Vicky Cristina Barcelona

After spending his whole life and career in New York City, the past decade has seen a more adventurous Woody Allen, who's suddenly making use of his passport.

Since 2002, when he shockingly showed up at the Oscars, the writer-director has ventured even further afield, making his last four movies in Europe. It's a fitting change of setting that allows him to better embrace the audiences who've long admired his work--perhaps even more than their American counterparts.

Vicky Cristina Barcelona, released theatrically last fall, was Allen's latest film to be set overseas, in spectacular Barcelona. He treats the city with the same love and attention he has given to Manhattan over the years, and in turn created one of his best films in years.

The film, about two young American women (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson) who spend a summer in Catalonia, chronicles their romantic adventures and misadventures when they both fall in love with the same sexy, hedonistic Spanish artist (Javier Bardem). Throwing a hilarious monkey wrench into the mix is the artist's ex-wife, played by Penelope Cruz in a role as Oscar-worthy as anything she's done.

In many ways, casting Cruz was a wonderful choice, as "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is pretty much Woody Allen's version of an Almodovar movie. Once again, the blonde Johansson is the director's on-screen muse.

The ensemble cast, which also includes Patricia Clarkson and handsome Chris Messina, and clever writing helped make this one of the best films of 2008. It was both a commercial and artistic success, with critics uniformly declaring it one of the strongest films of Allen's career.

It's unfortunate the new DVD of the film doesn't contain a single bonus feature other than subtitles in English and Spanish. No further details or insights on the film, its production or cast are included on the disc.

This is pretty much the case for nearly all of Allen's films on DVD, but it makes one long for some sort of commentary track, whether from the director, his actors, or even film experts offering their insights.

One wishes Allen would finally accept this not-so-new technology, and work to enhance the special features on his DVDs. Hiring a few young film students or documentary film interns to make some behind the scenes featurettes and interviews would make the films more valuable for viewers, as well as enable him to mentor the next generation of filmmakers.

Even without the special features, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" is well-worth seeing, and is sure to be nominated for several Academy Awards this week.