Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in | Posted on 6:31 PM

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

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Don't worry!

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in | Posted on 6:25 PM

We're not dead!

More posts to come...

Sincerely,
The Citizen Review

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1st Annual Citizen Television Awards

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in | Posted on 9:08 PM



Best Drama Series
Mad Men - WINNER
House, M.D.
Lost
Private Practice
Dexter

Best Comedy Series
The Office
30 Rock - WINNER
Weeds
Ugly Betty
It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia

Best Writing for a Television Series
Mad Men
30 Rock - WINNER
It's Always Sunny in Philidelphia
The Closer
The Office

Best Actor in a Television Series
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock - WINNER
Tony Shalhoub, Monk
Hugh Laurie, House, M.D.
Steve Carell, The Office
Michael C. Hall, Dexter

Best Actress in a Television Series
Tina Fey, 30 Rock - WINNER
Mary-Louise Parker, Weeds
Kyra Sedgewick, The Closer
Sally Field, Brothers & Sisters
Anna Paquin, True Blood

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Video: John Krasinski & Amy Poehler Present at SAG Awards

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in | Posted on 2:33 PM

Sincerely,

The Citizen Review

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2009 Oscar Nominations (Oh, my)

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in | Posted on 4:28 PM

WHAT?!? WHAT?!? I couldn't beleive some of these nominations. I have lost pretty much all trust I once had in the Oscars.

Three things in this show I am truly sad for:
1. Sally Hawkins 
She really deserved a nomination. Oscars! How could you say no to that sweet Globes speech?
2. Kate Winslet
She really could have won with The Reader, if it was in the right category. This was going to be her year! But now, thanks to the academy, there's really a slim slim chance she'll win.
3. The Dark Knight
No Best Picture, Screenplay or Director. Makes me so mad! 

Oh, and The Reader for Best Picture? Really? The Oscars, even in a year of varried and rare gems of films, manages to pick out the same films like every year.

Here's the list:

BEST PICTURE
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

BEST DIRECTOR
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
David Fincher, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr., Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

BEST ACTRESS
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

BEST ACTOR
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Marttin McDonagh, In Bruges
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, WALL-E

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire
David Hare, The Reader
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
Eric Roth, Robin Swicord, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Here's the full list

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Some Close Calls and Upsets at Last Night's SAGs

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in | Posted on 3:55 PM


The evening started as usual with the "I am ____ and I'm an actor" monolouges (Steve Carell's was funniest).

With the TV, 30 Rock sweeped up clean for comedy as usual. It's no surprise, afterall it is the best show on television! Hugh Laurie, Sally Field and Mad Men also were deemed with the other television show awards. John Adams also did well.

In the Supporting Female Actor award, it was going to be a close call whoever won. But Kate Winslet in The Reader took home 'The Actor'. "It's really an honor to be included in what I think is such a remarkable year and be acknowledged by my peers in this way" Winslet said in her speech. Yes she won for The Reader in a SUPPORTING role (Oscars!!) Heath Ledger of course won for Supporting Male and Gary Oldman, his costar, accepted the award on his behalf.

An even closer call was the Leading Actor/ Female Actor awards. But, as you may have seen from the video, Meryl Streep took home the gold. It was a truly memorable moment (hopefully the Oscars will be half as fun). Streep's reaction was of complete and utter surprise. She literally sprinted to the stage (and then kissed Ralph Fiennes on the mouth!). She continued to be humble in her speech, "There is no such thing as 'Best Actress.'" she said and also commented on how unfair Hollywood treats Viola Davis, "My God, somebody give her a movie!". Then, Sean Penn came in to win Best Male Actor in a Leading Role, with a slightly controversial speech to follow (just YouTube it).

And then, of course, much to my dismay, Slumdog Millionaire won for Best Ensemble cast. I just have to say, "What about Doubt?" (no rhyme intended). I mean, preactically the whole ensemble was nominated for an award and one took it home. Oh well. If it wins the Oscar, then I will be really sad.



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Video: Meryl Streep SAG Acceptance

Posted by The Citizen Review | Posted in , , | Posted on 3:34 PM


This clip is so great. Mery Streep's sheer astonishment and unpretentiousness is priceless. GO MERYL!

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