2008 Woodie Awards
Allen branches out, should stay home
By Shayna Murphy, Collegian Staff
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Arts & Living
John Waters has Baltimore. Godard has Paris, the south of France. And Woody Allen has Manhattan.
For decades, the former stand-up comedian anchored his films on the lives and travails of fellow New Yorkers. During that time, leading ladies came and went. The 1970s were dominated by Diane Keaton, the 1980s by Allen's domestic partner, Mia Farrow. But the real star of Allen's films was - and always remained - Manhattan.
Until now.
With his last three films Allen has tried something a little different. Instead of comedies he has gravitated toward more heavy dramas, not unlike his 1978 Bergman-inspired "Interiors." And instead of New York, Allen has toured England. But in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," the wandering filmmaker travels to Spain in search of love, art and just maybe the creative spark which seems to have eluded him over the past decade.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona," stars Allen's latest muse, Scarlett Johansson, as the fickle yet passionate Cristina, an aspiring artist whose 12-minute film about love has zapped her of direction and focus. Cristina accepts an offer to tag along around Barcelona with her uptight friend Vicky (Rebecca Hall).
Vicky is engaged to a yuppie (Chris Messina), and this Barcelona vacation is her last hurrah before matrimony. She hopes to discover more about Catalan life and culture, just as Cristina hopes to discover more about who she really is. Instead, both women discover Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem, looking a lot sexier without the Prince Valiant haircut sported in "No Country for Old Men").
Juan Antonio is a painter of some repute, most of it ill, based on his steamy relationship with ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). She tried to stab him, but he still can't stop talking about her. As an opening line, he propositions the girls with a weekend in Oviedo. Cristina is immediately intrigued while Vicky is more or less appalled. Yet, both girls agree to go with him, and the film takes flight from there.
For decades, the former stand-up comedian anchored his films on the lives and travails of fellow New Yorkers. During that time, leading ladies came and went. The 1970s were dominated by Diane Keaton, the 1980s by Allen's domestic partner, Mia Farrow. But the real star of Allen's films was - and always remained - Manhattan.
Until now.
With his last three films Allen has tried something a little different. Instead of comedies he has gravitated toward more heavy dramas, not unlike his 1978 Bergman-inspired "Interiors." And instead of New York, Allen has toured England. But in "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," the wandering filmmaker travels to Spain in search of love, art and just maybe the creative spark which seems to have eluded him over the past decade.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona," stars Allen's latest muse, Scarlett Johansson, as the fickle yet passionate Cristina, an aspiring artist whose 12-minute film about love has zapped her of direction and focus. Cristina accepts an offer to tag along around Barcelona with her uptight friend Vicky (Rebecca Hall).
Vicky is engaged to a yuppie (Chris Messina), and this Barcelona vacation is her last hurrah before matrimony. She hopes to discover more about Catalan life and culture, just as Cristina hopes to discover more about who she really is. Instead, both women discover Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem, looking a lot sexier without the Prince Valiant haircut sported in "No Country for Old Men").
Juan Antonio is a painter of some repute, most of it ill, based on his steamy relationship with ex-wife Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz). She tried to stab him, but he still can't stop talking about her. As an opening line, he propositions the girls with a weekend in Oviedo. Cristina is immediately intrigued while Vicky is more or less appalled. Yet, both girls agree to go with him, and the film takes flight from there.
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