Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is not as you might think the name of someone so pretentious they insist on using every one of their names – it’s just one of the three way relationships that drift in and out of this fresh Woody Allen gem. Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is as anal as Cristina (Scarlett Johannson) is loose and it’s a wonder that they’re friends at all. When Vicky’s studies take her to Barcelona where she’s billeted with her rich but bored aunt Judy (Patricia Clarkson), Cristina tags along. Judy takes them to a snobby art exhibit where the two are introduced to Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) a bohemian artist who won’t be stopped until he seduces both Vicky and Cristina. Much is made of Johannson (Woody Allen’s new Diane Keaton) co starring with Penélope Cruz even though Cruz doesn’t put in an appearance until about half way through the film. She plays Juan’s hot blooded ex wife Maria Elena who he just can’t let got of. She shows up just as things are getting cozy with Juan and Cristina which causes all of the friction that you might expect but unexpected is the relationship that blossoms while all three are under one roof. In Vicky Cristina Barcelona the actors don’t seem to improvise as much which is a bit of a departure for Woody Allen. Either that or However Javier Bardem deserves another Oscar if they are improvising because that would make him the smoothest male seducer on the face of the planet.