Penelope CruzVicky Cristina Barcelona [DVD]

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a real throwback - and that's a good thing. I don't mean a throwback to mid period or even early Woody Allen, but, in some ways, to Hollywood movies of the great studios era.VCB has the narrative drive of a movie from the 50s. Scene follows scene with none of the longeurs found in too much more recent cinema and the plot builds to a satisfying conclusion. Moreover, it all happens in 90 minutes - the classic movie length. By modern standards this is brief, although a lot of events occur in the film. This brevity is achieved through the use of voiceover. Although initially annoying and slightly puzzling (not one of the characters - who is this narrator ?) this time honoured device ultimately works to the film's advantage by eliminating the need for lengthy exposition within the narrative, thus keeping things moving.But don't get the idea that VCB is all about plot - it's not, it's actually about character. In doing this, VCB is revealed as a throwback in a second sense, this time to an older theme : Americans abroad in Europe, the New World clashing with the Old. A hundred and more years ago it was the characters of Henry James who were experiencing the mismatch of European and American manners and attitudes ; now it's those of Woody Allen. And they do it very well too - all the cast are convincing and work well together. The characterisation is strong and sympathy shifts from one character to another.So where's Woody himself in all of this ? No one's Jewish, there's no wise cracking, etc. Even the voice in the voiceover is not his. Okay, the film's all about relationships, but Woody Allen can hardly claim copyright on that. There is, however, one brief but superbly composed shot that reminds you of the director's love for the work of Ingmar Bergman. Cristina, pondering her future, is silhouetted against a dark, turbulent sea : this could easily be from Persona (apart from the colour, of course!).Well worth watching.

Well directed, scripted and acted, I nonetheless found this film frustrating; nearly pointless, close to meaningless. But then that might have been the point? Allen highlights his common existential theme by having a character say two or three times that life has no overarching meaning, only experience; so meaning has to be found in experience. This film is slice of life in which little is learned by Vicky & Christina and no meaning is found.An Epic is a story in which characters undertake a journey and are changed by their experiences. This is an anti-epic: the lead characters go through powerful experiences and don't change.Vicky starts off having decided she wants a conventional life, and has a well looking, well off, successful fiance lined up who is keen to marry her and set out on such a life; though she clearly has some nagging doubts she's not admitting to herself or anyone else. Her experiences in 'Barcelona' show her that she is likely to find the reality of this marriage/life dull and unfulfilling. The result, with even larger nagging doubts she chooses the marriage anyway.Christina is a drifter (well enough off to do this - actually, none of the characters have any money worries at all) who doesn't know what she wants, but knows when she doesn't want something. She has the experience of being in a vital relationship with new friends and lovers, in a beautiful house/environment, encouraged to develop her talent as a creative photographer, with access to every luxury. A sort of 'once in a lifetime near fantasy opportunity'. At the end she decides this something else she doesn't want and decides to carry on drifting - guess she has a private income allowing her to indulge herself however she wishes.In the end, I had no patience with either of them: spoilt brats both; one with no courage, the other with no direction.The Spanish characters, if sometimes anarchic, DO have life and energy; V & C should have learned something from them; the Spaniards had nothing to learn from V & C.Again, maybe this was supposed to be just a slice of (ultimately pointless) experience?Finally, this is just my opinion: it's an admired film, loved by many, and it's certainly very well made.

Fab acting. Fab movie. Recommended.

Accused and reviled, Woody Allen rises above unfounded and unsubstantiated rumours and continues to practise his consummate craft: a talent, not merely to amuse, but to surprise and delight. His material is Spain and the music of Spain, chosen with exquisite judgement as ever. The artists, a glittering roll-call, do not disappoint. Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johanssen inhabit their own inimitably beautiful, sensual, impossible personas and Javier Bardem is a sympathetic, emotionally vulnerable skirt-chaser. The third woman, though, is the one who touches us. Rebecca Hall's honest, straightforward, passionate but ultimately wise character goes straight to the heart. The film is ultimately about her journey, and one long, straight look of conviction she exchanges with Scarlett Johanssen's character, her best friend, near the end of the film, rivals Charlie Chaplin's focus at the end of 'City Lights' for wordless communication. From any directorthis film would be remarkable: from a director in his eighties it is astonishing.