Vicky Christina Barcelona

I have been a sucker for movies of all kinds lately, probably owing to the fact that I have not watched many of them lately while I was lazed around at my sleeper hit hometown of Sitiawan. I have been missing the environment of watching a romantic comedy for quite sometime, more so a Woody Allen comedy drama- and that is exactly what VCB provides. Fun, and that in my style!

VCB is no slapstick fun, it is true to the Woody Allen style of humor- weird characters, philandering characters, flexible lovers, infidelity, all which ultimately explores the many facets in which love can exist, without being judgemental and being humurous enough to keep you glued for 90 minutes in theater.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson) are two best friends who arrive for a summer vacation in Barcelona, and both get entangled in a quirky, dangerous relationship with a Spanish painter Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), who in turn has a volatile on-off relationship with his ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). And for starters, Cruz won an Oscar for best supporting actress thanks to this wonderful extended cameo as a psychotic, obsessed, and also intelligent lover.

Whats interesting in the film is the characters. Vicky believes in commitment and security, while Christina believes in anything but commitment and security when it comes to relationships or love. Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem, and Cruz all produce sterling performances and get to the gloves of their characters and Cruz definitely merits her Oscar based on this neurotic, gun-swinging (literally) performance. Bardem fits to the T in a role that follows up his talismanic, Oscar-winning performance in Coen Brothers' 'No Country for Old Men'. Hall meanwhile is surprisingly good in her role, and I recognize her well from playing Sarah Borden in one of my all-time favorite flicks- 'The Prestige'. Scarlett is somehow overshadowed by the former actors' performances, and I reckon the biggest trouble is Scarlett's 'hot'-ness factor. It looks like a bed scene is lurking around the corner everytime Scarlett gets close to a male character, and she struggles to overshadow that factor in her acting. She definitely has to work better on improving her character sketch, probably a throwback to the days of 'Lost in Translation' or glimpses from 'The Prestige' would help her in that respect.

Woody Allen is his usual self, directing this film with able composure and witty style which is like a satirical, non-judgemental social commentary on the weird forms love manifests itself in.

VCB is kewl!

Rating: 8/10