Unfortunately Javier Bardem is not present at the Cannes Film Festival to promote “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” I would guess this is because of the reported exhaustion, he probably wants to take time off from the spotlight, which I respect. We now know that Javier’s character is called Juan Antonio. You can view a video clip of the movie here.

Variety offers some quotes of the film and Javier’s performance:

“Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is a sexy, funny divertissement that passes as enjoyably as an idle summer’s afternoon in the titular Spanish city. With Javier Barden starring as a bohemian artist involved variously with Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Cruz and Rebecca Hall, pic offers potent romantic fantasy elements for men and women and a cast that should produce the best commercial returns for a Woody Allen film since “Match Point.”

Even if the film provides a strictly tourist’s view of the city (a perspective justified by the scenario, in fact), and one just as upscale and heedless of money as ever for Allen, “VCB” is by several degrees more hot-blooded than his usual norm, thanks especially due to the palpable chemistry of Bardem and Cruz in the second half.

Looking macho but speaking mostly in a tender, sincere way to his women, Bardem is a thoroughly convincing and likable ladies’ man.

Check out the new trailer for “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” under the cut - non-US visitors can view it at YouTube. I’ve added the caps as well as some stills and on set pics of the movie. It will premiere at Cannes this weekend.

… Read the full story »

Javier Bardem (”No Country For Old Men”) has exited director Rob Marshall’s feature musical “Nine”, citing exhaustion from the past year’s work and awards-season schedule. Bardem, who won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in the Coen Brothers’ “No Country”, was set to play Guido Contini, the lead character in “Nine”. The story is about a film director who experiences personal and creative crisis trying to balance all the women in his life. The Weinstein Co. movie is an adaptation of a stage musical inspired by Fellini’s movie “8 ½”. Bardem is said to have loved the script and the idea of working with Marshall but simply needs some time off, perhaps as long as a year, to recharge his batteries.

Bardem’s exit marks his second departure from a major project in as many months, following the announcement that Carmen Maura (”Volver”) has replaced him in Francis Ford Coppola’s family drama “Tetro”. That move was officially attributed to Coppola’s decision that the role was better filled by a female, though it has been reported that Bardem simply became unavailable.

The Spanish actor will next be seen in the Woody Allen-directed “Vicky Christina Barcelona”, which will debut at Cannes.

Source: Variety / Entertainment Weekly

Today I’ve updated the gallery with some high res movie stills of Vicky Cristina Barcelona, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival next month, and Love In the Time of Cholera. Thanks to Maria of PenelopeFan.com for the Vicky stills!

Forget the Tribeca Film Festival! Javier Bardem is all about the Sahara International Film Festival.

The Oscar winner jetted off to southwestern Algeria near the border with the Western Sahara to partake in the cinema gala’s fifth installment Thursday and took time out of his schedule to visit the Dakhla refugee camp in Tindouf, Algeria. There, the 39-year-old was welcomed with open arms by numerous exiled Sahrawi families.

The Saharawis fled their native Western Sahara more than 30 years ago to escape Moroccan and Mauritanian oppression.

… Read the full story »