DramaRomance

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

- Life is the ultimate work of art.

Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture.

Release Date : 2008-08-15

Language :SpanishEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Gravier ProductionsMediaproAtresmediaDumaine Productions

Production Country : SpainUnited States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Cristina

Original Name : Scarlett Johansson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Vicky

Original Name : Rebecca Hall

Gender : Female

Character Name : Juan Antonio Gonzalo

Original Name : Javier Bardem

Gender : Male

Character Name : María Elena

Original Name : Penélope Cruz

Gender : Female

Character Name : Narrator (voice)

Original Name : Christopher Evan Welch

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doug

Original Name : Chris Messina

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judy Nash

Original Name : Patricia Clarkson

Gender : Female

Character Name : Mark Nash

Original Name : Kevin Dunn

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charles

Original Name : Julio Perillán

Gender : Male

Character Name : Art Gallery Guest

Original Name : Ricard Salom

Gender : Male

Character Name : Art Gallery Guest

Original Name : Maurice Sonnenberg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doctor

Original Name : Manel Barceló

Gender : Male

Character Name : Julio

Original Name : Josep Maria Domènech

Gender : Male

Character Name : Guitarist in Asturias

Original Name : Emilio de Benito

Gender : Male

Character Name : Juan Antonio's Friend

Original Name : Jaume Montané

Gender : Male

Character Name : Juan Antonio's Friend

Original Name : Lloll Bertran

Gender : Female

Character Name : Juan Antonio's Friend

Original Name : Joel Joan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Juan Antonio's Friend

Original Name : Silvia Sabaté

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ben

Original Name : Pablo Schreiber

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sally

Original Name : Carrie Preston

Gender : Female

Character Name : Adam

Original Name : Zak Orth

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jay

Original Name : Abel Folk

Gender : Male

Reviews

CinemaSerf

@Geronimo1967

2024-03-31

"Vicky" (Rebecca Hall) is the more sensible and realistic of the friends. "Cristina" (Scarlett Johansson) tends to fly more by the seat of he pants - and both have come to the lively and vibrant city of Barcelona for an holiday. Almost immediately then encounter the typically mischievous painter "Juan Antonio" (Javier Bardem) who invites them for a weekend at his. Initially this story rather goes as we might expect, but the emergence of his ex-wife "Maria Elena" (Penêlope Cruz) and "Doug" (Chris Messina) who's the rather nice but dim boyfriend of "Vicky" now provides us with all the ingredients for a sexually tense maelstrom set amidst the temperamentally unsound worlds of art, wine and sunshine. I think this is Woody Allen's writing at it's best here. It's funny and poignant whilst at the same time light-hearted enough to allow the actors to develop the characters in a natural and engaging fashion. Bardem is great as the painter but it's Cruz who really shines here. Her portrayal of the highly-strung "Maria Elena" is at times embarrassing, then hilarious then - when she has a gun, well that's just downright dangerous (even if she couldn't hit a barn door with a shovel). It's a great looking film using the beautiful city and it's Gaudi architecture as a fitting backdrop for a drama that Christopher Evan Welch narrates (sparingly) in an almost sarcastic fashion. It packs plenty into ninety-odd minutes and is a strong example of an ensemble cast working well together.