The Score is Love: Match Point
February 3rd 2010 01:11
I'm a huge Woody Allen fan, Manhatten and Annie Hall are definitely part of my favorite films of all time.While I'm semi-resistant to his new works, Vicki, Cristina, Barcelona blew me a way and will no doubt be a longtime favorite.
In anticipation of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Allen's newest film to be released this year, I watched Match Point (2005). Match Point stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson, as well as Matthew Goode (hey, good lookin'!) and Emily Mortimor. A quick plot breakdown: Meyers plays Chris Wilton, an Irish, class-climbing, ex-tennis por who's giving lessons at an esteemed English club. He makes friends with Tom Hewett (Goode), dates Tom's sister Chloe (Mortimor) and pursues Tom's fiancee (Johansson). I won't go any further than that because I wouldn't want to spoil the fun.
It's a charming movie that keeps a calm tennis-like pace throughout that seduces with wealth and plays with the notions of fortune and fate. Less neurotic that the older Allen films, this one seems more plot driven. If anyone plays out Allen's idiosyncrasies, it'd be Nola, but in a more pathetic, less eclectic, feminine way.
I'm torn on Emily Mortimor's performance as Chole Hewett, Chris' poor wifey. Generally, in her position (which is that of her husband pursuing another woman), a viewer would empathize with her. Allen manages to keep her at arm's length through the movie. While she is sweet, she also lacks any personality and harps non-stop about wanting to get pregnant. In the end, she's non-descript, which I think is actually a benefit. Had the audience strongly identified/empathized with her, it'd be a different film. Instead, the viewer focuses on the emotional and psychological ebb and flow her husband which is where Allen wants the attention to be.
It's a film about confrontation and greed, which can also easily be interpreted as good choice and personal gain. My biggest fear was that the ending was going to be predictable. But it wasn't. Mr. Allen was very lucky.
In anticipation of You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger, Allen's newest film to be released this year, I watched Match Point (2005). Match Point stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson, as well as Matthew Goode (hey, good lookin'!) and Emily Mortimor. A quick plot breakdown: Meyers plays Chris Wilton, an Irish, class-climbing, ex-tennis por who's giving lessons at an esteemed English club. He makes friends with Tom Hewett (Goode), dates Tom's sister Chloe (Mortimor) and pursues Tom's fiancee (Johansson). I won't go any further than that because I wouldn't want to spoil the fun.
It's a charming movie that keeps a calm tennis-like pace throughout that seduces with wealth and plays with the notions of fortune and fate. Less neurotic that the older Allen films, this one seems more plot driven. If anyone plays out Allen's idiosyncrasies, it'd be Nola, but in a more pathetic, less eclectic, feminine way.
I'm torn on Emily Mortimor's performance as Chole Hewett, Chris' poor wifey. Generally, in her position (which is that of her husband pursuing another woman), a viewer would empathize with her. Allen manages to keep her at arm's length through the movie. While she is sweet, she also lacks any personality and harps non-stop about wanting to get pregnant. In the end, she's non-descript, which I think is actually a benefit. Had the audience strongly identified/empathized with her, it'd be a different film. Instead, the viewer focuses on the emotional and psychological ebb and flow her husband which is where Allen wants the attention to be.
It's a film about confrontation and greed, which can also easily be interpreted as good choice and personal gain. My biggest fear was that the ending was going to be predictable. But it wasn't. Mr. Allen was very lucky.
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