In Woody Allen’s freshest and funniest comedy in over a decade Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Scarlett Johanssen and Rebecca Hall play best friends who take a trip to Spain and meet an exotic and forward man played by Javier Bardem who entices the two to spend a weekend with him in Barcelona. One main problem: The man has an ex (Penelope Cruz) who comes back to stay with him and who doesn’t exactly approve of these younger women hanging around her man. Woody Allen has always managed to assemble terrific actors for his films (see Hannah and her Sisters or Bullets Over Broadway), and here he outdoes himself again. Who’s more impressive? Johanssen, giving her strongest performance yet in an Allen film, or Hall, a new-comer, in a compelling star-making performance. Hall’s character is the one we identify with the most in the beginning, and the arc her character goes through is unexpected and completely natural. Bardem, hot off his Oscar win in the creepy No Country for Old Men, oozes charisma in every scene, looking great and playing off all his leading ladies with charm and grace. And then there’s Penelope Cruz, who I’ve never been a big fan of, storming into the picture about an hour in, with a fierce and furious performance that is absolutely hilarious, and unlike a lot of the more subdued performances I’ve seen from her. It’s not a perfect film, with maybe one too many subplots, and it even seems to end a bit prematurely. Also, there’s a brief lesbian kiss scene between Johannsen and Cruz that marked the first time I’ve had watching a scene in a movie where I felt uncomfortable at the thought of that old director behind the camera, well, enjoying himself. But Woody, oh Woody, you know I love you. Annie Hall, Interiors, Purple Rose of Cairo, Crimes and Misdemeanors, Husbands and Wives, Everyone Says I Love You. Woody Allen is one of my favorite directors, and while he’s had a couple decent movies in the last ten years, there’s definitely been a decline in quality. Every year we get a new Allen film no matter what, and there’s always that hope of his next one taking us back to the great classic Allen of old. While Vicky Cristina Barcelona doesn’t reach the quality of classic Allen, it’s by far his best comedy since 1997’s Deconstructing Harry, with only 2005’s Match Point being a better films of his since then. I was taken and enthralled throughout every scene of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, from the interesting characters to the gorgeous locations to the superb acting to the Woody Allen dialogue that only he can write. I loved this film.