A very entertaining film that was so free and open yet engaging. I’m just baffled by how the film was able to be so charming and appealing without a real strong storyline − there weren’t really any major events that took place. It revolved around two girls, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Christina (Scarlett Johansson), who become entwined in feelings for a womanising free-spirited painter Juan Antonio (played by a fantastic Javier Bardem). Things get a little complicated and “strange” when his ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penélope Cruz) returns and we see that Juan Antonio never really broke up with her − a complicated, tense yet passionate relationship ensues. I was going to write that this film is a lot about feelings but that’s not really accurate because when I look back and think about it, a lot of those emotions weren’t really shown. For a film about relationships, there wasn’t a lot of scenes about those actual relationships but more about the thoughts and effects of them. What the film did focus on and why I think it worked so well, was the strength of the characters. As I mentioned before, this film starred a terrific Javier Bardem (who I hadn’t seen since his amazing performance in Before Night Falls), is charming but at the same time is so mysterious and hard to work out really. And Penélope Cruz was just excellent − a feisty, energetic, amusing and stunning personality − she definitely stole the scenes. But it’s hard to write about this film. For almost two hours you are just there, with the characters experiencing what is sort of a fantasy life with no responsibilities or consequences, full of opportunities and beautiful Spanish surroundings.
4.5/5
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