Woody's Spanish Film Reportedly Titled 'Midnight in Barcelona'

When Woody Allen traded Manhattan for London with Match Point, he wound up surprising everybody and delivering one of his best films. The change seemed to really invigorate a career that was starting to get pretty stale. After three films set in London, Allen is switching locales yet again, this time to Barcelona. His next project will star Allen regular Scarlett Johansson, Javier Bardem, and Penelope Cruz. It is a comedy, and we're now getting word of a title -- Midnight in Barcelona. Barcelona will be shot on location this summer. Allen works fast -- when Erik told you about this film in February, Woody hadn't even finished the screenplay yet. Details on the project remain hazy; all we know is that it focuses on foreigners in the Spanish city, will contain both English and Spanish dialogue, and involves -- of course -- a love entanglement.

Forgive me for not jumping up and down about this one, I've reached a point where the phrase "Woody Allen comedy" fills me with dread. Allen hasn't made a remotely funny movie since Deconstructing Harry, and that was ten years ago. He completely derailed the good feeling created by Match Point with the dreary Scoop, and in my opinion Woody should a) stick to the drama and b) stay behind the camera at this point. I have higher hopes for Allen's latest, Cassandra's Dream, which fits the bill on both counts. It was expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, but The Guardian is reporting that Cannes organizers deemed the film "unsuitable" for even an out-of-competition slot. Starring Ewan McGregor, Colin Farrell, and Tom Wilkinson, Cassandra's Dream tells the story of two Cockney Brothers (McGregor and Farrell) in South London who fall into crime and sibling rivalry when they meet the wrong woman. It's set for release on October 5. Variety reports that The Weinstein Company is rumored to be the front runner to distribute that film, but no confirmation yet.