Tags
2000's, Brian Cox, Drama, Emily Mortimer, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Match Point, Matthew Goode, Penelope Wilton, Scarlett Johansson, Thriller, Woody Allen
Film Title
Match Point
Director
Woody Allen
Starring
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Chris Wilton
- Scarlett Johansson as Nola Rice
- Emily Mortimer as Chloe Hewett Wilton
- Matthew Goode as Tom Hewett
- Brian Cox as Alec Hewett
- Penelope Wilton as Eleanor Hewett
A dramatic thriller that takes aim at the price of ambition, lust and luck, Match Point is gripping viewing and an excellent change of pace for Woody Allen.
Chris Wilton is a tennis instructor, who used to be a pro. As the film opens, he gets a job at a swanky club in London. While there, he strikes up a friendship with the wealthy Tom Hewett, who introduces Chris to his world of riches and his sweet sister Chloe. Chris is someone who wants to strive for something in life, mainly a sense of position, and slowly he integrates himself into Tom’s family and climbs the social ladder due to his charming nature. The family approves of the charming Chris and he soon becomes engaged to Chloe, who he really cares for. As he becomes a part of the wealthy life, he encounters Nola Rice, a struggling American actress who is engaged to marry Tom. A sexual spark is apparent from the first meeting and as Chris thinks more about Nola, the two eventually give into a passionate encounter. Afterwards, ambitious Chris marries Chloe, but can’t shake the thought of the bewitching Nola. Many months later, he encounters her again and as she has broken with Tom, he resumes his clandestine affair with her. Meanwhile, Chloe is desperate to have a child and becomes suspicious that Chris is straying from the marriage bed. Yet Chris, with all his ambition and want for his ideal life to stay well, is not prepared for when Nola becomes particularly temperamental and significantly obsessed with Chris and the idea of him leaving his wife for her. Chris is put into a tailspin as his actions to keep her quiet seem to have no affect on her and she starts to become a lot more unstable. Fearing that his perfect existence is going to crumble, he realises that he may have to take drastic action to keep his affair silent and carry on his charmed life that he has become very accustomed to.
Match Point represents Woody Allen at some of his most serious and passionate, tinged with more than a real hint of darkness. He has looked at themes of fate and luck before, but here it has a really philosophical edge that also examines the morality of ones actions with a real feeling of impending doom. Although it has traces of humour which is customary from Allen, he keeps it controlled and allows the complexity and drama to unfold without overloading it with humour. He injects a real sense of urgency into the proceedings that is felt throughout the entire film. Match Point also stands as one of Allen’s most sensual movies, filled with some really passionate love scenes between Chris and Nola that shows the sheer animal attraction and magnetism between them. Allen also dispenses with his usual jazz music, instead using opera that captures the undeniable passions and encroaching fears that envelope Chris. Even the visuals have a moody atmosphere fear to them which adds further impact to the tale of consequence and luck. I would suggest this film to people who don’t usually watch Allen’s stuff as it may just change your mind.
Where Match Point really soars is with the characters and the splendid acting on display. In the lead role of the social climber threatened by his actions, Jonathan Rhys Meyers excels at making Chris both a selfish and conflicted character. He could have been just a cold, unfeeling character, but Meyers lets us see both sides of a character whose near destruction is built from his own hands and his own ambitious nature. Equally as excellent is Scarlett Johansson, who turns in an exemplary performance. Playing Nola as something of a femme fatale, but injecting determination, capricious anger and obsession into the mix, Johansson succeeds at fleshing her out and making a deep impression with a bewitching and layered performance. And the chemistry shared between Meyers and Johansson is all sorts of sexy, electric and complicated. Emily Mortimer is very good as the privileged Chloe, who is won over by Chris yet senses that something is not quite right. Matthew Goode is impressive with the material he is given, as are Brian Cox and Penelope Wilton as the rich parents welcoming Chris into their world.
With great writing, a multitude of interesting themes and a genuinely serious maturity about it, Match Point stands as an accomplished film from the prolific Woody Allen.
Emilio Pasquale said:
I saw it when it first came out and was disappointed- probably because it was so different from the Woody Allen I was expecting. Guess it’s time to see it again with new eyes- influenced by your review!
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vinnieh said:
I’ll agree that it is very different from many other films he’s done, but for some reason I liked that it had a sense of change.
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beetleypete said:
Nice review, V. Another more modern Woody I haven’t seen. Mind you, Matthew Goode and Scarlett, plus Brian Cox for good measure, sounds like the makings of a pretty decent film to me. I must catch up with it soon.
Cheers, Pete.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks Pete. It presents something different from Allen, but very gripping. Good to hear from you Pete, sorry I haven’t been around more. My Internet was playing up, but all good now.
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beetleypete said:
I just thought you were off somewhere enjoying yourself, flashing your bum at people!
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vinnieh said:
Haha, I’ve actually just been chilling.
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Lloyd Marken said:
Hey hey Vinnie, everybody knows what Netflix and chill means now. 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Haha, well what I meant was I’ve been relaxing.
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Lloyd Marken said:
Ah. Old school chilling. Very good.
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vinnieh said:
Definitely old school chilling.
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Lloyd Marken said:
Match Point is a bloody good movie. Complete change of pace for Allen and his best film in years, at least since Deconstructing Harry if not further back. Sexy as hell with a damn fine cast and compelling thriller plot. I can’t add anything here of my own mind that you haven’t already articulated but I will add that I always felt sorry for Emily Mortimer’s character who I adore. However I read a review that noted that she kind of acquires Chris in her own way. There’s a lot going on in the movie.
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vinnieh said:
I felt the same way about Emily Mortimer’s character, she is really sweet and you can’t help but feel sympathetic towards her. As you said, the movie was very sexy.
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Dan O. said:
One of the very rare dark and depressing movies from Allen. But also pretty damn great, too. Nice review Vinnie.
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vinnieh said:
It does have a lot of pessimistic tone to it, you are quite right. It added to the seriousness of the story.
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badblokebob said:
I haven’t seen this since it came out, but I’ve been meaning to re-watch it ever since because I thought it was excellent. As others have said, so different to most of Allen’s stuff (at least that I’ve seen), but then maybe that was partly why it was so good, because he had new things to explore.
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vinnieh said:
I liked his willingness in this movie to take it into darker territory. There was a real sense of him breaking out of his usual type of film and finding something new to show.
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fragglerocking said:
can’t read the review, too many jigging arses to look at 😀 😀 😀
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vinnieh said:
Whatever do you mean? Haha.
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fragglerocking said:
😀
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Cindy Bruchman said:
I liked the cast and the story line, but it fell flat for me.
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vinnieh said:
I’m sorry to hear it didn’t quite work for you.
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Cindy Bruchman said:
Films have memorable aspects, like songs on an album, but so few are great from beginning to end. To each his own, right? 🙂
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vinnieh said:
Definitely right Cindy. To each their own is the motto I live by. If everyone was exactly the same, the world would be a dull place.
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Jay said:
I liked it too for some reason, and have always been a bit ashamed about it, so I’m glad you’re out of the closet on this one too!
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vinnieh said:
If you like a movie, I say just admit it. We all love different kinds of movies and that makes us unique.
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dbmoviesblog said:
Great review. I know this movie tries to be very clever in the end, and tries to combine the uncombinable. The problem for me was that it remains too “realistic” to come quickly to such unrealism. Still, it was very entertaining.
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vinnieh said:
Thanks for commenting, it sounds as if I enjoyed it a bit more than you. I often find from going through the movies of Woody Allen, he can be hit and miss with many.
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R.L. Terry said:
I too was caught off guard at first when I saw this, but the more I thought about it, the more brilliant I found it to be.
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vinnieh said:
It’s good when a movie can do that to you.
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Keith said:
Fantastic review. I still have yet to see all of this one! Shame on me.
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vinnieh said:
Watch it all Keith, it’s well worth it.
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mikeyb @ screenkicker said:
I didn’t realise Matthew Goode was in this. I’ve become a fan since Stoker.
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vinnieh said:
I believe it’s an early film from his, he’s in a supporting part here.
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abbiosbiston said:
This has just come onto Netflix. Think I need to check it out.
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vinnieh said:
Definitely Abbi. Good old Netflix, it’s always reliable at having some cracking movies.
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HusbandAndHusband said:
Maybe I’m just out of touch with reality (in my own little writing bubble) but I haven’t heard of this movie either! You are either very good and finding movies or I need to watch more television.
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vinnieh said:
Haha, I just like exploring different kinds of movies.
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chwyfleian said:
Great review. This film is loosely based on his 1989 film “Crimes and Misdemeanors” which you should definitely see when you get the chance. I saw it about a month ago and then re-watched “Match Point” and made an interesting comparison of these two (in my head).
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vinnieh said:
I saw Crimes and Misdemeanors a while ago and really thought it was great. It’s about time I watched it again.
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