The film also benefits from some great cinematography by Javier Aguirresarobe, and by that I do not mean merely that Barcelona is beautiful to look at. There are numerous well framed shots, and shots from interesting angles, such as when Cristina and Maria go around the city photographing sights and people. Aguirresarobe is not a cinematographer whose work I've seen before, but after this film, and given his great surname, his is work I will look for in the future, despite whatever director he works with in the future. It is because of the strengths of the film (the cinematography, Bardem’s and Hall’s performances, the sometimes great deployment of ellipses and narration) that I can recommend Vicky Cristina Barcelona as at least a good way to spend a couple of hours in filmic revery. Don’t expect a masterpiece from Allen’s Golden Age, and you will do okay. Go in thinking it’s another Hollywood Ending, though, and you will end the film smiling. Given the lows of some of Allen’s work post-Golden Age, that’s as close to a rave as you will find, at least from me.
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
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