A good surprise

Rating: 9/10 (14 December 2005)

If you're going to see this movie expecting the story of a neurotic character and lots of laughs, you'll be disappointed. Match Point is Woody Allen trying something different with a great plot and script and a wonderful casting.
I'm biased, OK. I've been a Woody Allen fan for years, although I haven't liked all his movies. In his late films I was missing the mood I loved about Crimes and Misdemeanors or Husbands and Wives, and Match Point recovers it in some way, even though it's a completely different movie.
Another difference is the location. It felt strange to see an Allen movie where characters don't walk in Manhattan coming or going to a diner. Since I'm not British I can't tell if locations are good, but it sure looked very British high society to me. I mean, if it is cloudy and rainy 90% of the time and people play tennis and speak English with a strong British accent, where are you? And finally i'd like to mention how good actors are in this movie. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Scarlett Johansson have a intensity that fills the screen. I'm glad to see that not all the raising good actors are talentless Hollywood stars. There's hope for cinema.