Bandidas (2006): Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     Despite mixed reviews and a nearly straight-to-video release, Bandidas (2006) has steadily earned itself a Cult following. The two reasons for the belated success are plain to see... and quite easy on the eyes. Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz, both beautiful and successful international actresses and producers in their own right, had never worked on a project together. Rather than wait for an opportunity to arise, the two lovely friends decided to create one in the form of a Western Comedy featuring themselves as bank robbers on a mission. They enlisted the help of a diverse group of mutual filmmaker friends, and the film ended up being a co-production with investors in France, the United States and Mexico. In the end, Bandidas is mainly an excuse for Hayek and Cruz to have fun together, but the supporting cast is good as well... including Dwight Yoakam and the always great, Sam Shepard.

     Two very different Mexican ladies, one a poor farmer's daughter, Maria (Penelope Cruz)...

Bandidas. 2006: Penelope Cruz

     and the other, Sara (Salma Hayek), the daughter of a wealthy land owner... 

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     are forced to join forces against the evil force of a U.S. Land Baron (Dwight Yoakam), who not only is stealing their land, but killed Sara's father and nearly killed Maria's as well... 

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     Maria and Sara, despite initial conflicts, end up becoming partners in a series of bank robberies meant to dwindle down Yoakam's holdings and provide for the chastised Mexican families caught in the middle... 

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     The two become great friends in the process... 

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     and gain further help and an excuse for fun and flirtation in the form of a crime specialist (Steve Zahn)... 

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek

     who becomes an unlikely ally... 

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     Maria and Sara's exploits are paying off... 

Bandidas. 2006: Penelope Cruz

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

     But how long will it last...

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Bandidas. 2006: Salma Hayek and Penelope Cruz

Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008): Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

     Set against the breathtaking, scenic landscape and Architecture of Spain, Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008) ranks up with the best of Woody Allen's dramatic works. Two of Allen's latter day muses are present: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz. Allen wrote a great script, and both actresses perform amazingly under the Woodman's direction. Scarlett Johansson is stunning as always, her beauty radiating through every frame she is in. It is Penelope Cruz, however, that really steals the show here. Her powerful, chaotic, raging and sensitive performance is probably the best of her career, and she deservedly won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her work.

     Two American friends, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson) are spending the summer in Barcelona, Spain. Vicky is semi-proper and engaged to be wed. Christina is more free spirited and adventurous. When artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) propositions them at a restaurant, Vicky is hesitant...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

     But Cristina, on the other hand...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

     she is more than willing to go for it...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson

     When Cristina suddenly gets ill with food poisoning, Juan Antonio shifts his attention to Vicky and they have a fling. It is over the next day, however, as Vicky wants to return to her fiancé, and Juan Antonio is now free to pursue Cristina once again. Cristina moves in with Juan Antonio and they have a passionate, complacent time. That is... until Juan Antonio's unbalanced ex-wife, Maria Elena (Penelope Cruz), herself an artist, comes back into the picture...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Penelope Cruz

     Maria Elena is willing... and Cristina seems fine with having her around...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

      and the three all live together and inspire one another...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

      Maria Elena opens up new things for Cristina, encouraging her to pursue photography, both on location...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

     and in the darkroom...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

     They are happy as a threesome for a while, but things can't possibly go on this way for long...

Vicky Cristina Barcelona. 2008. Woody Allen: Scarlett Johansson and Penelope Cruz

Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

     Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, Murder on the Orient Express (2017) is similar to it's predecessors in that it utilizes an all-star cast to further dazzle an already intriguing story. When an avalanche stops the Orient Express train, a passenger is murdered and all the passengers are suspects. It's up to the world's greatest detective, Hercule Poirot to solve the case. CGI effects add an extra element to stylish cinematography, nicely capturing the 1930's Art Deco atmosphere. The cast does a great job, including Kenneth Branagh, Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe and Derek Jacobi.

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Kenneth Branagh

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Johnny Depp

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Johnny Depp

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Michelle Pfeiffer

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Johnny Depp

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Johnny Depp

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Kenneth Branagh

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017

Murder on the Orient Express. 2017: Penelope Cruz