Customer Reviews

Match Point

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Intelligent, tense, frosty drama with thriller overtones.

It's very good, but three things hold it back from being flat out terrific: 1) Scarlett Johanssen is fair in a role that needed
somebody great. She's sexy all right, but there's a necessary layer of complexity missing. 2) There are some big logic holes
in the last 1/3 that rely on us buying a lot of coincidence and 3) Allen has basically already made the same film much more
deeply and inventively in Crimes and Misdemeanors. Still, in a vacuum, one of the better films of 2005

Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a former tennis pro who begins work at a London tennis club. He meets a wealthy family, befriends the son and romances the daughter. Things are looking good for Chris as he starts to move up the corporate ladder, and then he meets would-be actress Nola (Scarlett Johansson).

I knew nothing of this movie beforehand and assumed it was just a poor-boy-makes-good story; then came the last twenty minutes and I was shocked. The movie changed completely and I loved it. The Woody Allen film has been rightly compared with Hitchcock's work. Indeed, Chris is quite similar to Ray Milland's character in Dial M For Murder; both are charming, retired/washed-up tennis stars and pretty boys who marry well and aren't big on ethics. While both Meyers and Johansson underplay their parts and lack chemistry together, the story is so good that I thoroughly enjoyed it. The movie is expertly directed and has a strong British supporting cast; heartily recommended.

Match Point,written and directed by Woody Allen,is a romantic drama set
in London.Jonathon Rys Meyers plays Chris Wilton,a former pro tennis
player who tales a job as a tennis instructor at a an upper class club
in London.he quickly forms a friendship with Tom Hewitt(Matthew
Goode)one of his students,who introduces him to his upper crust
family,including his sister Chloe.(Emily Mortimer)Chris and Chloe soon
begin a romance.However,Chris becomes smitten with Tom's fiancé,Nola
Rice(Scarlet Johansson).Chris and Nola have a brief affair.Nola moves
away and Chris does not see her for a year.However,in a chance
meeting,he runs into her again and they begin a prolonged,torrid
affair.Chris and Chloe have Married by this time,and Chris has risen
quickly in the ranks of his father in law's(Brian
Cox)company.eventually the time comes when Chris must decide between
his wife,Chloe and his mistress Nola.remaining with Chloe assures Chris
of the continued extravagant lifestyle he has become accustomed
to,while leaving Chloe for Nola would mean losing all the wealth and
privilege he has achieved.More complication arise as something
unexpected occurs,forcing Chris to make a surprising and life altering
decision.this movie is well written,with very good dialogue and
interesting characters and dilemmas.Tom Hewitt plays Chris Wilton as
charming,suave,and self confident. His seduction of Nola comes across
as real and authentic.Nola,played by Scarlett Johansson is woman who
knows the effect she has on men and is more than eager to play the
game.However,she lacks self confidence as an aspiring actress and is
emotionally vulnerable.Johansson is very credible playing a character
more mature than her age would suggest.Emily Mortimer,as Chloe,gives a
wonderfully understated performance as the neglected wife who has self
confidence issues of her own.as the film moves toward its concluding
stages,Chris make his decision,leading to a startling and unexpected
conclusion.this movie is very well executed and very entertaining,as
well thought provoking.a strong 4/5

Matchpoint is a followup to Allen's earlier film, Crimes and Misdemeanors, and shows how his thinking has evolved. Crimes explored the question of good vs evil and whether there was a god in the universe, and seemed to answer in the negative. Matchpoint picks up where Crimes left off and posits the question: if there is no god, then what determines the good (and bad) fortune of men? His answer: chance. Or dumb, blind luck. And the central character, an erstwhile tennis pro turned wouldbe financier, is certainly lucky. Most of it is plausible, except maybe the end. Maybe I've been spoiled by CSI, but I have to believe the real-life London PD would have got their man, the errant ring notwithstanding.

A good film, but it lacks the emotional punch of Crimes. It also doesn't have any of Allen's trademark humor. For good or bad, Woody plays it straight here. I can't wait for his next comedy.

People wondering when Woody Allen would suprise us again with a phenomenal film: the wait is over. Match Point is a huge change for Allen, and it fits like a glove. He doesn't try to mix comedy and drama, but does it suprisingly straight forward and the result is mezmerizing. After this long, did any one see it coming? I don't think so. This suprising a turn for Allen is almost as suprising as this films final act. Bravo.

There was a B grade tennis pro

who couldn't keep the pace

he'd never win a grand slam

so he dropped out of the race

He took an upscale coaching job

and played the game just right

he met a wealthy heiress

and quit coaching overnight

He loved the opera, read good books

but still it was a shock

to see a savvy businessman

morph from a sweaty jock

Even before the ink had dried

his passion was aflame

'cos gentlemen DO prefer blondes

and Nola was her name

He loved the lifestyle of his wife

the embrace of his lover

and before long he had to choose

between one and the other

It seemed to me he lost control

when things got out of hand

he risked it all, but in the end

it went just as he'd planned

If CSI took on this case

in 15 minutes flat

the crimes and misdemeanors

would be solved right off the bat

In short this movie starts off well

but fails the ending test

though passable as movies go

it's not one of the best

Amanda Richards