Luck of the Irish

Rating: Null/10 (5 July 2007)

MAJOR SPOILER
First off, if I hadn't known in advance that this was a Woody Allen film, I would never have guessed: only once, in passing, is there any mention of neuroses. I'm not a great fan of Allen's, his brand of quirky comedy for the intelligentsia leaves me cold, but I decided to give this one a chance as it's not a comedy and the man himself doesn't appear.
Overall, I'm glad I took the chance. In terms of story, Match Point is nothing new, influenced heavily as it is by Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, but it tells its story in an unhurried manner that is quite refreshing in an age when any scene lasting longer than five seconds seems to be considered a bad thing. The story unfolds quite believably, and the theme of the influence luck/chance/things beyond our control has on our lives is clear throughout without being overstated. It's not about moments of luck, it's about lucky people - and people don't come any luckier than the man who is cleared of the crime he committed by a piece of incriminating evidence he failed to dispose of properly. I liked the resonance of that moment when the old woman's wedding ring bounces on the metal railing, falling backwards (unluckily, we are led to believe), taking us back to the net at the start of the film. British, you see - we love irony for some reason.
The performances are largely good. although Rhys Meyer's performance grated a little. He seems to get better as the film progresses, and I can't quite make up my mind whether his monotone delivery early on is due to poor acting or is meant to convey the attempts of an Irish boy to pull off a posh English accent. Brian Cox is a great actor, but has little to do here as the protagonist's father-in-law. Scarlett Johansson looks gorgeous and gives a good account of herself.