Match Point
Written and Directed by Woody Allen.
Woody Allen pits luck against the English upper class in this somewhat absurd movie about a love-triangle destined for no good. Six intersting actors claim equal billing — I’ve never seen any of them before — Brian Cox; Matthew Goode; Scarlett Johansson; Emily Mortimer; Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Penelope Wilton.
Match Point targets the rise of Chris Wilton, whose switch from an almost inspiring tennis career to tennis coach, proves to be a serious stroke of luck. Wife, wealth and popularity land in his lap — but he wants more. More. More. Chris Wilton is one of Woody Allen’s dark characters, and like others before him, his actions spiral downward into a dark, dark realm. He travels all alone into such dark it may hide his sins… Or will it?
Typical of many Woody Allen movies there is comedy, money, culture, and lust brewing in Match Point. And there is also tennis! — (in fact, there could be more tennis). The men are funny and the women enchanting. And typically, Woody gives his audience an insatiable scoop of delicious life… strangely about to be butchered but human immorality. Why don’t his characters ever learn? Real people do.
I give this movie 3 out of 5.
Allen’s peek into English culture is a treat viewed on the big screen. In
fact, the film is really classy in places. But the main character isn’t a
strong enough one to carry a story, and Mr Allen forces the audience to get lost
in his infidelity when we’d all prefer to know about contentment. Unless
you would like to get lost in a suave young Englishman’s steamy love affair
with an American meringue pie? In that case the movie might rate a 4, not a
3.
Kathryn Reeves
