Raskolnikov revisited (Crime and Punishment)

Rating: 8/10 (16 January 2006)

If Raskolnikov had not had a soul, he might very well have perished into literal and psychological hell. Woody Allen's Match Point pushes just such an end in view and it, frankly, left a very bad taste in the mouth. Allen's intent no doubt. Just as OJ Simpson got "lucky", so too this young Irish tennis star become exec gets away with murder. The collateral damage is just as insignificant to the world as Raskolnikov's landlady. But we can see "the blood crying in his ears" (Dostoevsky).
Well acted, well directed, we are prodded into liking the landed gentry so extraordinary and proper and happy in their extraordinary world. But ordinary Irish does not fit in really and we all know it. Except he IS lucky.
It is a great WA movie. A must see even though my eyes had to avert the cruel scenes. The final close up of the new father unable to smile during the toast to his new born son revealed more pain and yes, the urgent need of a lover/confessor whom we know isn't listening anymore.