Barcelona

Rating:
Summary: Intelligent and Witty Comedy
Review: Whit Stillman has an ear for sophisticated dialog that is virtually unmatched among today's screenwriters. His characters speak in a way that is sharper, smarter, and "realer" than reality. There is also an intelligence in his work that is all too rare in today's pictures. You come away from his films not only entertained, but enlightened and, probably, having learned something as well.

"Barcelona" is about two American cousins living in Spain. Ted (Taylor Nichols) is a shy, reserved sales rep, and Fred (Chris Eigeman) a brash and handsome naval officer. The story is primarily a romantic one. Ted is in love with Montserrat (Tushka Bergen) and Fred, perhaps, with Marta (Mira Sorvino), both beautiful, free-spirited young Spanish women. Marta, though, turns out to be a little too free for Fred's taste, so he also falls for Montserrat. This, of course, provides complications of its own.

The film is set in "the last decade of the Cold War," a time of rampant anti-Americanism in Barcelona, which adds an intriguing political subtext to the romantic machinations that form the bulk of the story. This subtext manifests itself both in violence and humor that provide needed counterpoint to the love story.

What I like best about Stillman's work is the high regard in which he holds his audience. In a culture where the prevailing cinema is targeted at the lowest common denominator, the wit and intelligence of a film like "Barcelona" are a very welcome relief. When Stillman refers to Dale Carnegie, or the sinking of the "Maine," or draws insight from "Death of a Salesman," he assumes we know what he's talking about. He never belabors the point or tries to explain it. He simply allows us to nod and smile, without being hit over the head with any gratuitous exposition.

"Barcelona" builds on the promise that Stillman first showed in "Metropolitan." This work is a more fully realized and executed film, relying not just on his gift for dialogue, but delivering greater levels of characterization and development as well. Stillman is one of our finest young filmmakers; more of a verbal auteur than a visual one, but a great talent all the same.

Rating:
Summary: Underrated and Quiet Genius
Review: Whit Stillman has his eye on the world and his finger on the pulse of a certain breed of upperclass white society, and white upperclass men in particular. He understands their insecurities and ineffectualities while pulling apart the fabric of their lives to expose their structure as inherently faulty. In Barcelona, the result is always whimsical and occasionally hysterical, juxtaposing American and European thoughts and values while never losing sight of the great underlying tragedy: that everyone is lonely, regardless of where they come from or what language they speak.

Stillman is incredibly literary as filmmakers go, injecting more sociopolitical dialogue into his scripts than most would dare. But the skilled actors, especially Stillman regulars Taylor Nichols and Chris Eigeman as cousins Ted and Fred Boynton, add a level of humanity to their otherwise textbook arguments that make them relevant and dryly hilarious. Stillman also has a penchant for the borderline absurd, masterfully combining comedy and tragedy. Who else could elicit humor while negating pity from a botched assassination attempt than Stillman and Eigeman, much less find a romantic angle to work?

For my money, it's the little moments that make any story worth remembering, and Barcelona is peppered with them. Eigeman's failed attempts to introduce the Barcelona soiree crowd to the allure of the limbo... Nichols's uptight sales executive trying to loosen up by reading the Bible while dancing to "Pennsylvania 6-5000," unaware that he has an audience... an anecdote about a dead soldier's body being shipped home to the states, as told from the coffin's point of view while being transported on a forklift... even wordplays, as when Nichols accidentally accepts an invitation to an evening of jazz with "Vinyl Hampton." Small moments, but their resonance is huge. I've seen this movie twice, over five years ago, and I can still remember whole scenes to this day.

Stillman's power as a director is understated, but the lasting effect of his little gems -- Barcelona and Metropolitan chief among them -- are worth seeking out.

Rating:
Summary: Conservatives who don't preach are to be treasured
Review: Whit Stillman is famous, or rather infamous, for being a filmmaker who happens to be a Republican. I almost don't believe his name. What could be more conservative than a still man?And his films are loaded with wit. Like a drag queen working a Moral Majority meeting, he presses on to make films in an environment of left-wing group-think. I guess that I should have prefaced this review by admitting that I am a staunch left-wing Democrat who is frequently disgusted by the liberal clap-trap that drools out of Hollywood these days. Where's the subtlety man?! It's in a Whit Stillman film like Barcelona.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Dialogue, Beautiful People, Beautiful Movie
Review: Whit Stillman is one of the most quotable writer's I have ever come across. His dialogue is always witty and fun, but never stray's from the central conflicts of his films. All of the characters in this movie are very well fleshed out and unique. For example, the two main protagonists, Fred & Ted, are only similar in that they are cousins and their names rhyme. Other than that the two men are as different as night & day.

The dialogue is always used to help establish the characters identity, and not just advance the plot along. In the movie Pearl Harbor, all of the dialogue is used to push the plot. I mean when Josh Hartnett said "I think World War II just started." I wanted to yell out, "gee ya think?!" Whit Stillman never takes you down that road in this movie. He doesn't give you the chance to argue about his characters saying stupid things, because they don't. All of the characters in this movie are smart & articulate. And that is where the comedy comes from. When one character points out how much more violent American's are than any other country she mentions all the shootings she hears about. The American's defense to this statement is priceless. His responce is both funny and patriotic at the same time. (in an odd sort of way)

I have purposely not spoken about the plot specifics of this film, because the plot isn't what drives this movie. I also know how much I don't like knowing too much about a movie going in, I instead prefer to be surprised.

The character's and the dialogue between them makes this movie a Doctor's Recommendation.

Rating:
Summary: Another one where we must ask: Where is the DVD?
Review: Yes, I am a huge Stillman fan. The three movies are in my top ten and I own them all on video. But why have video when you can have DVD? So where is it?