Lindsey Lowson / 13 January 2025 / Categories: Movie and TV Shows, Movie

Vicky Christina Barcelona

A classic movie that always makes me smile

You know when someone says the name of a movie and you say “I LOVE that movie” Vicki Christina Barcelona is one such movie. When you combine Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem all at their height of fame and sexiness in this 2008 BAFTA and Oscar winning movie, Cruz took both the academy award and the BAFTA in 2009 for best supporting actor, from none other than the sublimely weirdly wonderfully witty pen of Woody Allen it’s not surprising all the stars aligned into 100 minutes of movie magic.

There’s something about the Woody Allen script, the way he directs the characters in his home movie dialogue driven creations that makes this movie so enchanting, visually stimulating, dark yet at times absolutely weirdly hilarious.

It’s the story of two American friends played by Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall, one sexually adventurous and free spirited , her friend stiff, uptight, cautious. They holiday in Barcelona, staying with a family friend of Christina played by Patricia Clarkson, stuck in a dead marriage herself and excited by the prospect of the two young house guests for the summer.

Here they meet the celebrated and wholly seductive painter, Juan Antonio, played by Javier Bardem, great eye candy. Vicky is not about to dive into a sexual adventure believing she is committed to her forthcoming marriage. Cristina (Johansson’d character) is immediately captivated by Juan Antonio's free spirit and his romantic allure is enhanced when she hears the delicious details of his divorce from fellow artist, the tempestuous Maria Elena, played by Cruz in what many describe as the performance of her career.

It’s an explosive LOVE story and I use that term in the loosest possible of ways.

It’s observational in Woody Allen’s directorial style, complex and very very funny.

Some films you watch, love and never revisit. This film I’ve seen more times than I can count and everytime I watch it I take something new from it.

A snoop wouldn’t be complete without mentioning this is a travel movie too, beautiful vistas of Catalonia, Spain brings back the memory of late evening warmth on sunkissed shoulders, purple skies and the whisper of crickets in the olive trees.

Who would love this film?

Anyone interested in the psychology of people. Anyone who has made a fool of themselves in the “holiday romance” category.

Anyone who appreciates a world where everyone is hot and sexy but there is always loads of arguing. Anyone who is interested in where lust and truth, jealousy and curiosity collide.