"Vicky Cristina Barcelona" rates an 8.5/10 in one of (my) life's greatest pleasures (that is, Woody's world)

Rating: Null/10 (15 August 2008)

A lot of people complain about Woody Allen's new movies, saying that they lack the brilliance of his old days. Well, I have a different perspective (and I admit I can be a little biased, since the man is my favourite director): for someone who's 72 years old and still makes an average of a film a year (as VCB comes out, his next project is already in post-production!), you can't expect him to make a masterpiece every year, right? So, even though "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and some of his recent works ("Match Point" included- I find it slightly overrated, and prefer "Melinda and Melinda" or even "Anything Else" to it) are no "The Purple Rose of Cairo", "Annie Hall", "Manhattan", "Husbands and Wives" or "Hannah and Her Sisters", they're still enjoyable. I have a short list of life's 5 things that are good even when they're bad: sex, pizza, chocolate, ice cream, & Woody Allen's films (not necessarily in that order, depends on my mood). Which means that a "bad" Woody Allen (i.e., "Cassandra's Dream"), is still better than the average director's best. Woody doesn't have anything left to prove anybody (maybe he never did). He just makes the movies he wants, and his admirers (count myself in!) will watch, enjoy them, and beg for more (I hope he makes at least 10 more films before dying, and that he doesn't retire while he's still breathing). Besides, it's hard to resist such a charming cast as this: Javier Bardem, Scarlett Johansson, Rebecca Hall, Patricia Clarkson and a hilarious turn from Penélope Cruz; the beauty of Barcelona and other Spanish locations, and Allen's unmistakable dialogue. Even if "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" doesn't carry the depth of "Crimes and Misdemeanors", isn't as funny as "Mighty Aphrodite" or as witty as "Bullets Over Broadway", it's still another orgasm the Little Red provides us (oh, and if you wanna see it just for the already famous kiss between Penélope and Scarlett, you might be disappointed - it's sexy, but lasts only about 3 seconds). 8.5/10.