Movie review - Vicky Cristina Barcelona

By: Jesus Butler

Posted: 8/25/08

Whether you love or hate Woody Allen, you have got to give the man credit: his work does not offer the run-of-the-mill Hollywood experience.

Part of that may be because the acclaimed writer and director has recently distanced himself from the Hollywood scene, preferring instead to shoot his films on foreign soil.

"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" continues this trend, offering audiences the vibrant, often breathtaking scenery of not one, but three Spanish cities.

The film begins by introducing us (via wryly, heavy-handed narration provided by Christopher Evan Welch) to its two title characters: the stern-faced, by-the-books Vicky (played admirably, though not always believably by Rebecca Hall), and her free-spirited new age hippy best friend Cristina (a role Scarlett Johansson pulls off well, delivering a palpable naiveté.)

Each travels to Barcelona for her own reason. Vicky goes to do research for her master's degree in Catalan Identity, and Cristina to embark upon some sort of quest for self discovery.

The film does not take long to turn this stereotypical odd-couple scenario on its head with the introduction of Javier Bardem, who has traded in his cattle gun and bad hair cut from "No Country For Old Men" in favor of a nice tan and a pleasant Spanish accent in order to portray seductively romantic artist Juan Antonio.

Within minutes of meeting the pair, Antonio propositions the women for a ménage a trois, a prospect Vicky finds revolting but which Cristina sees as instantly alluring. In the end Cristina gets her way, and the three board a plane for Oviedo, Spain to enjoy a weekend of sight-seeing with their newfound guide.

What follows, quite frankly, is a jumbled mess. The weekend quickly gives way to weeks and months that seem to pass at breakneck speed, while the plot continues to twist and thicken, and the characters' underlying beliefs and motivations are put to the test.

About halfway through Penelope Cruz enters as Antonio's fiery, semi-homicidal ex-wife Maria Elena, who throws the proverbial monkey wrench into the relationship that had been developing between Antonio and Cristina.

The intricate webs these characters weave as they come in and out of each other's lives is refreshingly non-formulaic. Just when you think you have a feel for where the film is going, everything gets turned on its head.

What started out in much the same way any sub-par romantic comedy might, eventually morphs into a character study that aims to delve the depths of love and passion, offering many insights but no firm answers along the way.

As the story progresses, the characters unfold and take shape in surprising ways. Near the end of the film I found myself surprised at how Antonio had transitioned from some creepy foreign guy looking for some action, into a passionate artist searching for enduring love.

So, if you are in the mood for an introspective journey into the search for passion in human life, "Vicki Cristina Barcelona" is a good, if sometimes heavy-handed, contender for your money.

If you prefer a linear and cohesive plot with a firm resolution at the end, you may want to look elsewhere.

jbutler@unews.com