
Woody Allen makes films so quickly that one would think he's concerned that if the financiers had a chance to see his last film they may not want to fund his new one. Allen can try to keep a step ahead of them if he likes; it just means more great work for us viewers. This is certainly the case with his latest, which sees two very different women, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) falling for the same Spanish painter, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), during a summer abroad. Complications ensue when Juan's crazed ex-wife, Maria Elena (scene-stealing Penelope Cruz) moves back in with him. Juan not only seduces the two very different women but he also seduces us. It is only when Allen wants to teach us a lesson about being seduced that the film tries to have its cake and eat it too. But ultimately his cast of irresistible seducers has us eating out of their hands even after the end credits roll. And as the title of the film indicates, Barcelona stars as the backdrop for this romantic fantasy. And as the title of the film indicates, Barcelona stars as the backdrop to this romantic fantasy. MM
Avec Vicky Cristina Barcelona, le plus fameux cinéaste new-yorkais poursuit son périple européen, après la trilogie londonienne composée de Match Point, Scoop et Le Rêve de Cassandre. Comme le titre l'indique, l'un des personnages principaux du film est la ville de Barcelone. Les comédiens emblématiques du cinéma espagnol, Javier Bardem et Penélope Cruz, se sont réunis dans Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Et Scarlett Johansson confirme son statut de nouvelle muse de Woody Allen; ce film marque en effet sa troisième collaboration avec le réalisateur. Le film a été présenté en Sélection officielle au Festival de Cannes en 2008.