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

Scoop (2006): Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson

     A true artist, Woody Allen seems to find a muse, focus his attention on her for a while, then move on to a new one. There was Diane Keaton, then Mia Farrow, then Scarlett Johansson and most recently... Penelope Cruz. It is in his series of films with Scarlett Johansson that one finds a reborn energy, however. For she seemed to awaken the creative spirit in Woody Allen that, although always present, had been temporarily shelved just prior to meeting her. In Scoop (2006), the two work well together, obviously having light fun after making the more somber film, Match Point (2005), together one year before. Indeed, they are a joyous pair to watch.

     Scarlett Johansson plays Sondra Pransky, a young journalism student visiting friends in London. While at a Vaudeville show, she encounters Splendini (Woody Allen), a magician who brings her on stage to perform a trick involving a mysterious box... 

Scoop. 2006: Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson

     While inside, Sondra meets the ghost of a recently departed news reporter who wants to provide her with an amazing inside story about the true identity of a serial killer known as the Tarot Card Killer...

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

       The ghost states that the killer is in fact Nobility, the multi-millionaire son of Lord Lyman and this "scoop" will make her career. Eager, Sondra begins to investigate... with the reluctant help of Splendini, who is now posing as her father...

Scoop. 2006: Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson

      They track Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman) to a health club, where Sondra uses her charm... 

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

     and a fake drowning act to seduce him... 

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

Scoop. 2006: Scarlett Johansson

     They are now inside, and have access to dig up all the dirt to expose him as a horrific murderer... 

Scoop. 2006: Hugh Jackman, Scarlett Johansson and Woody Allen

     But Sondra, of course, is being seduced as well. Now, she is having trouble focusing on the facts and is getting lost in love... 

Scoop. 2006: Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson

     Was she given false information, or is she destined to become Peter's next victim...

Under the Skin (2013): Scarlett Johansson

     Directed by Jonathan Glazer, Under the Skin (2013) is an Indie Art Film that combines cerebral and Sci-Fi elements. With very little dialogue, the plot centers on an extraterrestrial, disguised as a beautiful woman, who drives around Scotland luring unsuspecting men into her trap. Both brilliant and seductive, the film has a lot to offer beneath the carnal surface and benefits from repeat viewings. Scarlett Johansson is very alluring in the lead role.

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Under the Skin. 2013: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy (2014): Scarlett Johansson

     Directed by Luc Besson, Lucy (2014) is a remarkable cinematic achievement, thought-provoking and entertaining throughout. The plot centers on a woman, abducted by drug smugglers, who unlocks the full 100% use of her cerebral capacity after the powerful drug is leaked into her system. With superb acting and dazzling effects, the film does a great job of exploring and illustrating the full potential of the human mind. Scarlett Johansson is both beautiful and powerful in the title role. Morgan Freeman is good, as always, in a supporting part.

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson

Lucy. 2014: Scarlett Johansson