VICKY CHRISTINA BARCELONA (2008) - August 22, 2008
On one hand, I've gotta give props to the Woodster -- he's definitely trying to do something interesting, and to make a genuinely good film, something which definitely can't be said for most of his efforts from the past decade or so. On the other hand, this just wasn't that great. It certainly wasn't bad, but... let me put it this way: the film is only 96 minutes, but as I was watching it I was sure it was two hours, if not longer. The film meanders a lot, and I know what the Woodster was going for, but it just doesn't work a lot of the time. Much of it feels oddly pointless, particularly in the mid-section of the film. Also, although the writing cannot be mistaken for anything but a Woody Allen product, it seems like he's trying to do something different directorially, which I can't say I'm a big fan of. Not that I'm against him trying out new things, or evolving as an artist, but it seems to me like he's thrown out many the hallmarks of his established style (such as lots of meticulously composed long takes) in favour of something much more conventional and bland (I don't think I've ever seen so many close-ups in a Woody Allen film). I still think this was a good movie, but also a definite misstep for the Woodster. **1/2
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