A new movie roundup, of a sort ...

First, on "The Romance of Astrea and Celadon":

We've got comely shepherds and shepherdesses in pristine neo-Classical tunics standing around in their fields. They sing, they dance, they discourse on love. If they do any actual herding of sheep, we don't see it.

Second, on Ludivine Sagnier's new film (watch the video):

Arguably, "A Girl Cut in Two" is more fun around the edges, as an assemblage of bizarre supporting characters and throwaway comic bits, than it is down the middle, as a classic French morality tale about an innocent girl despoiled by two warring predators. Chabrol's intermittent parody of provincial French television is hilarious, and Cavalli, Silhol, Marie Bunel and the feral, dominatrix-like Mathilda May stand out amid a cast of amazing women. But Sagnier's luminous performance is in every way the heart of the picture; Gabrielle is the one real person, the one who strives, suffers, yearns and survives in this world of grotesque artifice.

Here's NYT on the film:

It is, in truth, a rich, textured divertissement from Claude Chabrol, a sinister master of the art, who, after a series of vague if invariably entertaining cinematic sketches, has returned to elegant tight form with an erotically charged, beautifully directed story of a woman preyed upon by different men and her own warring desires.

Next up, Woody Allen's new film:

In fact, for my money Cruz's modest supporting role is the best thing about the movie.

NYT:

Bathed in light so lusciously golden and honeyed that you might be tempted to lick the screen, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona” is a rueful comedy about two young American women who, during a summertime European idyll, savor many of the Continental delicacies that such travelers often take pleasure in: art, music, culture, yes, but also strange bodies and unexpected dreams.

Cruz's 'Screen Test' with Lynn Hirschberg is must-see.

Denby on Vicky:

Woody Allen’s new movie has an easy, flowing vitality to it, a sun-drenched splendor that never falters.

Now for the not:

The ossification of "Star Wars" continues with "Star Wars: The Clone Wars," an animated sub-chapter (appendix? owner's manual?) of George Lucas's cynically plundered saga. This one shucks off all pretense that "Star Wars" has a wonderfully universal appeal and instead unfolds with all the entertainment value of watching somebody else play a video game.

From what I have read it is everything I have feared in a Star Wars film. The plot centers around Jabba the Hutt’s son nicknamed Stinky (not making this up) getting kidnapped and Anakin Skywalker and his new, hip, cool, sassy, spunky, teenage female sidekick — who apparently refers to him as “Sky Guy” — try to rescue him. This addition is on the level of adding Poochie to The Itchy and Scratchy Show, only for real.