Five points

Rating: 5/10 (17 January 2007)

Match Point is a decent movie. The story is similar to "A place in the Sun." Tennis player Chris (John Rhys Meyers) befriends rich boy Tom(Matthew Good) bringing him into a circle of the very wealthy. Chris is looking to move up in the world and begins a relationship with Toms plain Jane sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer). Trouble looms when Chris meets Nola (Scarlett Johannssen). Lets just say the plot thickens and complications arise from Chris's lust and stupidity.
This movie is at best average. I think Jonathan Rhys Meyers was a good actor to portray the social climbing Chris. He had that dopey eyed, boyish look.
Matthew Good as Tom as decent, though not a major role he played a British snob quite well and thankfully his appearance was kept to a minimum.
Emily Mortimer as Chloe is very much a sympathetic character and one is made to feel bad for her though I did not.
Scarlett as Nola. Perfect. A somewhat sleazy would be actress who has sexiness, but little else.
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I did not find much in Match Point or maybe I just did not like it too much that I found things "wrong" with it...
1. Chris, why is he such a sissy? He is not only stupid with his actions but even more amazing is no one around him suspects otherwise! Certainly his wife would be a little suspicious as well as the Tom character.
2. The Hewitts. They are very rich and reject Nola and seem to almost immediately welcome Chris, without any hesitation. Was it because he has that lovely English accent and Nola is...(gasp!)...American? Certainly they were very prejudice and would not have been so open to Chris as they are portrayed in the movie, after all the guy had no business experience yet is offered a high profile position in the family company, makes no sense.
3. Chloe. Is this woman blind? It is obvious Chris has such a strong interest in Nola. He looks at her in a way he never once looks at Chloe and always manages to conveniently be present where Nola is while Chloe is wondering "Where is Chris?". I do not think most wives would be that clueless especially when the other woman is right there all the time!
4. The rain hook up. This occurred at one of the family homes and certainly both Chris and Nola must have come back drenched. This would raise questions and yet no one again notices. Hmmm I guess it is just completely normal when two people in other relationships disappear at the same time, soak in the rain and no one wonders where they have been or what they have been doing. Maybe they are just talking about each others views on the AIDS epidemic in Africa. I find this particular first love encounter between the two, while somewhat ideal, not practical. Someone is bound to either notice or become suspicious.
5. Nola is the other woman, yet she expects Chris to eventually leave Chloe for her and accuses him of being a liar when he lies about his family vacation. DUH! The man is cheating on his wife with you! Does that not already make him a known liar? Nola, though is not far fetched as I have encountered many "other women" who like to believe their married lovers will leave their spouse for them and it becomes obvious that the relationship is pure sexual attraction. Nola becomes pregnant and expects Chris to do the right thing since he a man of such noble intentions! This complicates things causing Chris to take drastic measures.
I found the ending of this film to at least be satisfying which I will not give away. This is a movie that I enjoyed at the theaters, but not at home. It had a creepy feel as Opera music played during some of the most dramatic scenes. It is worth watching....but in my opinion only once.