near perfect movie

Rating: 9/10 (17 February 2006)

I was soooo glad this flick finally showed up in my city. When it came out around Christmas, I knew like all Woody Allen movies, it would be in and out of the theaters quickly. However, it never showed up, even by the start of Febuary. It went to Toronto and other cities, but not here in Winnipeg.
Well, this week it showed up. Thank you theater people. Thank You Woody. This was a very good, well written movie.
I am not going to give away any plot points. Instead I'll comment on a criticism of the local newspaper critic who gave this film a near perfect score, but refused to give it a perfect score due to...the dream sequence.
I have mixed feeling over the dream. On one hand, it throws the viewer off for a moment thinking the movie will be going one way, that perhaps retribution will be at hand. On the other side, the actor (tell me he doesn't remind you of Joaquin Phoenix?) Jonathan Rhys Meyers did a hell of a job conveying regret and fear at the end. We know he was worried he'd be caught. He knows how close he came from being investigated. So you decide. Is the movie better without it?
Anyone who has a problem with 'Woody Allen' should have no problem with this film. Yes, it does remind the viewer of 'Crimes and Misdemeaners', but there is virtually no comedy this time around. Like Ned Flanders said, and I paraphrase, 'I enjoy those Woody Allen movies, with the exception of that nervous fellow that is always in them.' That character is nowhere to be found in Matchpoint.
Highly recommended.