From the Vault: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

I can now categorically state that Woody Allen has joined the list of directors that I wish had never picked up a camera (this list also includes Steven Spielberg and James Cameron). I have tried for years to see what Woody Allen brings to the table and why he has such a large fan base. Now, I am done trying to find an answer! Vicky Cristina Barcelona is my last attempt to see the virtues in this director.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is about two friends who decide to take a vacation to Barcelona. Vicky is a straight laced academic who is engaged to an equally straight laced man. She wants to spend the majority of her time in libraries and research repositories working on her thesis in Catalana identity. Cristina is basically the antithesis of Vicky in that she is fun loving and free-wheeling. The way that she is introduced makes me appear like a loose woman who is lost in life. Cristina has come to Barcelona to find herself. What both women find is an attractive Spanish artist who woos both women, even though Vicky tries to resist. Though Vicky believes herself in love with the artist, she refuses to continue a relationship with him. Instead, Cristina takes up with him and eventually moves into his villa. The movie really gets interesting when the artist's wife tries to kill herself and must move in with Cristina and the artist in order to protect her. Of course, drama ensues.

Though the movie is filled with strong performances, I still found it to be boring and the plot hackneyed. Some reviews state that the movie was created so that Allen could watch Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz make out. I believe that that is a true assessment. Overall, I was underwhelmed and do not recommend this film to anyone except hardcore Woody Allen fans.

-DLP