Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen seems to be fighting an uphill, it is difficult for people to separate a man from his work, myself included, I have repeatedly lectured Nick McDougall that I can’t help but view films as his own fantasies, young girls running off with old men has never seemed so much like art reflecting art, it would easier to forget if it weren’t for the other problem, the fact that it appears Allen has run out of talent, exhausted of fresh ideas, and he can’t seem to stop writing himself into a film, even if it is in a form portrayed by Rebecca Hall, all that said, despite an overall taste of staleness Allen’s newest film is enjoyable, and as many critics will tell you it is owed to the performances of Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem, and I hope that he drops current muse of Scarlett Johansson for one of these two, this film certainly isn’t sexy as some critics argue, it doesn’t seem Allen is even trying to make it sexy with the Cruz-Johansson kiss even being quite placid, it is more fun than sexy, a high example of American romantic comedies but nothing you have to think about too seriously, the narrative tends to cliché in the conservative Americans seduced by the promiscuity of Europeans, but Allen and the Spanish actors seem to be enjoying themselves so much it is not too distracting, the new city helps Allen some but if he continues to work in foreign cities he will continue to portray his locations superficially, and his distinctive New York voice will continue to feel out of place, I’m sure there are parts of that city he hasn’t explored yet.