A Woody Allen Masterpiece
Title: Match Point (2005)
Director: Woody Allen
I have seen only one other Woody Allen movie, Manhattan Murder Mystery and I kind of liked it. This movie makes me want to see his other movies, directed or acted. What starts of as a story of passionate love both forbidden and otherwise builds into a crescendo with a fitting finale.
Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a tennis pro takes disillusioned with the tour takes up coaching rich and exclusive people at a tennis club in London. He befriends Tom (matthew Goode) one of the players and falls in love with his sister and marries her. With a beautiful wife, a nice cushy job in her fathers company, a house and a chauffered car, he seems to have finally done something with his life. That is only until he meets a struggling american actress Nola (Scarlett Johansson), va va voom. Johansson plays the femme fatale to a T and why not. Shes one of the very few today who can carry out such a role with poise and grace. Incidentally Nola is engaged to marry Tom.
From a stolen moment of passion to a full fledged affair, the story moves fast when Nola and Tom break up and Chris begins a stormy and lust filled affair with Nola. (Is there an unrated version of this movie anywhere :P ) While Chris and wife try everything to get pregnant, it is Nola who gets pregnant first. Having come to a point where Chris must decide between Nola and his wife, how he reacts to the situation forms the rest of the movie.
A thing to mention would be the opera which serves as the background music and the art and culture of London is beautifully captured by Allen. All the characters have performed and Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been revelation of sorts in some scenes, there are some scenes where his body language is just queer (I found his walk weird). Would definitely recommend watching it.
Cheers.
Director: Woody Allen
I have seen only one other Woody Allen movie, Manhattan Murder Mystery and I kind of liked it. This movie makes me want to see his other movies, directed or acted. What starts of as a story of passionate love both forbidden and otherwise builds into a crescendo with a fitting finale.
Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a tennis pro takes disillusioned with the tour takes up coaching rich and exclusive people at a tennis club in London. He befriends Tom (matthew Goode) one of the players and falls in love with his sister and marries her. With a beautiful wife, a nice cushy job in her fathers company, a house and a chauffered car, he seems to have finally done something with his life. That is only until he meets a struggling american actress Nola (Scarlett Johansson), va va voom. Johansson plays the femme fatale to a T and why not. Shes one of the very few today who can carry out such a role with poise and grace. Incidentally Nola is engaged to marry Tom.
From a stolen moment of passion to a full fledged affair, the story moves fast when Nola and Tom break up and Chris begins a stormy and lust filled affair with Nola. (Is there an unrated version of this movie anywhere :P ) While Chris and wife try everything to get pregnant, it is Nola who gets pregnant first. Having come to a point where Chris must decide between Nola and his wife, how he reacts to the situation forms the rest of the movie.
A thing to mention would be the opera which serves as the background music and the art and culture of London is beautifully captured by Allen. All the characters have performed and Jonathan Rhys Meyers has been revelation of sorts in some scenes, there are some scenes where his body language is just queer (I found his walk weird). Would definitely recommend watching it.
Cheers.
posted by sensiblystoned at
11:52 AM
4 Comments:
Kaushik, ive never seen Annie Hall but Im not going to compare it with his other movies, it might spoil the surprise. It will be worthwhile your time to see this :D Let me know if you see it.
By
sensiblystoned, at 7:11 PM
Hey guys, why don't u organize this blog and add a side panel which lists all the movies that have been reviewed?
By
Bhargav, at 2:35 AM
bhargav, thanks buddy....thats a good idea. let me see how to go about doing that.
By
sensiblystoned, at 3:01 PM
Nice review, I watched it yesterday after reading your post. Actually I just read the first paragraph and the last line and decided to rent it.
I have to say, its easily one of the very well made movies of recent times.
The movie reminded me of Closer which is also set in London with a vaguely similar plot. Do check it out.
Match Point is very well scripted, the dialogues are natural, the tension is palpable.. all till the "event" happens. I don't wanna give out any spoilers but I felt the movie could've driven home the point by employing other plot twists instead of 'that' happening :(
Scarlett Johansson as Nola is glorious. She's an excellent actress too.
And if you or any of our readers find the unrated version of this movie, kindly upload the video and post a link here.
Jonathan Rhys Meyers - there are some scenes where his body language is just queer
I was thinking the same thing. Initially he was quite charming and likeable and there was some chemistry but later on I kinda felt he was miscast for the role. 1. He's too cute to pull off a dark role. 2. He walks like a very gay man.
All the other supporting actors play their parts well. Despite his very less screentime, I really liked the guy who plays Chloe's dad.
Minor gripes aside, this is a delightful tale.
Do update often.
By
Vincent, at 4:15 PM
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