Rent Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Modern Woody Allen At His Best - Vicky Cristina Barcelona review by GI

This is a really funny, quite touching and sexy romcom directed by Woody Allen and set in Spain, one balmy summer. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are two old friends who spend a summer in Barcelona. There they meet the charismatic artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) who seduces both of them. But as the heady mix and match of the three of them gets complicated, into their lives comes Juan's ex wife, Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz), a tempestuous and unpredictable woman and Vicky's boring but safe fiancé Doug (Chris Messina) arrives from the US intent on marrying Vicky in Spain. All of their lives become very tense and confused as who loves who gradually reveals itself. Cleverly scripted and with great performances, not least Cruz who won an Oscar here, this is one of Allen's more appealing films of late and there's something very original about the convoluted relationships that the plot follows. It's also a very funny film too. If I have one big criticism is that the ending is a bit of a damp squib but that said this is still worth checking out if you've never seen it.

i try and I try... - Vicky Cristina Barcelona review by CP Customer

... to like Woody Allen, but years later it still is just flat, superficial, self important filmmaking. The overly explained voice over means that the incredible actors are only permitted to do much less than they are capable of... and are simply cardboard cut outs of the uninteresting people the film claims to dislike. Keeping the audience at an arms length without allowing a moment to think or take in ideas, rather it is explained moment by moment - the romance and feeling is sucked out at every turn where it may be allowed to briefly bloom. Take it off your list - now.

Not a bad romance film - Vicky Cristina Barcelona review by LD

Not my normal cup of tea but was enjoyable enough. Enjoyed the actors in the film. Even if there’s not much too it. Worth a watch if you like the big names

Holiday Romance. - Vicky Cristina Barcelona review by Steve

Following his London trilogy, Woody Allen alighted on Barcelona for another beautiful, touristic setting for his late career comedy-dramas. Around this time, about every third release was critically heralded as a return to form halting a declining trend. This was one of those. It was a box office hit and the Oscars came calling again.

 The story is a series of loose, transient triangles which form between Vicky (Rebecca Hall), a pragmatist looking for emotional certainty; Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), an impulsive romantic seeking intensity and novelty; and a pair of volatile Spanish artists played by Javier Bardem (unorthodox and passionate) and Penélope Cruz (crazy and passionate).

It's a reflection, or even an illustrated essay, on the nature of sexual/romantic desire. Not everything works. Sometimes it strays into the platitudinous and the Spanish stars veer close to caricature. But it is a vigorous, erotic and emotional experience. It searches for truth in how we are attracted to each other in a depth that is remarkable for 73 year old film maker.

It is a quest which looks for a way to be free of the social and psychological traumas that have haunted the romances of his characters for decades. The leads are beautiful and the locations and photography are gorgeous. And there is a love of life that is missing from many of Woody's noughties films.