Spanglish, 2004

Spanglish, 2004
Director: James L. Brooks
Cast: Tea Leoni, Adam Sandler, Paz Vega



Stage: Home Theatre, TV selection of the week


Spanglish in short:John Clasky is a devoted dad whose skills as a chef have offered his family a very upscale life, including a summer home in Malibu and a breathtaking new Mexican housekeeper, named Flor. She and her daughter Cristina have recently emigrated to L.A. from Mexico and are trying to find a better life. When they move in with the Claskys for the summer, Flor has to fight for her daughter's soul as she discovers that life in a new country is perilous!


Preps: Wanted to see this several times, because I was told it was a good one. Never had the opportunity until now.


Reality: mmmm, music by Hans Zimmer, one of my favourites. The music is really good, although in this piece doesn't have the same value as in several where his music is really put on the pedestal. But it gives the movie a romantic sense and touch, so you feel quite safe and loveable while it poses down your veins.
The second surprise is the duet Tea Leoni and Adam Sandler. As I saw Sandler in some movies, he strikes me more of a family romance type of movie. Or a "chick" movie per se. Which means that this should be his genre and definitely feels very comfortable in the shoes of a modern guy that gets a good looking girl at the end, as a reward for being a good guy. As oppose to his wife, who screws it up and finds herself alone and miserable.

The funny part of the story is tackled right at the beginning. Being a maid and serve for a family that doesn't understand a word you are saying (and vice versa) gives a playground for many funny scenes so the director really took good advantage of those. Plus, all of those scenes are really easy to penetrate into your mind and make you laugh. The beauty of the new maid gives a flashy add on to those scenes and at the end you are just waiting for the chemistry to happen. I might add that during the movie you don't really have the feeling of some attractions going on between the two.
On the opposite side, we have a battle between a poor mum that loves her child and a rich mom that wants the best and needs to buy it. Something we see in Desperate housewifes developed to the last bit :) But in this case, there are serious disputes, deriving from the limits that poor people have, regarding education, home supplies, modern devices, etc. And the influence that these can have on a child. A good ground for you to think about it and what would you do if you were in her shoes.

The jump into this story serves as basis for university entry from the only child the spanish maid has. And the story how her mother was her biggest influence and inspiration. Sort of a tribute to mum. Therefore, all of mothers that are dying to get praised by their children, are definitely a target audience for this piece. And the message, that there is no love like mother's love, shines through.


My personal rating: 6,5 (a solid romantic piece about making a better future. Or to reason with the teenage child, if that is even possible).


Spanglish on IMDB

Vicky Christina Barcelona, 2008

Vicky Christina Barcelona, 2008
Director: Woody Allen
Cast: Penelope Cruz, Scarlett Johannson, Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall




Stage: Home theatre, another viewing (seen before on the movie festival LIFFE)


Vicky Christina Barcelona in short: Sexually adventurous Cristina and her friend Vicky, who is bright but cautious, holiday in Barcelona where they meet the celebrated and wholly seductive painter, Juan Antonio. Vicky is not about to dive into a sexual adventure being committed to her forthcoming marriage. But Cristina is immediately captivated by Juan Antonio's free spirit and his romantic allure is enhanced when she hears the delicious details of his divorce from fellow artist, the tempestuous Maria Elena.

Preps: I am a huge fan of Allen's work, therefore I need to see this regardless of what it might do to me :)

Reality: One of the typical Allen's perspective is to go into a woman's soul, making ironic scenery and drive sarcasm out of the soul of the spectator. Which is truly why I love his movies. And somehow, I find it amusing that he can put Johannson into so many different roles, as I see her as his sexual muse.

This piece is set in the beautiful scenery in Barcelona. The place we absolutely agree on, everyone should go for the summer. So in this sense, a dream becomes reality and you get to see all the dirty details of one's summer in this city. The beginning seems quite undemanding to the viewer and the storyline is pretty simple. When Bardem gets his visio in the scope of the camera, this is the place where everything gets complicated and Allen gets his piece of the pie. The love triangle, where Johansson plays a giant role of a traditional woman, that strives to check out something completely out of her scope, at the end realizing it's not what she wants (oh, what a surprise there ;) - no fairies last a long time, right? ). It's amazing to see all the quarreling between an old couple, combining it with a newcoming love into a formation of a sort of triangle, after that receiving every bit of positive side of this for a while, then turning into a flashlight or a sparkle and fading away. In a sense, a lection on how things fade away even though they seem quite sparkled at the beginning and how we should cherish life when it's happening, not mourning when it's finished. That goes for special moments as well.

Nevertheless, Barcelona in this sense is a metaphore for an escape. I see it in some aspect as the famous phrase "what happens in Vegas.." in this sense, of course, what happens in Spain.. I could easily claim the movie to be anti commercial for Spain (or american women), however, I see a deeper point into making your soul cope with metaphores and giving them a chance to breathe in the real life. Marrying a guy, running right afterwards in a strange country you don't know, falling in love with someone else and forgetting about it when you return to real life? Or, on the other hand, falling in love into the same guy as your friend, coping with life with his ex in the same house, making love to both and then at the end of the day, living with yourself, if you were brought up with traditional values and despise the fact that you are this way? A pile of challenges, Allen in his own way, exposes to the viewer. The movie will lie down on your soul gently and will comfort you with the way things turn out. Nevertheless, I believe the ending to be too average for Allen and I don't like it. I just don't see life as rosy as it turns out for the two ladies. And if it does stay in Spain, it for sure also stays in the mind and soul.


My personal rate: 7,0 (a fine, loveable piece I enjoy watching all over again.)


Barcelona on IMDB