Looks like I'll break the streak here. Everything about the film just got on my nerves from the narrator (oh how I fucking hated the narrator) to the music. And it's not that I'm not used to Allen's style of filmmaking though I am by no means an expert (I've seen his recent stuff, Annie Hall and Crimes and Misdemeanors), it's just that the whole thing got under my skin.

*1/2

You blew any chance at relevance when you admitted the music got on your nerves.

I loved the music! It was stuck in my head for days after seeing the movie. Plus it fit to the whole 2 American tourists in Barcelona story perfectly.

That's because it was repeated over and over again (actually I think it was either three or four times).

I should've been more clear. My problem wasn't with the music itself so much, but it just (like the rest of the film) got on my nerves when it was repeated a couple of times.

7/10 -> B-

It's pretty standard mediocre Woody Allen fare until Penelope shows up. The movie perks up a lot then. The central part is brilliant. The ending slows down things a bit, but shows more personality than the horribly blatant beginning.

Absoutely loved it. Wonderful pacing with a light tone and a serious undertone. The entire cast worked well together and the movie was beautifully shot. Best Allen I've seen in ages, at least since Mighty Aphrodite. I highly encourage everyone to see this gem before it leaves theatres.



Were we watching the same movie?

Thank God! Couldn't agree more. This movie gave me nothing, I found neither of the characters terribly interesting or convincing (Cruz was ok). I thought Bardem seemed like he sleepwalked through his performance and was really surprised when I saw that he got nominated for a Globe. D+

A

Probably one of the best films of the year. I really enjoyed it. Everything seemed to mesh well. Characters, story, music.

And i gotta go with dolce here, what sort of movie were you watching?

I was seeing it in the airplane on the way back from Las Vegas and it was sooo good. Unfortunately we landed and I didnt see the last 15 minutes!!!! I need closure. As of right now, I liked this better than Match Point. Maybe i can find the last bit on youtube.

absolutely fantastic film. It was light, funny, but also has serious parts. Cruz easily made the film though, she was amazing!!

A- first for the year, as of now.

Warning, review may contain spoilers.

Finally got to see this today. It was amazing. Woody Allen crafts such a light, loveable film that captures romance in a way I haven't ever seen before. It's completely enjoyalble and romantic, with near perfect characters that just make it all the more better. Penelope Cruz does just one hell of a job acting. Every second she was on screen she brought so much electricity to an already electric cast. I liked how it ended too, it wasn't your traditional "everyone who falls in love stays together and lives happily ever after" run of the mill romance film. With Vicky never leaving Doug for the man she knew she loved more, Cristina just as confused as she was before meeting Juan Antonio, maybe even more so, and Maria still hasn't been able to get in a stable relationship with Juan Antonio because the two are still so damn crazy together. All in all this extremely unique film about love and living life is definitley something to be seen, and hopefully not ignored in January when the Oscar noms come out.


A-

sexy and old-fashioned. Cruz was great.

A-

Just saw this tonight and like just about everyone here - loved it. It was sexy, funny and had a little more depth than expected. Everyone is great here and you cant beat beautiful actresses in a beautiful city.

Grade : A

I disagree completely! Especially Scarlett. She was the weakest link. I thought Hall was the best of everyone.

VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA - 7/10 ( B )

The biggest flaw "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" has is its excessive, awkward narration. It felt like lazy filmmaking having every little thing explained to us, especially when it was things that were pretty clear to us and that we'd have figured out on our own. I could have handled it here and there, but I found it too frequent and so much of it was unwarranted. Penelope Cruz is good, but I found her performance overrated. I didn't think she had enough screentime to truly shine. I was most impressed with Rebecca Hall, who was excellent. I loved her and her character and she is more deserving of the praise Cruz is receiving.

Overall, I enjoyed the film. It was pretty charming and the location was great. But I'll admit to being slightly disappointed.

I thought Rebecca Hall was the weakest link of the whole entire film.

Hall was most definitely the weakest one.

Maybe you guys need to rewatch it then .

There was no weak link, IMO. Everyone gave a great performance. But if I had to pick one as the weakest link it'd have to be Scarlett, as much as I love her. Hall, while far from being the best cast member, was really good.

I liked it, but didn't love it.

The good: Penelope Cruz's performance (and, in general, the whole cast, but specifically Cruz), the music (lovvved it), the narration (I think it worked well), S. Jo <333 (Woody Allen has suuuch a woody for Scarlett, but rightfully so), etc.

The bad: The ending, or lack thereof. I liked the entire story, but I wanted a conclusion, even if it were a ridiculous one (like Maria Elena killing Vicky, or something, hehe).

I liked Match Point a lot more, but still good.

I thought the conclusion was an essential Woody Allen conclusion (though I didn't love it either).

I really enjoyed the movie, but it felt incomplete.

I think this is a turnaround role for Johansson, who has been subpar recently...Penelope is also great, but her character is underwritten.

A couple problems:
-- I think the Cristina-Jose-Maria Elena love triangle was awkward and forced.
-- The movie works on assumptions and skimps over many of the important details and themes. We never learn why Cristina couldn't tolerate "sharing" a partner...we never learn why Maria Elena is troubled... Even when considering Juan Antonio's artistic rebirth, a voice over replaces actual explanations. Okay, so Maria Elena motivates Juan Antonio? Great, but why and how? How is his work different with her around? It's not that I expect to understand every detail, but I expect the major emotions and actions to be reasonably clear.
-- The ending is sort of hasty, sudden, and predictable. I even commented while watching this: "I bet Penelope busts in with a pistol and shoots them both."
-- Narration describing emotion is less interesting than witnessing the emotion itself...especially with a great cast.

The movie is most interesting in more subtle scenes discussing each character's approach to life and love. The movie is generally a light, refreshing 90 minutes. I think it's one of the better films of the year, but it's also a lost opportunity.

***

I wanna make love in a dark room! Thank you Woody Allen for instilling a new sexual fantasy in me.

Despite a few imperfections, I am truly delighted. Thank you, Woody! - 8/10.

So this Woody guy is pretty good.

I quite liked it, and I think it was the combination of light, fluffy, episodic comedy and a deeper, darker, almost tragic overarching theme. Don't get me wrong - it's definitely a very enjoyable movie, but its larger statements about love and life and everything in between are what really did it for me. Plus the lesbian make-outs.

Cruz is terrifically insane and beautiful, but it's really Rebecca Hall who's the unheralded hero of the film. She's quite remarkable, especially going up against all these other thespians. Save for Scarlett. That girl can just not act. Good thing she looks good.

Guess I'll have to see all those other Woodys, now.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is another strong entry from Woody Allen though it runs into a couple of problems. Javier Bardem and Rebecca Hall are the best actors in this piece though Hall's story doesn't get its full story told on screen and gets pushed to the side in the second act and tries to relinquish itself in the third one. If more time was spent satisfying that story, the film could of succeeded a bit more. Scarlett Johannsen is alright in her role though she is very one-dimensional here. Penelope Cruz is strong, probably not enough for her Oscar but still good. Her story as well doesn't get entirely resolved. The scenery is beautiful and the performances are strong but the script should have been stronger. **1/2