Thursday, October 2, 2008

Vicky Cristina Barcelona



What's with Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson?

Set in Barca, Spain, artsy fart Cristina(Scarlett Johansson), and her stuffy friend Vicky are enjoying their holiday. There they meet broody painter with a serious sex appeal, Juan Antonio(Javier Bardem) who works his mojo on them separately. In a comedy of errors of sorts, his psychotic ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz) comes back to haunt him as well.
What I liked
Satire - it's like a study on arty people, really funny to poke fun at their self exaggerated dishevelled lifestyles and dramatic personalities.
Acting - Penelope Cruz really shines as a psycho!
Setting - Barcelona is romantic.. beautiful countryside and small towns.. Great spanish music as well!



What I disliked -
Draggy after awhile - some parts get really long and unnecessary.
S. Johansson - not that I didn't like her - it's just she's over-used to the point where the character Cristina doesn't seem as real anymore.
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Entertaining piece, but not enough to warrant me another view.
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