| Customer Reviews: Average Rating: 3.5 out of 5 |
| Woody Allen movie is a return to form: Rating: 5 out of 5 |
Woody Allen has made some disappointing movies in the autumn of his career but Vicky Cristina Barcelona is not just a return to form, to me it is a really mature work which outshines all his early stuff with the possible exception of Manhattan.
A perfect ensemble piece with note perfect performances from all concerned - Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Penelope Cruz and a particularly charismatic Javier Bardem who is clearly a really fine actor. (Contrast his charming animal magnetism in this movie with the eerily impassive psychopath Anton Chigurh in 'No Country for Old Men.')
The silent star of this movie of course is Barcelona, ravishingly photographed in luminous sunlight. The flamenco guitars on the soundtrack complement the atmosphere perfectly.
The narrative is deftly handled with no pat conclusions and just leaves you feeling the better for having spent some time with real people (albeit, in the case of Bardem and Cruz, people who are clearly very unusual.)
Watching this movie is like sitting in a European cafe on a sunny day watching fascinating events unfold between really interesting people. A small masterpiece. |
| Where is the fun?: Rating: 1 out of 5 |
Woody, again.
Funny? Sexy? Maybe in some moments, but I think it's really boaring movie, without rythm at all.
Destructive. Do normal relationships exist again?
A strange story with no final.
Always in search of psychiatric help.
Try it again, Woody. |
| buy it just for Javier and Penelope: Rating: 3 out of 5 |
I am a huge huge fan of Woody Allen so was disappointed that Vicky was not his usual punchy comedy. The narrative is irritating and pointless and the story is vague and dis jointed. But....... if you ignore Scarlett Johanson it is a good buy. Cruz and Bardem are great together, Cruz is just amazing as a crazy woman and Javier the man who loves her no matter what. I have seen him in tons of films and i just bought it for him really. Its enjoyable but no way would you think it was a Woody Allen film unless someone told you.
Just get it for Cruz and Javier, they are just superb! |
| Sweet, romantic and well-acted, if not quite a great film: Rating: 4 out of 5 |
I'm an Allen fan. For me this was not a one of his great films, but was an
entertaining, diverting one, with two terrific performances by Javier
Bardem and Penelope Cruz, a very good one by Rebecca Hall, and a decent
one by Scarlett Johanssen.
The key flaw -- Johanssen's character comes off as very shallow, so the complexity
of her relationships with Bardem and Cruz never seem more than
adolescent. I realize that's ultimately part of the point of the film,
but here it's way too obvious from minute one, and keeps the film from
ultimately feeling deeper and more complex. None-the-less, a romantic bittersweet
film I've enjoyed well enough to go back and re-watch.
Interestingly, even more than most of Allen's films this seems to ignite very different reactions
from viewer to viewer, so I'd encourage you to check it out for yourself
if you have any interest in the elements. |
| Dissappointing: Rating: 2 out of 5 |
| This movie was slightly dissappointing if you are adding to your chick-flick collection. The running commentary throughout the film also becomes irratating by the end of the film. |
