VCB-Go for it!

It's been a boring week and more empty days to come. I had decided that I will watch a movie a day. In the night, after a good meal, with a bar of white chocolate and tucked cozily under my quilt. And so it happened. I watched "Oye Lucky!.." three days ago, a film noir movie called "Out of the past" the day before yesterday and the classic AH thriller "Vertigo" yesterday. 'What today?', was an obvious question. I had settled on "One flew over the cuckoo's nest"(No, I haven't seen it yet.period) but unfortunately or otherwise couldn't download it by night.

I cooked a nice meal for myself, a sensual mix of mushroom sauce and pasta topped with some authentic Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. I finished dinner quite quickly brooding over the dullness of eating a good meal alone.
After cleaning up chores in the kitchen were over, my night life started! I looked online for a timepass movie that could take me through to bedtime. After a disastrous selection, I decided to watch "Chandni Chowk to China" and updated my status message appropriately.

However, I was not able to find a working link to watch it. In the meantime, Sha having looked at my status message, pinged me to find out how the movie is. In the hopeless situation I was, I asked him to suggest something to watch. Persepolis.Seen. Vicky Christina Barcelona. Ok.

In a few minutes, I was neatly tucked in my quilt watching the movie. It started with a breezy spanish guitar and a not exactly sweet vocal in the background with the intro credits rolling.
Two friends Vicky(played by the lesser known Rebecca Hall) and Christina(Scarlett I have the hots for you Johannson) are on a holiday in beautiful Barcelona and hence the title. All's well until a strange artist guy (Javier Bardem) turns up to the table where the duo are dining and makes an offer of a "fun-filled" weekend in Oviedo. Vicky, an engaged commitment-phile is taken aback by such a casual offer of sex and is the least interested. Christina, being more liberal by nature, doesn't see any harm. And so the story begins.

As the movie progresses, it shows the internal conflicts that the two protagonist characters face. Vicky is confused when a chance encounter with Juan Antonio (Bardem's character) begins to question her convictions about love and commitment. Christina, always only sure of what she doesn't want in life, goes on a journey of self-discovery. Going deeper would be playing spoilsport! How can I not mention Cruz's character Maria Elena. She plays the ex-wife of Juan Antonio to perfection.

The movie is thoroughly enjoyable. Entertaining yet making you think (Well, if you are the thinking types in a movie hall!:). I can only seem to talk of the positives. The beautiful landscapes of Spain, romantic candle-lit dinners, ancient bungalows with lovely gardens, medieval architectural beauty and Woody Allen couldn't have chosen a better location for the movie. I read that Spain is close his heart. In fact, there is a life-size statue of his in Oviedo, where parts of the movie have been shot.
The characters in the movie are real and those you could relate to in some ways. In fact, Vicky and Christina are antithesis of each other. So, you would share your views with either of them. In a movie, for one to really appreciate the acting, I feel that it has to be effective in bringing the characters to life and in the audience's focus. And all the four main actors Hall, Johannson, Bardem and Cruz deserve such appreciation. Kudos to them.

The background score, with lovely spanish guitars only play second fiddle to the goodness of the movie. The music adds flavour to the eye-catching visuals and the mood of a scene.
Woody Allen's narration is articulate yet precise. The movie to me is like a good book. The story blended with an objective interpretation of it by the narrator is classic Woody Allen!

I am like Christina when it comes to my view of things around me. This movie review for one. I am only sure of things I don't like. And there isn't such a thing about this movie! :) Go for it! For planning a trip to Spain if not for anything else!

And last but not least, thanks to Mr.Sha for an awesome reco!