Only unfulfilled love can be romantic?

Last night I watched Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and I have to say I wasn't impressed. I know it's supposed to be an exploration of love in all it's forms, and he did present some intriguing scenarios, but I would not call this Woody Allen's best film.



I don't find Javier Bardem particularly attractive, but his accent was pretty sexy. The narration, on the other hand, was just weird and unnecessary, since, for the most part, it stated the bloomin' obvious: "Juan hurried out in the middle of the night." The music, however, was very good.



I thought this was one of Scarlett Johansson's more convincing performances. Her character seemed fairly shallow, but she played the so-called free spirt Cristina better than I've seen her in anything else.



Vicki (Rebecca Hall) was fantastic, rival to Cruz (no easy feat), a complex, emotional and uncertain character I could relate to. It's a cliche; she knows (and is getting) what she wants in life until she meets and sleeps with Juan, who turns her world and what she thought she wanted upside down, but it doesn't feel like an age-old story line. Except for Maria Elena, she is the most interesting character in the film, and Hall does her complete justice.



Penelope Cruz is the real star, as the bitter, sulky, borderline madwoman of Juan's past who still and will always hold his heart. She smoulders, with intensity and ferocity, showing she is truly deserving of her Oscar.

x
JAG