"Barcelona" title is for real

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Not a misprint, misunderstanding, misnomer or mis-anything: Woody Allen's Barcelona-based film, due in '08's late summer or early fall, is really going to be called Vicky Christina Barcelona -- one of the most atrocious titles ever conceived by a first-rank film maker, regardless of subject matter, theme, metaphor or what-have-you.

This on top of VCB being Allen's third Johansson pic over the last four is, I suspect, giving even his most ardent admirers, particularly in the wake of the disastrous Scoop, an uncertain feeling.

The romantic triangle pic (Spanish painter Javier Bardem and two American expats played by Scarlett Johansson and Rebecca Hall) may, for all I know, turn out to be one of Allen's very best. I just know it's facing an uphill sereception with that title.

Risky Biz Blog's's Steven Zeitchik has re-confirmed the VCB title in a recent post about Allen's next film, which will be set, for a change, back in Manhattan.

comment #1

Geoff says ...

You know, I remember a friend telling me this some time ago in a bar. But there was a misunderstanding and I was left thinking it was called Vicky and Christina in Barcelona.

comment #2

The Winchester says ...

Not to be a pain the arse, but Johansson's not in Cassandra's Dream. Unless she is, which would make this the fourth in a row. But please don't let her be in that one. I saw the trailer and it looks pretty damn good.

comment #3

The Winchester says ...

Forgot to mention I concur that Vicky Christina Barcelona is an atrocious title.

comment #4

MickTravis says ...

Do the titles of Woody Allen movies really even matter anymore?

Aside from the occasional blip, his fans go see his movies and everyone else stays away.

Then the next year he has another one out.

comment #5

MickTravis says ...

Oh, and I say that as one of the fans who goes to see his movies. Even "Scoop," which wasn't great but also wasn't quite "Anything Else"-level bad, either.

comment #6

actionman says ...

I really liked Match Point and found Melinda and Melinda to be surprisingly fun and semi-underrated. Scoop was lame though. Looking forward to Cassandra and this new one.

comment #7

Craptastic says ...

Agreed Mick... "Scoop" was not his worst film by far. I thought it had some good moments, actually.

"Curse of The Jade...", "Hollywood Ending", "Anything Else". THOSE were disastrous

comment #8

Mgmax says ...

Vicky Christina Barcelona would be the worst title by a first-rank filmmaker, if it were by a first rank filmmaker.

(Which raises the question, what IS the worst title by a first-rank filmmaker? Dr. T and the Women? The Voice of the Moon? Being Human?)

comment #9

dangovich says ...

I think Woody Allen's insistence on doing a movie a year is really diluting the quality of his work. Several of his recent films have felt rushed, embryonic, unpolished.

And yeah, that title is bad.

comment #10

ZacharyTF says ...

(Which raises the question, what IS the worst title by a first-rank filmmaker? Dr. T and the Women? The Voice of the Moon? Being Human?)

How about Bonfire of the Vanities?

comment #11

ZacharyTF says ...

(Which raises the question, what IS the worst title by a first-rank filmmaker? Dr. T and the Women? The Voice of the Moon? Being Human?)

How about Bonfire of the Vanities?

comment #12

Mgmax says ...

What, in the name of God and all that He holds holy, is the evidence that DePalma is a first-rate filmmaker?

comment #13

scooterzz says ...

de palma is a first-rate filmmaker....just ask him....

comment #14

lazarus says ...

I actually like the title. It's certainly better than "Vicky and Christina Go to Barcelona". Who gives a fuck, anyway? It won't make money anyway, though maybe people will go because of the ads trumpeting "...and Academy Award winner Javier Bardem in..."

And I agree that the streak of Hollywood Ending/Jade Scorpion/Anything Else was the nadir of his career, I loved Match Point and thought Scoop was much funnier than people give it credit for. Scarlett, at least in that film, has great comic timing and worked very well on-screen with Woody.

comment #15

Jay says ...

like the title, liked Scoop, LOVE a dedicated artist still putting out a work per year.

comment #16

DavidF says ...

Yeah, this is kind of weak but Allen does not always pick great movie titles.

"What should we see this weekend, dear? Star Wars? Close Encounters of the Third Kind? No, based on the name alone, clearly Annie Hall is the kick ass movie of 1977. Let's see that one. I think it's about a cool building or something."

comment #17

MattyC says ...

"Jack"

FFC

comment #18

T. Holly says ...

And that uncertain feeling is, what, that he's touching her breast, and he can't see that she's awful as a blonde?

comment #19

Mgmax says ...

No, based on the name alone, clearly Annie Hall is the kick ass movie of 1977. Let's see that one. I think it's about a cool building or something.

Remember what the original title was before Ralph Rosenblum transformed it in the editing room... Anhedonia. Annie Hall does kick ass next to that.

comment #20

Chris Willman says ...

It should only take about six more terrible movies in a row before it starts to dawn on people that "Match Point" was overrated, too.

comment #21

nakedmanatee says ...

It's kind of cute how everytime there is a post on Woody Allen, everybody lines up to label him "overrated" or "underrated." Put me down for the latter. Even at his worst, his movies are always interesting--I think because he is interesting. I love all the messy contradictions of Woody Allen (the person and the movie character.) He's the only writer/director/actor who is able to articulate the general uneasiness of life in such a funny way.
In many ways, he's the last great living movie icon (in the vein of Groucho or Chaplin) who still has it in him to do great work.
"Vicky Christina Barcelona" IS a pretty horrible title, but at this stage in the game he can call his movies whatever he likes. (If it's successful maybe there will be a sequel entitled: "Vicky Christina Barcelona Strikes Back!")

comment #22

nakedmanatee says ...

Youth Without Youth is worse than Jack. It sounds like a really bad Depeche Mode album.

comment #23

truefaith says ...

Thought MATCH POINT was Woody's best film in years. Also liked MELINDA AND MELINDA. Thought it was underrated. What I like about Woody's latest movies is that his main characters aren't black and white--they're full of gray, such as the Jonathan Rys-Meyer's character in MATCH POINT and the Hugh Jackman's character in SCOOP. If anything, they make for interesting characters. I felt the same way about the characters in FOUR MONTHS, THREE WEEKS, TWO DAYS.

comment #24

Dellos says ...

As I have few things to look forward to in my life,
I always look forward to seeing a new Allen Stewart Königsberg movie. I feel that being an old man he
has few left and could pack it in any day. He can call it anythings he likes I'll still go see it
if I can find it.

comment #25

Bocephus says ...

The Constant Gardener

(and yes, I consider Meirelles first rank, he's only made two movies but they were both home runs)

comment #26

anti-sardine says ...

Ok, let's just go ahead and add thought balloons to the photo above.

Scarlett: I think this one will do it. I know that if I appear in enough Woody Allen films then everyone will start taking me seriously as an actress, I mean, Woody wouldn't keep casting me unless he knew that I had the chops to back up my fantastic looks, right?

Woody: God, just look at her...she's gorgeous. I've got to quit casting her but I can't help myself. She's like a statue..... a towering, blonde, Aryan statue.... I could traverse her like Mt. Everest.... I'd give my left clarinet if she would bathe me with those giant, sponge-like lips....uh oh, she's gonna talk.

comment #27

Sean says ...

I don't see how you can divorce the title of a movie from the subject matter, the themes, or the what-have-you.

And I don't see how "Annie Hall" is any worse than "Jerry Maguire", "Barry Lyndon", or any other name movie.

And the worst title ever has to be either "The Shawshank Redemption" or "The Hudsucker Proxy" because they require you to already know what the movie is about before they make even a lick of sense.

comment #28

Mgmax says ...

I think The Hudsucker Proxy is tongue in cheek, making it sound like a self-important business thriller when it turns out to be about hula hoops.

The Shawshank Redemption is merely self-important.

comment #29

Sean says ...

The problem is, you have to know what "Proxy" means in order for it to even make that much sense, Max. Not even a standard definition, but a very business-specific sense of the word, and a word which is (if memory serves) never actually used in the movie.

comment #30

Jay T. says ...

Uh, Match Point was the best thing Allen has done in many, many, many years... so working with Johnasson again is hardly a bad thing.

comment #31

Wrecktum says ...

Perhaps the title is meaningful within the context of the film. Maybe Wells' eyes will be filled with tears when he sees the title written in a scrapbook, or painted on a wall, or whatever.

Must the old adage "Don't judge a book by the cover" be trotted out again?

comment #32

fielding says ...

And while Wells is whining about the title "Vicky Christina Barcelona", Woody is prepping his next film. He's also got the financing in place for the one after that, and has standing invitations to make films in France and Italy whenever he chooses. Fact is, he'll be making movies until he decides to retire and all the bitching and moaning in the world won't make an iota of difference.

comment #33

christian says ...

These Woody post-mortems are brilliant. So what if MATCH POINT made 90 million dollars and will probably end up his biggest hit, it's clear his career is dead. And I hate that one of our few American film masters is still making a movie a year, some not so good, others redefine our cinema. Like Bergman. And I hate that. I'm sure FILM will be better off once Woody stops making them.

comment #34

PerfectTommy says ...

How much of a difference does a title make? Would "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption" made a dollar more or a dollar less than "The Shawshank Redemption"? I have no idea. I do think "The Valley of Elah" is the worst title of 2007 and I knew the Biblical reference. But I don't think any title would have made it a blockbuster.

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