Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen, even at his rather advanced age, is incredibly funny, a brilliantly wry observer and storyteller who ingeniously hides his ironic messages underneath the charming, sens(eless)ual beauty of summertime Barcelona. The characters of the two (gorgeous) leads are at first glance more than a little different, but as their characters are put into situations in which they are more and more "tested" as the narrative progresses, the initial scattergun approach then completely disappears and the individual attributes of their characters overlap and merge. Vicky Cristina Barcelona can hardly be described as a romantic genre film because there is so much hidden under that attractive skin that would be worthy of several stacks of psychological, philosophical, or social studies, none of which would come to anything definite anyway. However, the way Woody Allen presents his views on relationships, family life, or morality is fantastic. (21/11/2010)

In his old age, Woody Allen somehow caught a new artistic vibe and can surprise with at least every other film he churns out at a machine gun pace. After his film Match Point, this is the second film I've seen in a short time where I had a hard time finding his typical style. For a long time, essentially for the entire first half of the film, I couldn't immerse myself in it, but with every passing minute, this Boccaccio-esque tangle of relationships and love passions got to me more and more. Unlike his older comedies, Allen reduced his typical dialogue banter, omitted the character of a neurotic intellectual, and focused on a group of people who have problems with their emotions and long for something that is currently out of their reach. The infidelities, seductions, rejections, and sufferings are presented convincingly and have charm, especially when they form a remarkable polygon. It may not be the pinnacle of Allen's work, but Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely belongs to the better things he has created. Overall impression: 80%. (24/05/2010)

Only unfulfilled love can be romantic. During the trailer, I anxiously anticipated, at the first reviews unexpectedly attaching the film with the stamp of the funniest movie of the year, he blinked surprised and didn't even breathe during the film. And he cursed the reviews. This comedy is not it, and from my point of view, it doesn't come anywhere close to it. Not that the humor is completely missing, but in several places, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was watching Match Point for the second time - this time written with a much more positive mood. Woody's experimenting should never (if possible) end. Thanks to Spain, everything is intimately familiar and yet brilliantly new. When the uncompromising artist Bardem steps up to the table, a hint of the coming symbolism of partnership can be sensed, but it was only when the fascinating intimacy began to unfold that I realized what a unique work I had come across. Because I didn't see pure romance anymore, Woody probably has his ultra-happy endings definitively behind him. And at the same time, I didn't see a hint of cynicism, just the suppression of idealism and the inevitable acquisition of a certain perspective. Thanks to this, Vicky is enjoyed the most by those romantics who have already been burned. Those sweetly hopeful should rather wait a few more years alongside Hana and her sisters. (31/12/2008)

First I fell in love with the poster, and after that, one photo was enough to decide whether to buy it or not. And I did indeed buy it because I know what I like. :) A free translation for those interested in the actual commentary on Vicky Cristina Barcelona reads as follows: I've gotten used to having Scarlett Johansson, who I don’t particularly like, in movies I wouldn't want to miss, so her acting doesn't give me goose bumps as much anymore. I've confirmed many times that I prefer to seek out Penélope Cruz outside of the present in films from any past era, and Javier Bardem impressed me in Goya's Ghosts and Love in the Time of Cholera. The combination of these three actors, however, evoked flawless chemistry in my eyes, and the summer mood imbued with the sexual energy of a love triangle promised exactly the kind of story the film tells. Are you tempted by this? Give in to it. (18/04/2010)

Allen is still in top form, writing great scripts like a treadmill and breathing such charm into them as no one else could. Though it's true that here the central female trio contributes a lot to the charm, with one actress being more attractive (and better) than the other – and I was downright envious of Javier Bardem's role. It's not a romantic gem and it gets a bit lost in the flood of Allen's films, but it's still a more than pleasant summer diversion spiced up with excellent actors and the traditionally playful direction of one of the most legendary filmmakers of our time. Besides, there's something really magical about Barcelona, and it's not the Nou Camp...:-) 80% (03/04/2013)