Match Point Review
by Steve Rhodes (Steve DOT Rhodes AT InternetReviews DOT com)December 20th, 2005
MATCH POINT
A film review by Steve Rhodes
Copyright 2005 Steve Rhodes
RATING (0 TO ****): *** 1/2
Heeeeeeeee's back. Woody Allen is back in fine form in MATCH POINT, a romantic drama about Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a young man trying to make it in the world. This picture, written and directed by Allen, is set for a change somewhere other than Allen's beloved New York. But a scratchy old opera record, which is heard repeatedly in the background, is one of many classic Allen touches in the film. Although this is not one of his comedies, it is a breezy enough tale with several big laughs.
Once a player on the tennis circuit, Chris has just taken a position as a tennis pro at an exclusive club for London's famously wealthy elite. Smart enough to realize that he would never make it to the number one seed, Chris is planning on using his new position as a stepping stone to something much better. The hint for this comes from the two books he is reading. One is "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, but, more tellingly, the other is a guide to understanding Dostoevsky -- think of it as "Literature for Dummies."
But Chris is no dummy. He knows the rough outline of what he wants and is smart enough to be subtle in going after it, always insisting on picking up the check when dining with wealthy women, even though his finances are dicey.
Chris hits the jackpot when he meets Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), a very rich young man who likes to live well and drink often. It turns out that Tom has a reasonably attractive sister named Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who is of marrying age. With a rich daddy (Brian Cox) eager to put Chris to work in a fast-track position at his company, Chloe would appear to be just what Chris has been looking for.
The kink in Chris's ordered state of affairs appears in the person of Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a struggling actress who knows just how sexy and alluring she is. Further complicating things is the fact that she is currently seeing Tom. Of course, adultery will be just around the corner for Chris as his obsession for her with take him down a dangerous path of deception and passion, both of which threaten the success of his ambitions. And with regular trips to Cartier to shop in a chauffeur-driven car, Chris finds himself increasingly perplexed. Will he go for riches and security or for his animalistic urges. The more he looks at the gorgeous Nola, the more difficult his choices become.
As Chris lives the high life with his new wife Chloe while smoking up the sheets in secret with Nola, we become as confused as he does about how he will get himself out of his predicament. Suffice it to say that the movie's ending twist is a classic that Hitchcock would love. You'll love it too and the entire film as well.
MATCH POINT runs 2:04. It is rated R for "some sexuality" and would be acceptable for teenagers.
The film opens nationwide in the United States on Friday January 6, 2006. In the Silicon Valley, it will be showing at the AMC theaters, the Century theaters and the Camera Cinemas.
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
