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Woodwork
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is not necessarily a typical Woody Allen film, even though the film uses plenty of his trademarks. As usual, Allen casts his latest ingenue, Scarlett Johansson, as Cristina, the adventurous, wide-eyed traveler. And you'd swear Cristina's up-tight traveling companion, Vicky(Rebecca Hall), is channeling Allen's stuttering voice nearly every time she speaks. Yet, the great departure from his usual style and saving grace of the film is when Penelope Cruz storms onto the scene! Cruz(MariAlena) plays Javier Bardem's tumultuous ex-wife. Unlike the other characters in the film, MariAlena is viscerally alive! She is wild, angry, suspicious, vulnerable, and dangerous! MariAlena lays herself out for all to see. Cruz as MariAlena is a commanding presence, and in the film, MariAlana RULES! Her allure has such a hold on Bardem that he feels he is cursed, with or without her. And Cristina finds undiscovered parts of herself due to her closeness with MariAlena, who is the only one who truly "sees" Christina and her talents. And, you could say that Vicky (Christina's engaged-to-be-married traveling companion), a little worse-for-the-wear, owes her marriage to MariAlena. All in all, I can't say this film is even close to Oscar-worthy, but Cruz's performance is!!! Vicky Cristina Barcelona is definitely a destination worth exploring, if only to encounter one very exceptional character along the way.— August 22, 2008 7:19 p.m.