Woody in London

Rating: 8/10 (16 January 2006)

Unlike many of Allen's movies, I cannot say that i found watching match point continuously enjoyable. Instead, it was an intense experience. However, since watching the film, i have found myself unable to stop thinking about the story and the characters in all its layers.
The start was disappointing. I was beginning to suspect that perhaps the film was being sponsored by the tourist board. Most Londoners would cringe at the picture postcard name dropping, such as the Saatchi gallery and the Tate Modern.
I was particularly impressed by Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, who i had only seen before in a minor role in the Beckham movie. He was extremely believable and had excellent chemistry with Ms Johansson. He came across as good looking yet shifty, passionate yet cold, his speech was articulate yet artificial. Emily Mortimor, Brian Cox, Matthew Goode and obviously Scarlett Johansson were also very good.
There was no hint of overacting or over-dramatisation. There was virtually no dialogue or scenes in the film that were irrelevant to the plot.
The film explored Allen's usual topics of love and fidelity, replacing the New York set with upper class society. He also explored the concept of luck versus skill as well as nepotism and the English class system.
I don't think that Jonathan's character was intentionally either bad or social climbing. Events were happening to him as much as he was making them happen. He did not seek the good life and for much of the film was battling between the wish to maintain it and his feelings for Nola. The point where he made his decision on this was believable but his solution was a bit of an overkill. Despite his calculating act, i cant believe that many viewers actually wanted him to get caught.
Match Point has obvious similarities with Crimes and Misdemeanors. Both Martin Landau and Jonathan chose the dangerous yet lazy option of dealing with the other woman who is getting desperate and threatening their perfect lives. In both cases this is an extraordinary act committed by ordinary people. As we entered the final third of the film, Woody Allen fans were left wondering whether he would let the criminal get away with it again. I don't know what it says about Allen or his view on justice that he has done this in two films. Maybe this is a more realistic depiction of crime, where there is not always a Poirot or Columbo following you; break in, drugs taken, case closed.
There were a few tricks at the end to put us off the track. Bumping into a neighbour on the way out of the house. Assuming that the ring falling short of the Thames was bad for Jonathan. Hints about the father in laws shotguns that could have easily been forensically tied to the murder and of course the dynamics between the two detectives.
Overall, a refreshing change of scenery and theme from Allen. Recommended viewing