Spring Break
Allen taps Spanish culture in latest film
Samantha Urban, Movie Critic, surban@smu.edu
Issue date: 8/19/08 Section: Entertainment
I also enjoyed Bardem's lighter, but almost equally sexually charged scenes with Scarlett Johansson's character, Cristina. Johansson seems to be Woody Allen's new "it girl," this being her third collaboration with the writer and director. (The first two were 2005's "Match Point" and 2006's "Scoop.") In this film, Johansson is charming and certainly performs well as the idealistic Cristina, but I feel like she's overshadowed by her costars. By no means is her performance bad; she just fails to leave as much of an impression as Bardem or Cruz.
However, I thought Rebecca Hall was very engaging as Vicky, a young woman who has come to terms with the mundane but practical life she has doomed herself to lead. Hall plays her attraction to Bardem's José Antonio with a fresh innocence, almost like a curious flirtation with an alternate path she could take.
The city of Barcelona could be considered a character in itself, if only because Allen depicts it so gorgeously in the film. It was a fun surprise to see Spain's beauty through the lens of the unabashed loyal New Yorker that Allen so often claims to be. The music, often only a simple Spanish guitar, only underscores the loveliness of the setting.
Overall, I'd classify "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" as a date movie for smart people. Owing much of the film's charm to its beautiful stars and setting, Allen skillfully (and surprisingly) mixes culture and comedy with enough sex appeal to please everybody.
However, I thought Rebecca Hall was very engaging as Vicky, a young woman who has come to terms with the mundane but practical life she has doomed herself to lead. Hall plays her attraction to Bardem's José Antonio with a fresh innocence, almost like a curious flirtation with an alternate path she could take.
The city of Barcelona could be considered a character in itself, if only because Allen depicts it so gorgeously in the film. It was a fun surprise to see Spain's beauty through the lens of the unabashed loyal New Yorker that Allen so often claims to be. The music, often only a simple Spanish guitar, only underscores the loveliness of the setting.
Overall, I'd classify "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" as a date movie for smart people. Owing much of the film's charm to its beautiful stars and setting, Allen skillfully (and surprisingly) mixes culture and comedy with enough sex appeal to please everybody.
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