Woody Allen goes deeper and darker than ever.

Rating: 10/10 (26 August 2010)

Match Point must be a pivotal turn in Woody Allen's career, for it is nothing like his previous work yet still maintains that unique style he is so loved for. There are definite elements that echo Allen's previous films Crimes and Misdemeanors and Interiors, but there is also a Hitchcockian flair that raises the stakes and the tension to a degree far above what is usually expected of Woody Allen.
Allen has said this may be the best film he has made because everything simply "fell in... I caught a lot of breaks." Indeed, nearly all aspects of this film are in top form. The cast is superb, led by the stylish and passionate Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, brilliant as the reckless and amoral Chris willing to go to any length to please any and all desires. Emily Mortimer is sunny and sympathetic as Chris's wife Chloe, whose own life is filled with simple pleasures of love, marriage, children and family. Scarlett Johansson is also quite effective as the femme fatale in white Nola Rice who is instrumental in this plot. The supporting cast, photography, editing and art design also merit high praise.
So why is this such a departure for the usual Woody Allen? First of all, it is set in upper-crust London rather than the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. This allows for some stunning sets of big flats, estates and beautiful countrysides. There is also more of a dark undertone to this story than even what is expected of Woody Allen. Of course he is the perennial pessimist, but he delves into nihilism in some sequences and all you can do is look, shocked and amazed.
Because there is such a different feel to this film, I would recommend this to anyone who is not a Woody Allen fan as a warm-up. It is very entertaining, keeping you on the edge wondering what will happen next and also pondering what should happen and how it will. This is a conversation starter for sure, but it also is wonderful to look at and definitely stays with you after it ends. Agree or don't agree, one cannot deny Woody's deft ability to provoke and entertain.