Refreshing, sexually explosive, smart, and a real winner for Woody

Rating: 9/10 (7 September 2008)

VCB offers, first and foremost, a very smart look at romance. It is complicated, emotional, and of course, awkwardly hilarious. The timeless Woody Allen works comedy into his latest - and one of his best - by giving us humor that isn't funny within the movie, but is hilarious to us, the viewer watching the situation unfold before us. Allen's clever and complex outlook on relationships and what romance should be (that there should be no barriers), helps make VCB the most original, likable, and best romantic comedy of the year.
Our actors work very well as an ensemble, especially our four main characters. The advertising makes it seem that there are only three main characters. While Bardem, Johansson, and Cruz make up the main cast, Rebecca Hall's character is just as important, and was sadly neglected in the advertising process. It's a real shame, because Hall's performance as the lovably neurotic and straight edge Vicky is a great one. It's a character we've seen countless times, but Hall brings something new to the character this time around. The inner conflict - the perfectly emoted lines - make her character the most realistic in the movie, and therefore she becomes the character the audience latches onto.
Bardem and Johansson are...different...in their roles. This isn't a bad thing by any means. It's just that it's hard, as a viewer, to see Bardem go from sociopathic killer Anton Chigurh to the light hearted and free spirit Juan Antonio. Bardem's transition from "north to south" is seamless, and he's completely believable in his part, which of course, reminds any detractors just how versatile he can be. Scarlett Johansson's role is nothing new for her, as she's played variants of her character before, and her Cristina is basically a conglomerate. Her performance could have been better, but in no way does it take away from the film. She could have accentuated the 'free spirit' aspect of her character.
Penelope Cruz is nothing short of brilliant in her role as Bardem's ex-wife. The chemistry between Bardem and Cruz is electric, and is the emotional center of the movie. Much of who Bardem's character is centers around the performance of the actress playing his ex. Cruz is excellent, with her bilingual, unstable, and explosive performance. An Oscar nomination should be given here, though I don't know if it'll happen.
I also feel the need to note the excellent dialog, which is always present in an Allen film. The script is great, and again, an Oscar nomination is possible here as well. The film moves along quickly with beautiful shots of a beautiful city in Barcelona. Allen uses all the city's beauty to his advantage to make the film even better.
When dealing with performers that are as good looking as the actors we have here, the sexual tension presented by the film is already at an elevated level. Well, in the case of VCB, the sexual tension between ALL our character is so dynamic, palpable, and electric that you might get a little sweaty in the theater. It's a very sexy, hot, and hormone exciting film. If there's someone you know might be open to having a 'good time' with you, this is definitely the film to put them in the mood. In the end though, VCB is among Woody Allen's greatest movies, and is definitely one of the better films of the year. It's a smart romance movie that is a good break from the stupid and formulaic romcoms that are being churned out every other month.