shouldn't this be stickied?

Weirdest movie ever.

Why?

I honestly had no idea what this was...

I may see it!

Scarlett + Woody Allen = GENIUS!

Honestly, I dunno. That was just the impression I walked away with. It's just a really different kinda film. I liked it, though. A lot.

Hm. I don't know if I would say it's strange/weird.

It plays like Postcards from Barcelona. Highlights from Vicky and Cristina's summer vacation with Barcelona serving as the (beautiful) backdrop.

And it just happens to be Woody Allen's funniest, sexiest, best movie in god-knows-how-long. The entire cast is wonderful, but, unsurprisingly, Penelope Cruz made the movie for me. When she's on-screen it's absolute bliss. She's hilarious but ultimately heartbreaking as a woman struggling with what could possibly be schizophrenia. Honestly, she is so gorgeous in this that she could probably just stand there and still add so much to the movie, but her acting has never been better, and certainly not in an English-language film (though she has about as much Spanish dialogue as she does English). The way she delivers her dialogue is pitch-perfect. I loved the way what she says is sometimes so absurd and yet she says it with such conviction. It goes a long way in showing you the kind of world she's stuck in. It's a smaller role than I imagined but I can safely say that they might as well give her the Oscar right now unless something absolutely extraordinary comes during the rest of the year (Viola Davis, Kate Winslet?). Lovely performance. Lovely film.

A-

I'm seeing this tomorrow... Exxxxcited.

I really loved it as well.

GREAT performances all around. Besides Cruz obviously I was particularly impressed with Rebecca Hall.

SUCH a sexy movie. A-.

well good reviews for this so far...might check it out.

and I like the movie's name, simple and to the point.

The plot centers around two American women, Vicky and Cristina, who are vacationing in Barcelona

The original title was Midnight in Barcelona, according to an interview with Woody Allen.

That would have been better.

I actually was in Barcelona last year when they were shooting this.

Then why isn't the title Vicky Cristina Lecter Barcelona?

I didn't sleep with Javier Bardem.

I'm not buying it, Doc. We all know that Lecter's just your username - - so 'fess up - - in TRW, is your name Vicky or Cristina?

A wonderful film. It's incredibly sexy, funny and romantic - and the entire cast is at the top of their game. Scarlett Johansson turns in what is probably her best performance in years, Rebecca Hall is wonderful and charming, Javier Bardem is incredibly charismatic - and Penelope Cruz completely steals the show with a fiery and unforgettable performance. The cinematography is gorgeous and the direction is fluid - sticking towards many of Allen's trademark stylistic methods. Definitely one of the best films of the year so far. A

loved this movie! Penelope is soo good here, first time I really dig her acting. great script and acting. really enjoyed the narration for some reason. i thought it was very new and raw and real.

A-

I'm really enjoying Woody's trip through Europe and VCB is the culmination of his time spent there. Europe seems to have really have reinvigorated him as an artist and filmaker. VCB is very sexy, romantic, funny, and charming, everything you look for in a Woody Allen film. As noted already the performances were top notch and the cinematography was gorgeous which only helped elevate an already enjoyable experience. Here's one person who's glad to see Woody back on the top of his game.

Grade A

YAY Woody

Coming in, I expected a breezy and delicious 2 hours of romantic triangles in Spain. What I got was so much more... VCB is a full on mediation of not only the different sides of love and romance, but of life in general, of the constant search for our own place and happiness in the way we are living. Vicky and Cristina are caught in a state of self-questioning... what do they want in their lives? Where are they going? Both girls have original visions of love, Vicky believes in commitment and peace, Cristina wants erotica and passion. Both get it, and both are left unsatisfied when they do. Vicky jumps away from her fabled happiness at the first chance she gets when Juan shows up, while Cristina seems to break off her threesome relationship only to break it off, only because it is in her nature to never be satisfied and always be looking for herself. Mirroring the girls' visions of love, Juan and Maria-Elena live a life of lust and passion, but without peace or friendliness, while Judy and Mark are committed and friendly but without lust... and both relationships fail. This implies neither Vicky or Cristina's dreams were correct or better than the other, that love fits neither mold. What is Woody implying about human nature? That we will always be searching for the missing piece? That we will never let ourselves find pure happiness, we will always find a way to destroy it? That we may think we know what we want, but in most cases, we really don't? By saying all this, he seems to be showing it as a celebration for us as humans, for having emotions and questions like this. For me, I just love it when characters have self-conflict and real, layered depth... and this movie delivered that to me in spades. I loved the work done with all the leads.

The open ending of the film is absolutely perfect. There is no wrapped up conclusion to life, there is no ending. Every character is left at their own personal crossroads, unaware of what their own place in life is and where they're going next. The the film as a whole feels like the girls trip to Barcelona, a brief trip and moment in the midst of their long journey. All 4 main characters are left in indecision and questioning, and seemingly back where they started, but not really.

Rebecca Hall gives a great, great performance, I'd like to see where her career goes after this. Scarlett... whatever. She's given everything to work with as the most layered character in the film, and she still feels plastic. Fittingly enough, Cruz's character is given the least depth and she comes up with a performance that'll probably deservingly win her the Oscar. Bardem is also very good.

I love the soundtrack, between "Barcelona" and the score, the movie and scenes always backdropped beautifully. The screenplay and dialog is absolutely aces, I could listen to these people talk all day. I was worried about the narrator coming in, but in the end it didn't really bother me, although it didn't add to the film as much as in say, Little Children. I would fully support Woody winning another Oscar for this script. The overall direction through the editing, pace, close-ups, etc. is also pretty flawless.

Love it. Lovvvvvve it.

5/5

Fun movie, I enjoyed it.

Scarlett, Cruz and Javier really outshine Hall IMO, but it all worked.

I also wanted to mention that I found it fun how the two main characters flip flopped from the start of the summer until the end. Neither actually transformed, and both will go on living the personality and desires they wanted previously, but they both LONG for what the other has/had, and I found that to be pretty interesting.

Again, fun movie, would like to see it get some award attention.

I loved this film. Wonderful.


Go watch it.