Match fault rather than Match Point

Rating: 4/10 (6 January 2006)

Match Point has been publicised as Woody Allens return to cinematic form, this new film starring various British actors (Including Brian Cox) and Scarlett Johanssen. Sadly the film doesn't quite turn out to be all it should. While the beginning is OK and parts of the end of the film are good the middle section drags unbelievably at times, this is one of the few films where I've checked my watch and thought I'm bored. While I can see that Allen was really trying to get the audience into the life of the lead character (Played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers) all he did was bore us with repeat parts of the film and fluff. As another reviewer has mentioned this film suffers from Americans doing bad British cinema syndrome. The film comes across as being too British that it doesn't flow or feel natural, the dialogue is at times cheesy or painful. Particularly when Meyers and Johanssens characters meet, where did he get those lines from? Meyers in general was the biggest let down of the film he is not convincing in anyway, he's extremely wooden and doesn't really appear to change his mood/emotions at anytime. He really did not grab my attention and keep me interested, as a side note he also didn't suit to being paired with Johanssen there was no chemistry.
The rest of the cast are very good the family headed by Brian Cox fit well into the film and they are a pleasure to watch. Johanssen is also a pleasure to watch and not just because of her good looks. She fills the role very well, as a seductress and as her character evolves she keeps up and is believable. It's interesting to note that two of the 'Spooks' cast are in this.
Overall there are some good points it looks good and is well filmed. But it could have done with being trimmed down at least 20 minutes and a different lead actor would have raised the rating it deserves.
Don't spend £5+ to see it at the cinema.