Vicky and Cristina are on summer holiday in Barcelona Spain; both women are in search of something different. One to see the sites of Spain to complete her master’s degree, the other a fantasy of wild love that she feels she can find in the two months they are going to be in Europe.

First let me say that I really don’t like Woody Allen films, the narcotic, self absorbed charter he plays in every film irritates me, but as a director he is coming into his own and improving with every frame of film. This film is well directed and the ensemble is very well cast, the story is well written and even though I really feel like if there is a narrator that a script is failing, this film works well on many levels. The locations were well picked out, and the shot blocking was again very, very well done, also I’d like to note that there are some very interesting and beautiful paintings in this film and my hat goes off to the artist.  

I really liked Penelope Cruz acting in this film she gets to play a wild and a little insane Spaniard, ( she won the Oscar for best supporting actress for the role) it was not to over the top and over flowing with sexually, and stealing the show. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is in a way a mirror in which Americans can see from the point of view of most Europeans, as to what most Americans must look like to them in their eyes. I think that constraint use of photography in this film is a metaphor from how Americans visit Europe, capturing as much of it as they can, it instead of absorbing and feeling and living in, its deep ancient richness.

DIRECTOR: Woody Allen                                           

SCREENWRITER: Woody Allen      

CINEMATOGRAPHER: Javier Aguirresarobe

CAST: Javier Bardem, Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson, 

Patricia Clarkson, Kevin Dunn, Rebecca Hall, Chris Messina   

STUDIO/PRODUCER: The Weinstein Company / Gravier Productions   

Type: Romance, drama and maybe a little bit of comedy