A Film Review By Jeff Fro
| Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers Directed By: Woody Allen Rated: R for some sexuality Final Grade: |
Box Office Bullet Points: The Movie In A Nutshell
*It’s called Match Point, yet little tennis is played.
*Scarlette Johanson has a huge rack and she is costumed exclusively in tight shirts.
*High society folks in Europe seem to be attracted to poor working class.
*The film trys to prove that we are not as horrified when pretty people commit graphic acts of violence.
*Sometimes feeling guilty is the only punishment for murder.
Match Point has a lot in common with The Talented Mr. Ripley. Both films feature a lead charecter who gets caught up in living a high society life, yet each find true passion in someone who is “average” or can not give him all he wants in life. Trying to have it all or be on both sides of the net at the same time can make it hard to play the game, or at least impossible to play fair.
This leads to the difficult choices the film portrays. The actors in the film are all quite pretty to watch. They may not all be rich, but they all belong in that select group of people who always seem to look good no matter what they are doing. They are the “lucky ones” that people all can look up to and say “I wish I lead that kind of life”. And luck does play an important part of the story. Sometimes all we do and plan mean nothing if we do not have luck on our side.
Woody Allen has utilized something in this film which was wonderful. He gives the audience time to think about what is going to happen next. And it is not clear just what will happen at any time. Even some of the most predictable elements of the film are left open to wonder for a few moments. Just so that we may consider what options the charecters have before we are shown the results of those choices.
That really allows the audience to experience this film on a deeper level than simple straight forward storytelling. Like reading a good book, you can pause to ponder the outcome and then be either suprised or thrilled by the end results.
I have intentionally avoided many specific details of the film. I really feel it is best to experience this one first hand with little or no preparation. I admit to being a Woody Allen fan for some time, but even I got lost in some of his recent years works. This film puts me right back on the train for ALLENtown. Let’s all hope he keeps making films this entertaining and accessible.
The Verdict:
This film puts me right back on the train for ALLENtown
