The Citizen Review " A man goes to the movies. A critic must be honest enough to admit that he is that man." -Robert Warshow

Average: A

Jack says: A

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is what all film lovers love about movies. Or at least what I find I love most often.

Here is Woody Allen's portrait of what can happen to beautiful women in a beautiful city. Vicky and Cristina are complete opposite when it comes to love but are the best of friends, and they find themselves in Barcelona for the summer, staying with Vicky's aunt and uncle. The two are bombarded by an extremely romantic Spanish painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). He invites them for a weekend of art, food, drinks and of course the 'inevitable'. Cristina, the romantc herself, finds the man sexy and interesting. Vicky, the rational with a fiance, won't have any of it.

The two end up traveling by plane with Juan Antonio to Oviedo and a rather tumultuous weekend unfolds (mostly for Vicky). The rest of the film is about choosing, losing and finding love in wierd and scary places.

Like I said, the film has it all: great performances, simple and delicate writing and beautifully shot European scenery. A film about love to fall in love with.

Matthew Says: A-

Vicky Cristina Barcelona begins and ends in similar ways. I won't tell you how, but it begins with Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Critstina (Scarlet johanson) leaving the airport into Barcelona. They meet with Vicky's Aunt and have lunch. They invite them to an art gallery and they go. While they are there they see a mysterious man. They go to dinner and see him there again. He offers them to go to Oviedo. They do, and from there is where most of the plot takes place.

After they leave, Cristina is invited back, she stays for awhile, then Juan Antonio's psycho ex-wife returns, and the trouble begins.

The film has a simple and quaint script that works for the film. It is filled with little great performances. One by Penelope Cruz. She gives a marvelous and eccentric performance. The other performance that stood out was Rebecca Hall's. One of the most underrated perrfomances of the year. She was real, funny and in her character.

The film is shot lovely, with a quaint script and wonderful performaces. It just might be worth watching.

Sincerely,

The Citizen Review