The leading man is your typical bohemian Spanish artist, but with you know a private plane, vintage alfa romeo, and last year's Burberry collection for bohemian artists; you get the picture. Of the female cast, Rebecca Hall excels as the serious one, and Scarlett Johansen does an ok job as the flighty one, how Penelope Cruz got an oscar for the mad Spanish bint is beyond me, maybe for language skills ? Anyway, I don't think this was as bad as many reviewers suggest, it's well crafted and good entertainment so long as you don't expect more than a romcom...oh btw it isn't funny though.

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Ed said...

Posted on Feb 28 2009 18:53 Possibly the longest hour of my life, and the first time I've walked out of a film. To simltaneously produce the most irritating and yet most tedious hour of cinema I've ever sat through is really quite some achievement.

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Miss Tab said...

Posted on Feb 27 2009 08:28 Sadly, I wasn't impressed, it didn't really go anywhere, and when it ended I didn't feel like it had really ever started. Bit of a poor show. If you have to see it, wait for the DVD.

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Cristina said...

Posted on Feb 23 2009 16:33 Well I adored it... Frivolous and sexy, and Cruz in particular was superb.
Also Woody Allen is wonderful, and this film is refreshing and youthful and fun. Go see.

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Marla said...

Posted on Feb 23 2009 16:28 Huh..
Well I really liked this film.
I thought Cruz was superb and Johannson was good.
It's a sexy film.

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