Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)

Problems:

1) The narration. It just doesn't work here. Instead of providing insight, it acts more as a crutch so that the actors needn't bother with all that tiresome acting so we could get the point the "normal" way.

2) Penelope Cruz. For the first time EVER, she seems disconnected from the material -- and, frankly, I don't blame her when it's this weak. In the film, her character is constantly reminded to speak English because of the presence of the American Cristina. This struck me as a neat little metaphor for what was happening to her acting in this movie: she stopped going with what came naturally in order to please the man she loves. In the film, it was her ex-husband...on set, it was Woody Allen. The usually vibrant Cruz looks like she's faking it.

3) Scarlett Johannson. She may be Woody's current muse, but she's no good at it. Either he's lost his filmmaking mojo completely or he needs to go find a new lead to inspire him.

4) So what? The movie's got nothing to say, really. "Love is unpredictable"? I knew that already.

Pluses:

1) Barcelona is pretty.

2) Javier Bardem is pretty.

C-