| Current mood: |  pleased |
Vicky Christina Barcelona
Woody Allen is one of the most prolific writer, director and actor. He has been active in the entertainment industry since 1950’s. Despite this, I still have to be immersed in his body of works. I know that he is known for his sex comedy and love for New York City.
In his latest offering, he draws his inspiration from Spain. VCB features Academy Award winner Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem with Scarlet Johansson and Rebecca Hall.
Allen portrays artists as passionate, indulgent and impulsive opposite regular people who try to live by the norms of society. Vicky (Hall) is engaged to be married while Christina (Johansson) jumps into one relationship to another. While Vicky has set up her plan for the future, Christina does not know what she wants but only knows what she dislikes.
In their Barcelona holiday, these two American tourists met Juan Antonio (Bardem) and were invited on a weekend in Oviedo. Due to impulsive behavior of Christina, they left with Juan Antonio.
Bardem exudes sex in this film that you want to rip his clothes off. Though it is not an award worthy role, he didn’t shortchange his performance as a Casanova who can charm any woman to bed. It helped that he was dressed up in just shirt and jeans that show off his still impressive physique.
I particularly like Rebecca Hall’s attack on her character. She knows how to use non-verbal cues to convey how vulnerable she is. Scarlet comes off weak opposite Miss Hall but I think that role of Christina needs to be developed more. It was not clear why she was so uncertain but I guess it is part of the mystery.
Penelope won this year’s Oscars for her role as Maria Elena, the crazy yet genius ex-wife of Juan Antonio. I’m not jumping up and down with her performance in this film. She was her usual sexy self. Nothing extraordinary for me.
It was just like a travelogue with sex. It didn’t want to prove a point after all even after how the characters pondered on the meaning of love and passion. Allen didn’t even bother to answer the questions posted. I think he just wants to tease his audience and I believe Woody succeeded in his goal.
(Read comments)
|
