Woody Allen’s “British experiment” has officially come to an end. After Match Point followed by Scoop and completed with last weekend’s wider release of less-than-convincing Cassandra’s Dream, the Weinsteins have once again grabbed U.S distribution rights to his next dramedy – all this despite the weak box office results.
Allen, reuniting with Scarlett Johansson (both will next be participating on the New York, je t’aime project) is a good reason why the Weinsteins’ might have picked up Vicky Cristina Barcelona – but something about the sexy Catalan location, the good looking Spaniard co-stars in Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz (speaking in an English with their native tongue accents) and the menage-a-quatre narrative is a wealth of pluses. Add to that: the Weinsteins might need a big title to make their annual splash at Cannes.
Just as New York City was the backdrop in Woody Allen’s Manhattan, the
stunning city of Barcelona is the setting for the romantic adventures of Vicky
and Cristina. These two young Americans spend a summer in Spain and meet a
flamboyant artist (Bardem) and his beautiful but insane ex-wife (Cruz). Vicky
(Hall) is straight-laced and about to be married. Cristina (Johansson) is a
sexually adventurous free spirit. When they all become amorously entangled, the
results are both hilarious and harrowing.
Look for this as early as the Summer or as late as the holidays.
