Given the recent success of Blue Jasmine – namely, Cate Blanchett’s Best Actress Oscar win – I decided to revisit another of Woody Allen’s films that features women in plum roles: Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Released in 2008, it’s one of Allen’s best, with a light, fresh tone that still hits all the expected cynical notes.
Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson star as “Vicky” and “Cristina,” two best friends spending the summer in Barcelona – the former to continue her studies in Catalan culture, the latter to find herself. While there, they encounter “Juan Antonio” (Javier Bardem), a dangerously sexy Spanish painter with an unpredictable ex-wife, “Maria Elena” (Penelope Cruz). Of course, they both become enamored of him, though only one acts upon her feelings, and a whole slew of romantic hijinks ensue.
It’s a delightfully airy turn from Allen – though this remark should not be taken to mean that the film is insubstantial. It’s just that it’s a great deal of fun, what with its lush setting, witty screenplay, and utterly charming performances. What’s more, it’s just off-kilter enough, with a whirlwind plot that keeps us riveted from the start.
As for the cast, every member of it is a dream. Hall and Johansson are like oil and water, but they work beautifully together, with Hall supplying the edgy neurosis while Johansson serves up messy artistic passion. And Bardem is a dream, walking the line between sensuality and slime with utter finesse. The real star, though, is Cruz, who took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her downright unhinged performance as Maria Elena. She commands the screen every second that she’s on it, exuding raw power and gleeful volatility.
If you enjoy Allen’s other films, Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a must – and if you don’t, I encourage you to try it anyway. It’s brilliantly bubbly, but it’s also got bite, giving it a one-of-a-kind place in Allen’s oeuvre.
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