Match point Movie Review

Rating: 7/10 (1 January 2011)

The nature of luck is a very rewarding, and yet very deceptive concept. It can give one individual so much, or it can take more than what they bargained for. Director Woody Allen illustrates this vast un scientific concept with the example of Tennis as a good example. Through the well interpreted narration of the film's protagonist, Chris Wilton (Myers) we are given a more clear idea of how luck can work. In game of Tennis, the ball can go on either side of the fence, thus ending the game, and making a final result. The concept itself is more preferably displayed through the course of the film, and through the situations revolving around the characters themselves. The film begins with it's lead character Chris Wilton, a retired Tennis pro from Ireland has decided to take up a teaching position in a London Tennis Club, acquiring a very well priced apartment, as well a being given the chance to teach a very wealthy student Tom Hewitt (Goode). In time, Tom becomes closer friends with his new teacher, to inviting him to his families opera, out of their coincidental love for opera, thus furthering a good relation ship with Tom's parents. In Chris's favor, Tom's sister Chloe (Mortimer) takes a shine to Chris, opening numerous opportunities for him, a fancy executive positions at her dads companies, a relationship, and a much greater stand with her Parents, Alec and Eleanor in the act of holy matrimony. All the luck seems like it's been going in Chris's favor, only for him to rock the boat, by uncontrollably pursuing Tom's sexy fiancé, Nola Rice (Johansson), a girl who's lust for Chris as much as he does for her. In there sexually active love affair, their relationship faces it's ups and downs, as the matter of Whether Chris will leave his wife will ever happen, hence all his bull and stalling. Chris views his situation with much difficulty. One hand, a life with Chloe, he sees a frivolous life style beyond his own perceivable limitations, and on the other hand, a life with Nola means happiness, with the woman he truly loves, only to a future with who knows what kind of benefit. Christ luck becomes worse as Nola becomes pregnant, thus making his choice of action more clear. In the act of murder Chris, stains his soul further by not only ending Nola's life, but even shamelessly killing her neighbor, in the hopes of making his kills look untraceable. His luck seems bad at the call of the police for questioning, only to work in his favor, thus proving the concept of Luck to be neither pure nor tainted, but completely random. It even seemed like Chris's luck had turned for the worst, as the Detective was able to put together the puzzle that was Wilton's murders. Director Woody Allen has given viewers a very accurate depiction of how the very concept of luck can go in any situation, ignoring the moral traits most people would believe to go in effect. He just simply gave us a very basic situation, which then evolved into what turned out to be a tragic end for so many. All viewers would've enjoyed seeing Chris answer for his sins, thus suffering the most unfortunate luck possible for a man of his nature. However that is the way the world is. Things either can go good or bad for just about anybody, whether they are good or bad people, thus making none of them special in the nature of luck. I really enjoyed this film, and how its story focused on the very pathway it's protagonist was going. His life changing for the better from time to time, and thus getting worse for worse, and then getting better all together again. The very opera motivated themes represented the tragedy of the character, and the predicament of which his actions had led him to because despite proving to be cold hearted, Chris was still suffering inside, subjected forever to the torment of his sins. I would also like to say the Johansson's performance was unique, because although Nola may seem at first like a very insecure, and often struggling character, which is exactly the point of how Johansson portrayed her. She expressed both a strong emotion, as well displaying her desperate nature of her generally unconfident insecurity.