“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” –
Scarlett Johannsson, Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson
I have to confess that I do enjoy Woody Allen and he has gotten mellower but more sexually overt in his advanced film making. He is also (possibly forced) using overseas settings a lot more often since he created such a debacle in his personal life some years ago. This has a very unique cast, rather like Scarlett is his new Mia and Rebecca his new Diane. I couldn’t take my eyes off Bardem. The last movie I saw him in was No Country for Old Men and he was just as riveting but in grotesque and frightening way, this time I simply wanted his clothes off! HOT.
Two best friends on opposite sides of life and love spend a summer in Barcelona both falling for the same man who is in turn hopelessly and virtually fatalistically captivated by his ex-wife Penelope Cruz. Their relationship only works when a third is in it. This gives new meaning to ménage a trois and the delight it can bring.
Of course it wouldn’t be Woody Allen without poignancy and tragedy to balance the comedic moments. Patricia Clarkson does a brilliant job as the trapped housewife, no longer in love, but too terrified of life and herself to leave her husband. One of those, glad-I-haven’t-yet-married moments for this viewer. The ending sort of fizzled, predictable and not terribly original, felt like Woody got bored and left.
