Vicky Cristina Barcelona

First things first, let's give a rousing applause for the little theatre on Indianola, Studio 35! One of a genre of older, small theatres that now shows indies and first runs, but Studio 35 also has an updated concession stand (updated = good popcorn & microbrews), and reupholstered seats. (Who hasn't sat down in an 'indi' theatre only to smell and feel things on the seats that just aren't right?)

I found "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" to be interesting, yet at the end I still had to ask myself why I found it interesting. Could it be that some scenes were just dripping with passion? I would never have guessed that Javier Bardem would be the same man in "No Country for Old Men," if Judy had not told me. Maybe I found it interesting because the story is plausible, and most men probably would like a love crazed ex-lover like Penlope Cruz. It's definitely a good character study. But the ending was lacking, no improvement in their lives and no decline, just very unsatisfying lives.

Scarlett Johansson is not to be missed in "Lost in Translation," but these types of roles do not promote her acting ability. And I wished Patricia Clarkson's role as 'Judy' was bigger, or at least more fulfilling with some sort of Hollywood ending. Maybe there would have been some closure if she had at least gone off on her own, versus Rebecca Hall's 'Vicky.' Perhaps that's the whole point of the movie, how many people live unsatisfying lives?