Vicky Cristina Barcelona **** (2008, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem) – Classic Movie Review 1442

‘We came so close to perfection, you and I.’

Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson star as holidaying young American friends Vicky and Cristina, in Woody Allen’s return to his finest form, the 2008 romantic comedy-drama film Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

They go to Barcelona. (You wondered about that title, didn’t you?) There they meet, and both fall for, the wildly sexy local painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). That’s complicated enough, but then his crazy ex-wife Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz) turns up.

Playful, sophisticated and very funny, this outrageous Spanish-set sex comedy is one of writer-director Woody Allen’s best movies for ages and ages. Clearly relishing Woody’s clever dialogue and hilarious one-liners, all four stars are on brilliant form.

Sexy and charming, Bardem is excellent as the Don Juan figure, miles away from his villains in No Country for Old Men and Skyfall. Cruz is hysterical, coming on like a tour-de-force of nature. The crisp and cute Hall effortlessly holds her own against Johansson’s more blatant It girl attack.

Patricia Clarkson and Kevin Dunn are also cast assets as Judy and Mark, though they are less good than the principals, with their roles less well written, and simply less interesting.

Finally forced to relinquish his native New York in search of fresh fields, after American finance and audiences deserted him, foreign travel has definitely broadened Allen’s mind, as well as depth and scope.

It is shot in Spain in Barcelona, Avilés, and Oviedo, and is Allen’s fourth consecutive film shot outside the US.

Penélope Cruz won both the 2009 Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film won the Golden Globe for Best Film – Comedy or Musical.

After controversy in Spain over the public funding to a film thought not to have needed it, the city of Barcelona finally backed the movie. It’s certainly a good advert for its charms.

Barcelona’s city hall provided one million euro and the Generalitat de Catalunya [the Government of Catalonia] half a million euro, or roughly 10 per cent of the film’s budget of $15 million. It turned out that it was a great investment, with the film grossing $96 million worldwide, and becoming one of Allen’s most profitable films.

It is Johansson’s third film with Allen after Match Point (2005) and Scoop (2006).

The film features paintings by Catalan artist Agustí Puig and includes examples of the work of architect Antoni Gaudí, including his Park Güell.

Plus, the Spanish actor Joan Pera, who dubs Allen’s voice in the Spanish-language versions of his previous films, makes a cameo appearance.

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© Derek Winnert 2013 Classic Movie Review 1442

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