Another ripley yarn?

Rating: 8/10 (12 March 2006)

This movie is the latest from the distinguished British writer-director, Sir Woodford Allen. In a dark tale about an upwardly mobile young tennis pro who marries into an upper-class family while carrying on with his brother-in law's wayward fiancé, Sir Woodford, moving effortlessly through his natural milieu, expertly dissecting both the toffs and the pretenders. It can now be revealed that Sir Woodford is but a persona of that Dostoyevsky of the cinema, Woody Allen, who in fact has made a film which could be set almost anywhere. It seems the original script had New York and the Hamptons as locations, but the story plays just as well in London Paris, Sydney or Tokyo would have done just as well. It is wonderfully back grounded by some of the fruitier Italian Opera (especially Verdi)  the sound track is worth the price of admission alone.
Chris, the tennis guy is played by the Irish actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers. It is a remarkable performance, owing something to the early Malcolm McDowell ("Clockwork Orange "and "O Lucky Man"). It also reminded me of Patricia Highsmith's "Ripley" (the character as played by Matt Damon not John Malkovich). It is an accomplishment to be able to radiate innocence while lying through your teeth, and Meyers does this beautifully, while keeping you guessing as to what he is really up to.
Scarlett Johansson as his paramour Nola also puts in a powerful performance, even though her character is less mysterious. We can certainly feel the attraction - she is blond, beautiful and "spirited". Later, the magic fades, and we see her still handsome, but just another bad-tempered failed actress. This of course is what Chris sees also.
The family Chris has married into rather reminded me of something a British real estate agent said about the English Aristocracy  "deeply ordinary people mainly interested in country pursuits". Wife Chloe (Emily Mortimer) just wants to breed, Mother in law Eleanor (Penelope Wilton) is disapproving and Father in law Alec Hewitt (Brian Cox) just wants to help. Dim brother in law Tom (Matthew Goode) just wants to improve his serve. I can only assume Alec inherited his money  he shows no sign of the abilities required to make it. Still, all this makes the Hewitts the perfect set of milch cows for Chris, who has all the qualities required for success in the dog-eat-dog world of high finance.
Woody, or is it Sir Woodford, clearly wants to remind us of the role of chance in human affairs and indeed you could say chance determines the outcome here. But with all respect to Sir Woody, the forces of nature, and Chris is one of those, have a habit of prevailing despite the fall of the dice. Don't get me wrong  this is great entertainment, but it wouldn't do to take it seriously. In the real world, it is more likely that the competent Detective Banner would have been examined the matter more closely. After all, James Nesbitt usually plays coppers who get their man.