Writer and director Woody Allen’s new project, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” is a sexy and funny film that explores lust and passion, while offering a savory taste of the romance and culture of Spain.
The film follows two very different women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall, “The Prestige”) and her flighty best friend, Cristina (Scarlett Johansson, “Scoop,” “The Other Boleyn Girl”), as they travel to Barcelona for a vacation before Vicky gets married. The two ladies quickly catch the eye of José Antonio (Javier Bardem, “No Country for Old Men”), a painter who is still involved with his troubled ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz, “Volver”).
“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is essentially about living a life with love and passion. It’s easy to assume that the nebbish Allen might have trouble depicting those themes, but the sex scenes in this film are as steamy as they are moving. Allen relies on the talent of his actors (instead of blatant nudity) to convey the lust and emotions involved in lovemaking, and the gamble pays off. He expertly builds the tension between his characters until it bursts onto the screen – and with “Hot List” stars like Bardem, Cruz and Johansson between the sheets, I can pretty much guarantee that the result doesn’t disappoint.
Javier Bardem’s portrayal of the confident and alluring José Antonio almost made me forget about his chilling (but Academy Award winning) turn in “No Country for Old Men” last year. I think women everywhere will prefer this sexy and smoldering side of Bardem to the oddly-coiffed killer of “No Country,” Anton Chigurh. His sex appeal in “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is palpable, particularly in his scenes with Penélope Cruz.
Cruz steals every scene she’s in during the film. She dominates every minute of screen time she has as the talented and beautiful Maria Elena, whose artistic genius often comes with just a smidgen of jealous insanity. (For example, the film alludes to a past instance in which the “tempestuous” Maria Elena stabbed her former husband.) Cruz plays all sides of the role with a mystique that had me captivated by her character. Her chemistry with Bardem is undeniable, particularly when they’re speaking Spanish to each other. The two create such a fiery on-screen presence, you might find yourself needing a fan in the theater.
I also enjoyed Bardem’s lighter, but almost equally sexually charged scenes with Scarlett Johansson’s character, Cristina. Johansson seems to be Woody Allen’s new “it girl,” this being her third collaboration with the writer and director. (The first two were 2005’s “Match Point” and 2006’s “Scoop.”) In this film, Johansson is charming and certainly performs well as the idealistic Cristina, but I feel like she’s overshadowed by her costars. By no means is her performance bad; she just fails to leave as much of an impression as Bardem or Cruz.
However, I thought Rebecca Hall was very engaging as Vicky, a young woman who has come to terms with the mundane but practical life she has doomed herself to lead. Hall plays her attraction to Bardem’s José Antonio with a fresh innocence, almost like a curious flirtation with an alternate path she could take.
The city of Barcelona could be considered a character in itself, if only because Allen depicts it so gorgeously in the film. It was a fun surprise to see Spain’s beauty through the lens of the unabashed loyal New Yorker that Allen so often claims to be. The music, often only a simple Spanish guitar, only underscores the loveliness of the setting.
Overall, I’d classify “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” as a date movie for smart people. Owing much of the film’s charm to its beautiful stars and setting, Allen skillfully (and surprisingly) mixes culture and comedy with enough sex appeal to please everybody.
