Some Woody Allen Movies

Today was a pretty relaxing day, in the evening I felt like watching a nice and breezy film while I cooked and ate dinner. My dear friend Marko Orlic suggested that I check out Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008). I had recently seen Midnight in Paris (2011), also a Woody Allen flick, and had enjoyed that quite a bit so I was pretty excited. And though I didn't find it to be quite as good as Midnight in Paris, it was certainly not a disappointment and was a perfect fit for my evening.

Midnight in Paris  7.5/10

Both movies were rich in cultural and artistic references, beautiful women and scenery, simple but insightful dialogue, and a warm, bright and buoyant aesthetic. Vicky Cristina Barcelona definitely kept me engaged and certainly had a more unpredictable plot line than Midnight in Paris but on the other hand lacked some of the magic, humor and authenticity - although that opinion probably has something to do with my adoration for Paris in the 1920s.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona  7/10 

I'd definitely recommend either of these movies for an entertaining and colorful casual watch. Though neither are in the league of some of Woody Allen's earlier works like Manhattan (1972) or Annie Hall (1977), in which he not only wrote and directed but also acted. If you haven't seen Manhattan or Annie Hall though, they should take priority.

 Woody Allen's Pose 10/10

*Something else: Both these movies revolve around themes of inspiration, love, fear and commitment. I particularly enjoyed the recurring quote in Vicky Cristina Barcelona that "only unfulfilled love can be romantic", and this clip of Hemingway from Midnight in Paris.