Breathtaking, Surprising

Rating: 10/10 (10 February 2007)

The first time I watched Match Point I found Jonathan Rhys-Meyers too cool, too unemotional, but the second and third times I watched the film the grand subtleties of his performance became more evident. He does appear aloof, too smooth, always spot on with the correct response...but the cracks in his polish show through more and more until the climax of the film where he reveals his inner life before smoothing it over again. He shows great promise for the future as a top actor. He is, of course, stunningly attractive, is everyone else in the film. The visual control and setting are masterful and surprisingly different from Allen's previous work. He displays an astounding degree of departure from his familiar style in a highly successful way. There were traces of comedy throughout but they were displayed through the characters' English humor rather than by situation or dialog. The story line if fantastic as well - the script is as polished as a diamond bracelet. Quite the powerhouse.