My first exposure to Woody Allen's directing, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, left me wanting more. Since I'm not familiar with Allen's work I can't make any comparisons/contrasts (that's up to you guys-Ian and Char), but I will touch on some things that stood out to me and could possibly be recurring in some of his other films...
First off, the story itself is quite quirky. The main characters are Vicky and Cristina, best friends who really couldn't be any more different, except that they've both fallen for a steamy man named Juan Antonio in Barcelona. There isn't really anything unique about this set-up of characters, however, Allen chooses to throw in an anal-retentive fiance (also not too out of the ordinary), and Juan Antonio's psycho ex-wife, who manages to put a remarkably odd and mildly uncomfortable twist on things. Going into this film I expected the typical love triangle between two best friends and a foreigner, but the actual result was somewhat of a love pentagon (The Dentist?!). I am completely fine with Cristina and Juan Antonio's relationship, but when Maria Elena comes into the picture, not just as a roommate but as a lover to both, I can't help but cringe just a bit. Allen took a relatively normal relationship and threw in a curveball, resulting in a really distorted view of what a successful relationship looks like. The "threesome" really threw me off during this film. Looking back on it I find myself wondering what the point is of these weird relationships, especially the importance of Maria Elena's character. I may be completely wrong in my assumption, but a potential recurring idea in Allen's films may revolve around absurd and out of the ordinary relationships and how those affect the overall story. I guess we will just have to wait and see. My last comment on the narrative of this film has to do with the ending. To put it simply: IT SUCKED! This film ended just how it should/could in real-life, but definitely not how the viewers want. No loose ends are tied and it's like we're back to square one. Hopefully that's not a typical characteristic of Allen's work. Overall though, I was very entertained by the rawness and deep development of each character. Everyone held their own and definitely enhanced the story in some way, shape, or form.
The narrative aspects of this film were well done, however the most prominent things in my mind were Allen's cinematic choices. (This next idea isn't REALLY cinematic style but I'm going to put in my two cents about it anyway). When I was watching this film, I felt kind of like I was reading/watching a book. Almost every scene was narrated (film noir?) and informed the audience what had just happened and what was going on before the actual scene on screen began. This was very important in this film because the scenes cut from one to the next directly, instead of smoothly transitioning from one to the other; therefore, the narration kept the viewers up to speed with what the characters were going through without having to visually show that. I hope this is a typical Woody Allen trademark because it kept the story moving along which allowed for nice breaks in the action to catch up with what was going on.
The narration is wonderful, however, the most significant cinematic technique in this film revolves around the camera work. (I'm sure there are really technical terms to describe what I'm about to say but I don't know them so I"ll do my best). The camera work in this film does one of the best jobs of putting the viewers in the movie with the characters. While watching this film it felt like we were intruding on private conversations and actions. Allen does this with a lot of close-ups and very natural movement between people-not perfectly smooth camera movements but also not shaky like a hand-held. There were definitely some conversations and sex scenes that were filmed so intrusively that it was awkward and somewhat embarrassing to witness because you felt like you were right next to them. This camerawork took this film to a new level. Since it felt like we were watching a documentary/home videos of sorts, the characters seemed completely real and organic; we commented as a group how awkward the characters seemed at points because of how real it was filmed. Maybe this was a one-time deal for Allen when it comes to cinematic style, but I sure hope not. I have never felt so involved and personally engaged in a movie in ages. I really hope this is a common thread throughout Allen's work.
Woody Allen definitely let us peer into quite the story with Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Although odd and somewhat uncomfortable at times, Allen's cinematic style, depth of character, and out of the ordinary plot twists in this film have left me very eager to see what else is a part of his collection.
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8 comments:
Katie! WOW! What a wonderful post! You really hit most of what we discussed at the viewing "party" :)
The other Allen film that I have seen recently is "Hollywood Ending". This is a lighter comedy (kind of, haha) and, it was quite a few years ago - so spare my memory, but the techniques seem quite the same in the cinematic area.
The character translations were quite different in "Hollywood Ending", but many were cliche as you mentioned here.
I was wondering myself about how exactly Allen gets the audience to feel so awkward, as the three of us did (almost like in N by NW today! Yikes!!) I also loved this aspect of the film and hope to see it again.
This was such a start-studded film that it was just as interesting to compare these characters the actors were portraying with others they have done in the past. My question is whether or not all of his films share this common thread.
Finally, darn it, I just forgot! OH! Yes, yes. I loved how Woody narrated the film. I was taken off balance when he did not star in the film (as he does most his others). So hopefully you girls will get a taste of his hilarious skills to come!
You know it wasn't Woody Allen himself narrating it right? (I IMDB'ed it). Just checking. Yes, we have discussed most of this already but to answer your question about the awkward factor, I personally think it might have to do with the rawness and somewhat improvised acting. The acting in this film particularly seemed so natural and real that it was one of those "I should really look away and not listen to this conversation but I'm going to anyway" type of moments.. As for the cast I thought they really balanced each other out nicely. I'm not one to know who any movie star is but the combination of having a couple big name stars with some other very talented, lesser-known, people made the seem more realistic as well. This doesn't answer any of your questions really because I already talked about all this in my blog but whatever. I have no questions. TAKE IT AWAY CHAR!
May I say, beautiful posts, both of you. Bravo, really.
Katie did a great job of mentioning just how very awkward and intrusive the camera angles and shot were, and I also want to add my two cents about the contribution of the actors.
Being more accustomed to the performance aspect, I really watched how the actors interacted with each other, and the thing that really struck me was how very real every bit of their performance was. I remember mentioning to these two how the conversation between Vicki and Juan whatever was so incredibly uncomfortable. I realized as I was saying this that the reason why I found it so jarring and different was because it was how a normal preson would react in the same situation. It didn't seem scripted. It seemed very much like we were sitting at the dinner table with them. I frequently had the feeling of being in Harry's invisibility cloak, sitting like a stalker at their table or watching a couple share intemacies (sp?).
I really hope this calliber of acting continues to show up in Woody Allen's films because it was so nice and refreshing to see real people having real conversations and living, while a little absurd, real lives.
Ian, I second that NbNW comment. Yeesh.
Oh... well Katie already talked about that two minutes before I posted. Thanks. I'll come up with a better one tomorrow I guess.
I WIN I WIN CHAR!! hahah. um so yea, North by Northwest? I don't even know. and i'm sorry Char for stealing your ideas. Great minds think alike. Or my great mind thinks greatly and you just copied me? Yea, that's it. Ok well this post has nothing to do with the movie. But i'm going to post it anyway. and we'll all have to do this again tomorrow.
Ok Ian, I think you asked this.
I read a couple of reviews about Woody Allen and his films and apparently this movie is very along the lines of other Woody Allen movies.
In many of Woddy Allen's movies dysfunctional and neurotic characters sit and discuss their failed marriages and romances. In this movie, dysfunctional and neurotic characters sit in Barcelona and have the same kinds of discussions. Carrying on another Woody Allen tradition, even the smartest, most controlled, logical characters (Vicky in particular) can't control their desires.
So it looks like this movie is very true to Woody Allen's stock characters. I think the next movie we do should be different, maybe see if there is an example of Allen's work that doesn't revolve around hopelessly confused people falling in love.
If this is how most of Woody Allen's movies are, then I am going to be one frustrated person after watching three films like this. This "format" Allen uses was a definite success in Vicki Cristina Barcelona, however I think it could potentially get really old really fast. Too many hopelessly confused people looking for love that all result in a real, but not pleasing, ending with not actually finding love just doesn't seem enjoyable. Since this was my first viewing of one of Allen's films I was only mildly frustrated by the end, but I agree with Char, let's try to switch it up next time. There's got to be a little more substance in some of his other movies...
It looks like I'll round out this posting! :)
First to Katie; Sorry Katie, but I'm excited if all his other films are like this (it provides quite the giggles at times).
Anyways, I still have another one of his movies at my house ("Sleeper"), but do we want to do a different one, I think Char had mentioned another title (or I had mentioned one for her), thus I digress.....
So, yeah, I think we've beaten this horse to death now, but it was a good horse, and I loved it all the way up until its death.
Love you girls!
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