Review of Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) by Alice S — 07 Aug 2010

How does one describe the aura of a Woody Allen drama? Beautifully devastating? Manically depressive? Excellent ensemble acting, save for Scarlett Johansson whose character doesn't seem deep enough for her to develop. Rebecca Hall is understatedly neurotic; Javier Bardem is quietly smoldering; and Penelope Cruz is just crazy crazy crazy!

Maria Elena is truly an original Woody Allen character: a destructive genius full of hate and passion. Oddly enough, she is the only one who truly entrusts her life and soul to her lovers in this complicated threesome. To feel happy at hearing Cristina and Juan Antonio making love, to utter perhaps the most candidly melodramatic line in the film, "Don't you realize how much we love you?" she is how I want to feel all the time. About love, loss, inspiration, stagnation.