DVD of the Week: Vicky Cristina Barcelona

Woody Allen writes and directs this sexy, funny, and whip-smart comedy about two tourists spending the Summer in Spain. Rebecca Hall plays Vicky, the conservative friend with a perfectly nice and handsome fiance (Chris Messina) waiting for her at home and no desire to get caught up in romantic fantasy. Scarlett Johansson is Cristina, a free spirit artist who believes in the magic of romance, though it always seems to be, in her case, quite fleeting. When the two women are propositioned by a mysterious and handsome artist (Javier Bardem), Vicky instantly rebukes his offer while Cristina cannot help but accept. By an act of fate, it is Vicky who ends up in the painter's bed, leaving the content woman to wonder if there is something more to life than comfort and security. Meanwhile, Cristina soon makes up for lost time and ends up in an oddly comfortable relationship with both the painter and his fiery ex-wife (Penelope Cruz). Further complications arise when Vicky's fiance flies to Spain to visit her and the 5 of them recognize they are utterly lost and confused in their romantic lives.

Woody-Allen hasn't written a smarter, sharper character comedy in years and though there is an oddly literal narrator spelling out ever intimate thought at every turn of the film, the unfussy Woody-ness of it somehow makes it work. Great performances all around don't hurt either. Penelope Cruz is especially wonderful here as a combustible beauty equal parts delicate lover and seething vessel of rage. She's as desperate and broken as she is funny and outrageous. Rather than go the typical spitfire route, Cruz lays in the drama and takes the character to a new level. She'll be stiff competition at the Oscars this season where she is nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category. The film also picked up a big win at the Golden Globes where it was named Best Picture - Comedy.