Ellen ([info]ennienyc) wrote,
@ 2008-07-24 02:55:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Woody Goody
I used to love Woody Allen. His movies were so New York and funny. "Annie Hall" was a big favorite, filled with moments like Annie ordering pastrami on white with mayo. Then Allen's personal life intruded and the nebbishy-older-man-getting-improbably-young-chick plots began to feel sleazy. Recent movies haven't even taken place in New York. "Husbands and Wives" (1992) was the last of his movies I saw.

I was offered a single seat at a screening tonight of Woody's upcoming movie "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" and accepted, knowing nothing about the movie. I got there early, waited briefly on line (behind a familiar-looking man who recent pictures show was not Jackie Martling or Danny Aiello, but someone in that vein - possibly just an unknown man), and snagged a center first-row balcony seat in Cinema 1.

The movie began with the familiar Woody Allen titles fonts, Spanish music, and a narrator. The engaged Vicky (Rebecca Hall - who seemed familiar, and indeed was in the woefully ignored "Starter for 10") and free spirit Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are spending the summer in a parent's friends' luxurious villa in Barcelona. They meet charismatic artist Javier Bardem, still not over his wild and crazy ex Penelope Cruz, and various pairings and complications ensue. The plot moves quickly with a light and humorous touch. I really enjoyed the movie.

It was still light afterward (oh look, Regis was there, though I didn't see him) and the timing was right to walk to another movie at 8:30 which I'll talk about later since I might see more in that series. It was starting to rain when that let out around 10, and pouring buckets when I got out of the subway. I waited a bit under a construction scaffold but it wasn't letting up so I rushed the rest of the way home in deep puddles and lightning. Jiggety jig!


(Post a new comment)


[info]sdn
2008-07-24 09:43 am UTC (link)
and woody allen isn't in the movie? and no young girls are attracted to people like him?

i think scarlett johansson is his new muse, for whatever that's worth (not much). woody allen movies set in all of these different countries ... it's like he's on elderhostel.

(Reply to this)

Match Point
(Anonymous)
2008-07-24 12:38 pm UTC (link)
Although I agree with you on many of the recent Woody Allen films, I really recommend Match Point. That was an amazing film. (I'm not a New Yorker, though, so I was free to enjoy the London scenery.)

By the way, thanks for mentioning I'll Take It. I'm returning it to the library today-- what a pleasant summer read.

Anna

(Reply to this)

Woody Allen Movie
[info]quiteallright.blogspot.com
2008-07-24 07:09 pm UTC (link)
I snagged a single seat too. The movie was packed. What was Regis doing there anyway? Doesn't he usually go to private screening rooms?

(Reply to this)


Create an Account
Forgot your login?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…