Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Rating: 8/10 (19 September 2009)

Written and directed Woody Allen, I mainly heard of this film for the one and Oscar it won for best supporting actress, but also it reunited the director with the leading actress of his Match Point, so I thought I might enjoy this too. With narration by Christopher Evan Welch, basically bright but cautious Vicky (Golden Globe nominated British actress Rebecca Hall) and sexually adventurous Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are on holiday in Barcelona, Spain. There they meet seductive painter Juan Antonio Gonzalo (No Country for Old Men's Golden Globe nominated Javier Bardem), who makes them the offer to spend the weekend with him, and by the end of it be sleeping together. Cristina reluctantly agrees, while Vicky objects, being engaged to fiancée Doug (Chris Messina), and hearing that Juan was violent to his wife, but she does go along. Once in Pviedo, Cristina develops an ulcer, so Juan takes Vicky sightseeing, and they eventually end up kissing each other and having sex, and of course she doesn't say anything to Cristina. While Vicky marries Doug, Vicky moves in with Juan after they too have had sex, but then Juan's unstable ex-wife Maria Elena (Oscar and BAFTA winning, and Golden Globe nominated Penélope Cruz) overdoses on something, and he brings her to his house to recover. As time goes by, what was once a distraction actually turns into a passion as Juan, Cristina and Maria all enjoy each other's company (yes, sexually). Vicky realises the mistake of marriage, and Cristina eventually leaves Juan and Maria, and when Vicky goes to see Juan again, Maria goes mad with a gun. In the end, Vicky and Cristina find each other, but they are all the way back where they started, unsure of where to go and what to do. Also starring Dogville's Patricia Clarkson as Judy Nash, Small Soldiers' Kevin Dunn as Mark Nash, Julio Perillán as Charles, Zak Orth as Adam, Carrie Preston as Sally and Pablo Schreiber as Ben. All four performers, Johansson, Bardem, Hall and obviously award-worthy Cruz are perfect for this film that is both charmingly funny, at times very dramatic, and a fully rounded romantic story, a very effective film about culture clashes. It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical. Very good!