Haven't you already seen this film about 20 times?

Rating: 3/10 (24 November 2009)

What a strange thing: Allen makes the exact same film he's been making for what seems like a century, but shifts the set from New York to Barcelona. It isn't clear why, other than to include scenes of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem fighting in Spanish. Allen's habitual, relentless claustrophia remains as present as ever, though, and we barely ever get out of a house, a room, a tight shot on a stilted conversation. Barcelona could have been Baltimore for all the difference it made. Neurotic artists, bad relationships, gossip, nouveau riche, petit bourgeoisie, passive men, crazy women, blah blah blah blah. Plus ça change, plus c'est le même Allen.