Woody Allen's arty, neurotic, discontented Manhattanites go to Barcelona. Thus the title: "Vicky (arty, neurotic, discontented Manhattanite played by Rebecca Hall) Cristina (arty, neurotic, discontented Manhattanite played by Scarlett Johansson) Barcelona (the city they go to, played by itself)." But it is Penelope Cruz, as an arty Spaniard whose neurotic discontentedness has flowered into a suicide attempt and pistol-waving hysteria, who wins an Oscar. With Javier Bardem, a Spanish painter, as the love interest of all.
And when I say "all," that can mean "all at the same time," except for poor Vicky. She is stuck with a guy who, back in New York, appears to be the only character in the movie who has to work for a living. How ridiculous is that! But then he, too, goes to Barcelona, arriving in time to hear Cristina, feeling better now, breezily discourse on her threeway with the Bardem character and the Cruz character. He listens, brows furrowed, and then, leaning in, asks: "So, would you call yourself a bisexual?" On another occasion, he receives home decorating tips while, across from him, Vicky ruminates. She's thinking of chucking him and joining the pile over at the painter's house.
If you must know how all this craziness is resolved, or just want to see Scarlett Johansson on a picnic wearing shorts, consider this a recommendation.
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