For the past several years, Woody Allen has continued to produce films that deal with the hardships of love, lust and everyone's ultimate destination, death. Through these films, many fans have been turned off by the constant dark theme; however, for those that have stuck around, Allen's newest voyage known as Vicky Christina Barcelona is one of immense emotion and tranquility, and is easily worth the long, drawn out weight that we have all been forced to endure.
Though great friends, Christina and Vicky couldn't be more different. While Vicky has settled down and is preparing to wed a straight-laced business man, Christina is still venturing for the true meaning of life and love. It is this difference, as well as the free spirit of both women, that ultimately finds them on a plane with one other person, a painter by the name of Juan Antonio. While his true intentions have never been a secret, the women are unaware of the power and influence that Juan can have. However, both soon come to the realization that this summer trip isn't going to be quite as innocent as they originally believed.
Leading an all-star cast, Scarlett Johansson gives a stellar performance as the mysterious and provocative Christina. Dealing with the emotions and turbulence of a new beginning, Johansson portrays a mature woman full of innocence and a longing for discovery.
At her side is Rebecca Hall, who surprises everyone with her passionate and moody turn as the conservative and strict Vicky. Though she carries a separate mentality and history compared to Christina, it is these differences that allow Hall to shine on-screen. Her reserved demeanor and eventual actions come as a shock as she grows the most out of all the characters, venturing outside of her comfort zone and really seeing all that the world has to offer.
However, the true strength of the cast comes with the dynamic duo of Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz, who bring Juan Antonio and his beautiful but insane wife to life. Through their ambivalent relationship, both stars propel as the strangely tied couple. However, it is more of their work as a team that impresses as both feed off of one another, creating a stamp on the fully entertaining cast as a whole.
But, unlike most of his other films, Vicky Christina Barcelona doesn't rely on either the cast or their performances. Instead, it is the simple yet intriguing plotline that keeps the focus and attention of the audience. It is the scenery and cinematography that allows the film to feel so complicated, yet come across fluid and serene. The character flow between scenes, interacting peacefully and creating a realistic feeling amongst themselves, a feat that truly marks the work of an outstanding cast and director.
Additionally, the music and visuals that graced the screen during the hour and a half film were truly mesmerizing and fitting for the mood. From the opening credits to the closing number, everything seemed to be perfectly placed to convey a simplistic and confined story.
Though I must admit that there was one minor flaw in the film as a whole; that of narration. Used sporadically throughout the film, a man's voice kept filling in the gaps during dry moments, attempting to spice up the film and keep it moving from one action to the next. Unfortunately, I felt that the narration took away from the film's overall effect, causing it to lose part of its 'reality factor' and failing to allow the audience to interpret feelings and emotions for themselves.
Luckily, it didn't ruin the experience for me as Wood Allen finally came out of hiding and created a film that is so romantic, detrimental and enjoyable that you can't help but fall in love with the pure beauty of the story and the characters that comprise it.
