Barcelona (1994)

Barcelona and the Life of a Salesman

Maybe sales can be a noble pursuit... maybe burgers are pretty good eats... and maybe american culture has within its fibre the white blood cells necessary to overcome family hardship, personal isolation and the disease of consumerism ... or maybe you'ld just like to see a vaunt-courier turned one-eyed seaman in a flash of bang! Well, if so, watch this movie, it makes you all cuddly inside--i watch it at least once a year. And remember, if you look at human society like an ant farm... europeans hate ants! April 30, 2008

Are there ants in Barcelona?

There is this sense that Whit Stillman was sitting at his chair at the Academy Awards, awaiting word on his screenplay for "Metropolitan", sipping his wine from Napa Valley, and thinking that he could easily repeat this again, using some of the same cast, coupled with similar language. Stillman thought this, but as followers of his like Noah Baumback and Wes Anderson can agree, it is very difficult to achieve. Stillman's second outing, entitled simply "Barcelona"; it is a dry, sometimes witty, report of Americanism through the eyes of two Americans seemingly "lost" in Spain. Two cousins, who spend their days, one working in sales - the other a junior grade naval officer, like any other youthful spirit in Spain ... they bicker, womanize, fight anti-Americanism, and continually use ants in political analogies. It is a bizarre film that captures your attention through the fast-paced repertoire, but looses you through unfocused political jargon that doesn't seem important, but is obviously an instrumental part of the film. This is where the struggle occurs for this film. It is an internal struggle because of the popularity of "Metropolitan" you want to enjoy this film, feel that brush of fresh air, and laugh at what others would consider "intelligent banter", but even with the subtle humor between Eigeman and Nichols there is something missing that connects the crucial plot elements together. Stillman has created another valuable film, but it feels more like he was trying to reproduce the excitement of "Metropolitan" than create a new voice.

One cannot argue that Wit Stillman's style of filmmaking is still seen throughout modern cinema culture. While watching "Barcelona", there was this eerie feeling of watching "The Darjeeling Limited" again. Stillman's voice can be found in nearly all Wes Anderson films, the witty conversation, the intellectual characters, and the thin layer of plot are Stillman's characteristics seen today. Take "Margo at the Wedding", Baumback uses Stillman with honor and respect, and can even been better seen in Baumback's early "Kicking and Screaming". The key difference between these modern directors and Stillman's "Barcelona" is that they develop both plot and characters. Stillman's visual technique, his ability to capture the sense of normality, and control of the language is powerful in this film, but an apathetic feel for Ted and Fred, coupled with a lack of focus - pushed "Barcelona" from challenging second film to average sophomoric effort. From a sales perspective, Ted and Fred couldn't persuade me to do anything, much less follow them around. Their jovial voice and constant bickering would amuse at first, but like the film became annoying near the end. From a character standpoint, Ted (Taylor Nichols) was enjoyable to watch. He felt like the stuck-in-sales type of guy that others could relate to. Aside from the religious dance scene (continuing with the unfocused plot idea), he was the quintessential hero of this film. Fred (Christopher Eigeman) covers the other end of the spectrum entirely. There was no belief that he was a Navy officer, his constant lying and possible theft (again - that kayaking scene that lead ultimately nowhere) just created an annoying character that tried to be funny, but never was. There was this sense that Eigeman didn't understand he and Nichols' character relationship. One needs to ask, was Nichols' stutter part of the character, or just Stillman's lack of editing? Finally, what was Mira Sorvino doing here? Her accent was thicker than pea soup, yet as unbelievable as pea soup finding its way into a Whit Stillman film.

The obscurity of the actors leading us through this political comedy/drama, was a tough nail to bite, but the tougher one was the overall plot of this film. Stillman's goal was to make humor out of an odd anti-American culture in Spain. His actors, as mentioned, tried to bring the humor, but it was up to Stillman to bring us the connectors and overall themes of "Barcelona". It is this area that I felt Stillman was at his weakest. While the actors were not quite the caliber of Stillman's original effort, they at least made me chuckle and think of Wes Anderson's films, but I felt forced and confused by where Stillman was headed with the camera. The bomb at the beginning seemed passé, the anti-Americanism comments seemed less real - Stillman never quite secured the feel of realism with this film. Our two characters walk down the street, talk-back to those who oppose them, and show less emotion when the dramatic ending takes place - there just wasn't that sense of fear. This felt insulting. Stillman's eye in this film felt bored, stale, and unenergetic. This needs to be a stand alone film for Stillman, but I found myself comparing it to "Metropolitan" constantly. This film was missing that freshness, or that sense of excitement, and that desire to see the unknown. The relationships were bland, the characters were humorous - but un-follow-able, and the story itself felt forced. This wasn't Stillman's greatest outing. He made some choices that didn't translate well onto the bigger screen. The colors even tired my eyes - it just wasn't the film I expected, or wanted, from Stillman.

Overall, "Barcelona" was a second outing for Whit Stillman, but it wasn't the caliber of "Metropolitan". This film felt old, used, and un-welcomed in Stillman's repertoire of characters and language. There was plenty of potential, but it went unused with people like Mira Sorvino attempting to capture the essence of a Spanish woman. Again, I want to state that this film had some very funny moments that were as dry as any martini one could hope for. It had my laughing, but it wasn't enough. I wanted a detailed story, I wanted some of the issues about being a salesman come out clearer, and I wanted that random scene of religion and dancing to carry more gumption. "Barcelona" felt as if Stillman would start ideas, but never quite complete them. This film reminded me of Kevin Smith's early work. Using the same actors, Smith would attempt to recreate the same characters in different environments with mixed results. The power and honesty of Smith's "Clerks" could never be recreated and thus the doomed "Clerks II" will never reach cult status. That analogy could be used for Stillman's "Barcelona". He tried, but there is a reason this film wasn't nominated for the best screenplay category - it just felt elusive and incomplete.

Grade: *** (hesitantly) out of *****
April 27, 2008

We need films like this in times like these

For an American expat living in Europe, Barcelona's complex sense of indignation and resignation at how Americans are viewed abroad rings true. Beautifully written, and shot like a love letter to its titular city, this excellent, intelligent film helps me find a way to laugh through the tears. I recently bought Stillman's earlier film, Metropolitan, and I found that it has held up, if anything, slightly better than Barcelona as time has passed. In both films the dialogue is marvellous, and the characters familiar. Where is Whit Stillman now, anyway? We need him. Get to work, Whit! November 6, 2006

A must see

This witty and very intelligent comedy is a slice of life of two 30-something Americans in Spain. Ted's an awkward, yet successful sales representative, who's down on his luck with the ladies. As a result, he plunges himself into a series of self-help methods as well as religion. After an unexpected, late night phone call, his cousin Fred, a junior naval officer, and the quintessential ugly-American, who's got no problem forcing his two-cents on anyone, ends up staying with him. Ted's not happy with this, as he still blames Fred for the loss of his kayak when they were preteens, so early on he asks Fred how long he plans to stay, because "guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days." Fred answers, "no, you'll find that I stink on the first day." And this basically sums up their relationship throughout the movie. So the two basically play on each other's nerves, fumble through some relationships with a few ladies, give us a glimpse at Barcelona's nightlife, and offer a heck of an insight on the cultural differences between the U.S. and Spanish. In the end they patch up their relationship, get their girls and seemingly live happily ever after--but not after some really funny, and even tragic, moments.

It helps to have an understanding of the Spanish and their view of Americans, so many viewers might not catch some of the subtle jokes. If you're expecting a comedy in the vein of Animal House, then this isn't your movie. But if you're looking for flick that will tickle your intellectual funny bone, then grab your Pringles and pop this one in. You won't be sorry.
October 25, 2006

Whit Stillman a Republican? Maybe, but it doesn't show.

I read in a recent review that Whit Stillman is a Republican. This film certainly doesn't show it, as it pokes fun at ignorant US imperialism just as much as it does at the ignorance of some European leftists of the late 1970s and early 1980s. I myself am what most Americans would probably describe as a radical leftie or communist (I prefer the anarchist label myself). Anyway, perhaps Stillman really believes the political stuff his pro-US characters spout, but whatever the intention, what comes across is not exactly positive, and his politically conservative US characters act with just as much cluelessness about Europeans as his politically progressive European characters do towards the US.

Anyway, Barcelona has been one of my favourite films ever since I first saw it in the theatres when it first came out. It has some very dry humour and I think one of the messages I get from the movie is that it shows very well how political differences only serve to get in the way of the realities of human relationships, especially when violent fanaticism (of either political stripe) gets in the way.

On a personal note, I happened to be in Barcelona a couple of years after the events in the film supposedly happened, and I must say the movie does exhibit a real feel for the city, although my own personal experiences there left me with the impression that it wasn't the hotbed of political radicalism that Stillman's film conveys. In fact I was struck more by the remaining aspects of Franco's fascist regime than by any sense of broiling radicalism. But I guess a lot can change in a couple of years, and I really wasn't there long enough to get a real overview of the political situation. February 16, 2006

More reviews at Amazon.com ...