Woody Allen's breezy comic fable is his most effortless and insightful in years - and nothing short of a love letter to love itself, in all its maddening glory.
Comment
08/14/08
Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
82
%
Tomatometer
How does the Tomatometer work 
Reviews Counted:185
Fresh:151
Rotten:34
Average Rating:6.9/10
Consensus: A beguiling tragicomedy, Vicky Cristina Barcelona charms with beautiful views of the Spanish city and a marvelously well-matched cast.
Genre: Dramas
US Box Office: $23,164,041
Synopsis: Two young Americans spend a summer in Spain and meet a flamboyant artist (Javier Bardem) and his beautiful but insane ex-wife (Penelope Cruz). Vicky (Rebecca Hall) is straight-laced and about to... [More]
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Rebecca Hall, Javier Bardem
Director: Woody Allen
Reviews for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
161 - 180 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
It all begins to feel veddy, veddy pretentious and a very, very long way from the Brooklyn or Manhattan that he actually understands.
08/14/08
Allen has crafted a wry and thoughtful film about the peculiar stirrings of the heart, which is certainly his most accomplished piece of work since Match Point, and his funniest in the eight years since Small Time Crooks.
08/14/08
The worst thing that you can say about Vicky Cristina Barcelona is that it's exceedingly pleasant, that it has the overall effect of a late summer, late afternoon nap.
08/14/08
Minor Allen, the movie is nevertheless cause for hope for those who insist on returning every year.
08/14/08
For a romance in which nobody seems to end up getting what they want, it's deceptively satisfying, and leaves you with a sense of hope, however false.
08/14/08
A recurring sentiment is that romance is only possible in a love that hasn't been fulfilled. That may be true when you're talking about people, but not of Allen's best films, which never lose their thrill.
08/13/08
Has a Mediterranean glow that gives the tale of passion and creativity a fundamentally warm quality that will surprise many viewers.
08/13/08
The magnificent acting ensemble alone is worth the price of admission.
08/13/08
Despite the big budget and name stars, Vicky Cristina Barcelona shows Allen’s 98th film stumbling into mumblecore, fumbling with love and class like a spoiled brat who’s never seen a Rohmer, Malle, Renoir or Ophuls masterpiece.
08/13/08
In this light-comic breeze of a movie, Cruz is a gathering storm.
08/13/08
Funny, intelligent, provocative and heartfelt, the film will remind moviegoers why they ever loved Woody Allen.
08/12/08
Allen's latest is a comedy of refreshing depth that finds the 72-year-old filmmaker invigorated by the picturesque backdrop of the Mediterranean coast and a perfectly matched cast.
08/11/08
Penelope Cruz deserves a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her fiery, crazy, sexy work in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
08/11/08
Top CriticGiven its particulars, Vicky Cristina Barcelona ought to have been an eye-roller. What a surprise that it’s so seductive.
08/11/08
Wonderfully scenic, exuberantly romantic.
08/09/08
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is basically the most arrogant film of the year, an occasion for Allen to feign interest in challenging heteronormic ideals when all he's doing is advancing a simplified view of female sexual agency.
08/09/08
Delivers to diehard fans of both the veteran's films and The Travel Channel.
08/08/08
A witty, cleverly crafted meditation on love - in all of its many fascinating permutations.
08/06/08
Woody Allen’s Vicky Cristina Barcelona has a natural, flowing vitality to it, a sun-drenched splendor that never falters.
08/04/08
Top CriticLatest News for Vicky Cristina Barcelona
January 27, 2009:
Milk Among GLAAD Nominees 
"Milk" has been a favorite on the awards circuit this year, and its hot streak has been extended courtesy of the GLAAD Media Awards, where it will compete in the Outstanding... More...
January 23, 2009:
Possibly distinguished solely for the first PG-13 lesbian smooching on screen ever, the film should be a trite, pleasing guy confection.
More...
January 19, 2009:
Actors And Crew Magazine: Possibly distinguished solely for the first PG-13 lesbian smooching on screen ever, the film should be a trite, pleasing guy confection.
More...
January 08, 2009:
Broadcast Film Critics Name Critics' Choice Winners
The 14th Annual Critics' Choice Awards were given on January 8, 2009, to honor the finest achievements in 2008 filmmaking. A list of nominees follows below, with winners in bold: More...
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