Woody in Barcelona

Rating: Null/10 (17 August 2008)

After breaking free from his too-comfortable habitat of New York and 3 encounters with Britain, Woody Allen went even further with his European adventure. When his "Spanish project" (working title) finally emerged as "Vicky Christina Barcelona" in Cannes earlier this year, it was well received. The current general release in North America solidifies the consensus that Allen is alive and well, as nods from critics come from every direction.
In Allen's characteristic style, the story of two girls' summer sojourning in Barcelona moves along in crisp pace, becoming immediately engaging with its interesting characters and scintillating dialogue. The frequent use voice-over narration upset some critics, but frees the actors from the task of development of story and plot, allowing them to concentrate on development of the characters. And this is where the fun begins.
It starts with Vicky and Christina accepting charismatic painter Juan Antonio's invitation to a weekend in his idyllic resort to, among other things, "make love", "all three of us, hopefully". His easy candor in admitting that he is attracted by the beauty of both of them is disarming ti Christina but annoying to Vicky. But things are not what they seem.
Romantic-minded and sexually adventurous Christina, naturally the object of Juan Antonio's seduction, is out of action for the entire weekend, down with some local disease. Sensible, composed, soon-to-be-married Vicky becomes Juan Antonio's somewhat reluctant companion for the weekend. As Juan Antonio is cautious not to step over the line of a friendly tour guide, the time they spend together is not unpleasant. He even takes her to visit his Spanish-speaking father (reminds me of "An affair to remember", 1957). But then, under the romantic enchantment or the Spanish night and guitar, and with the help of the wine from dinner, the two finally connected, both figuratively and literally.
Rational Vicky turns out to be the most confused, unable to get Juan Antonia off her mind. Juan Antonia turns out to be the most rational. Entirely honest and calmly logical, he refrains from pursuing a meaningless relationship with Vicky and turns his attention to Christina. When Vicky's dull fiancée comes up with and puts into action the idea of coming to Barcelona to consummate the marriage originally planned for the fall, things seems to have stabilized. But we are not even having half the fun yet.
About half-way into the movie, in storms Juan Antonio's estranged wife Maria Elena, critics' descriptions of whom include "combustible" and "tempestuous". But she is also ultra-talented  not only that she was the one who initiated Juan Antonio on painting, she is also good enough to be a concert pianist. After a short initial claws-out stage, the women find friendship, and more. In order to help Christina tap her talents in photography, Maria Elena has a dark room constructed. Then, when she starts caressing Christina in said dark room, a new, three-way equilibrium is found. For a while, it looks like the three will carry on in this idyllic existence indefinitely.
But just like Vicky and Juan Antonio, Christine is not what initially meets the eye. The hopelessly romantic, erotic adventurer in her disappears, and she wants out. Without her as the "marriage lubricant" the relationship between the once estranged couple falls apart once more. Then, it's back to Juan Antonio and Vicky, who is now UNhappily married.
Such sumptuous, rich material in Allen's hands make wonders, due also not the least to the capable cast. Javier Bardem successfully erased his almost inerasable, blood chilling image from "No country for old men" with perfectly executed under-acting. Scarlett Johansson gives her best to portraying the dreamily sensuous American tourist in a perpetual search for romantic love. Appearing only in the second half of the movie, Penelope Cruz is at her fiery best. If she'd also sang (as she did in "Volver"), she would have stolen the entire show. And it's a real shame, on the producers, that they Rebecca Hall ("The prestige") did not get the same billing as the other three, for playing the most difficult character Vicky, and doing it so well.