Penélope Cruz: Five Films for Newcomers
Written by Andreas Babiolakis
Spanish superstar Penélope Cruz has had quite a career; if anything, it feels like she’s had at least three. There’s her success as a teenaged star, her crossover to Hollywood mainstream works, her period of critical and accoladed prestige, and the never-subsiding staying power in Spanish cinema that ran throughout these many thresholds. On her birthday, it’s time to look at her work and celebrate her exciting filmography. I tried to get a little bit of everything, here. Here are five films for newcomers of the works of Penélope Cruz.
5. Jamón Jamón
While I won’t pretend that any of these films are particularly fantastic, it’s good to have at least one of Cruz’s early performances here; why not start right at the beginning? Jamón Jamón stars a seventeen year old Cruz, who handles the erotic oddities of the picture really well. I also point this film out, because it’s the first of numerous matchups she had with future husband Javier Bardem; they were meant to be!
4. Nine
Nine might be one of the most disappointing films that held such promise, but not all of it is a let down. Cruz — in her third Academy Award nominated role to date — steals the entire picture (yes, even away from Sir Daniel Day-Lewis) as Guido Contini’s primary mistress (which, in turn, is based on Federico Fellini’s own life and semi-autobiographical film 8 1/2); there aren’t many connections to the legendary Italian masterpiece, but Cruz’s magnetic acting is one of the rare comparisons.
3. Vicky Christina Barcelona
Cruz’s Academy Award winning work in Vicky Christina Barcelona (one of Woody Allen’s last great films) feels deservedly beloved, even when considering the stiff competition she had that year (like Viola Davis in Doubt). Cruz balances Allen’s panicky dialogue with her own language-bending speed and hilarity, but she also delivers enough emotional and passionate oomph to fully flesh out this character; she turns what could have been an irritating role into a complex, nuanced series of expressions and thoughts bursting out of a loved one.
2. Open Your Eyes
I think one of Cruz’s major turning points was her work as Sofia in Open Your Eyes, especially since it saw the star working with inventive, interesting work. She juggles all of the strange inner workings of this surreal thriller with ease, and she’s even more enjoyable to watch on subsequent viewings (occasionally, knowing more in such a mysterious film may provide enough information to nullify a moment of intrigue, but not here). Furthermore, I place Open Your Eyes so highly, because most of you dear readers are probably more familiar with Vanilla Sky: the American remake which also stars Cruz. The original film is lightyears better, even though both works mark integral parts in Cruz’s filmography.
1. Volver
Now, I could have featured more than one film by Pedro Almodóvar, but the entire list would be full of only his works, I’m sure. You could place All About My Mother, Pain and Glory, Broken Embraces, and other works here very easily. If I had to pick just one ideal Cruz-Almodóvar partnership for this list, it would have to be Volver, which also has my all time favourite performance of hers. There aren’t many performers that can work with the Spanish auteur’s genre bending sensibilities, but Cruz never has a problem, and it’s evident here. She is quirky enough to match the comedy, believable enough to lead the film’s emotional and frightening core, and charming enough to sweep you off your feet during the pivotal musical moment. Volver is equal parts entertaining and devastating, and Penélope Cruz embodies it all.
Andreas Babiolakis has a Masters degree in Film and Photography Preservation and Collections Management from Ryerson University, as well as a Bachelors degree in Cinema Studies from York University. His favourite times of year are the Criterion Collection flash sales and the annual Toronto International Film Festival.