It seems that the first film Woody Allen makes in a new country outside the U.S. is always a hit.  MATCH POINT filmed in London demonstrated Allen in a different form as his latest effort shot in sunny Barcelona.

But Allen’s occasionally brilliant film is no stroke of luck.  VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA - love that clever and original title - shows the experienced writer/director in top form since MANHATTAN and THE PURPLE ROSE OF CAIRO (my Allen favorites).  This film shows a more disciplined Allen with less of his verbal ranting and more of insightful pondering on love, art and relationships.  Allen’s trait is there.  Even the Spanish tune during the film’s opening credit sequence reminds one of a Spanish Cole Potter soundtrack.  His best comedic lines are all here, but only during the beginning of the film.  His film delves straight into a more serious tone quickly. Best of all, his 4 main actors interact as well together as they are worlds apart in their imperfect relationships.

Vicky (Rebecca Hall – Brit actress from STARTER FOR 10 and THE PRESTIGE) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are two Americans on vacation in Barcelona.  Allen stresses that the two (through narrator Christopher Evan Welch) are complete opposites in terms of their attitudes towards love and relationships.  Cristina is more daring while Vicky appears more stable with her engagement to her fiancé.  When they meet artist and killer love Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem), erotic tensions surface.  Allen blends art and life, relationships and love but most importantly failings and failings with no solutions just as the character Cristina discovers what does not work for her while yet to find out what does.

The film sees Allen move away from his Jewish New York City roots.  However, his view on life and loves are still present.  VICKY CRISTINA has art printed all over it.  Allen’s characters wallow in it just as Juan Antonio is totally obsessed with it.  Allen injects some brilliant writing here. One concerns the notion of talent as the Cristina character quips that she has no talent in art as criticism (and not doing) does not count.  Film critics would immediately note this point.  Allen equates intelligence to art and shallowness to games like golf and bridge which Vicky’s fiancé, Doug (Chris Messina) who Allen describes as a factory made zombie, enjoys.

Allen’s films are always shot by famous award winning cinematographers.  This time around, he employs Spanish veteran Javier Aguirresarobe who shot GOYA’S GHOSTS and Almodovar’s TALK TO HER.  Allen’s choice of filming locations, particularly in the Gaudi Park (yes, I have been to Barcelona) adds a welcome Spanish flavor.

Allen introduces each character expertly.  Described as a killer lover, Juan Antonio’s first appearance in the film immediately recalls the psychotic killer in The Coen Brothers’ NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN.  But the best performance belongs to Penelope Cruz who plays Juan Antonio’s hot sensuous ex-wife with a knife and a gun.

Though VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA hits my list of this year’s top 10 films is still no masterpiece.  One glaring flaw is the irritating voiceover that could have been done away with and the film’s occasional uneven flow.  Still, Allen has loads of talent but still displays no real genius, just as one character in this film explains the difference between talent and genius.  Top marks to Allen in pointing this out.  At times the film comes close.  Allen’s films - even the flops - have always been very interesting for me to watch as he is undoubtedly a brilliant filmmaker whom many stars dream of working with.  Hopefully, he will find his perfect film.