Great class analysis in a contemporary noir genre film

Rating: 9/10 (22 February 2011)

Great film, mostly free of many of the Woody tics that turn off the non-fans. Woody goes to the UK with a story from a film noir enthusiast who's view of England comes from too many Jane Austen novels. At the surface, there is a classic love triangle with the other woman, but the setup of the class dimension gives the film its bite.
Rhys Myers' character is the upwardly mobile Irish tennis pro finding his way into the jungle of the English upper class; the crux of the film is that his attempt to solve his romantic problems will end up being practically-motivated rather than achieved through finessing social relations, and we are left to the very end to find out whether or not this is his undoing.
Rhys Myers is OK, Johansson brings the screen presence but the reason to watch the film is for the relatively tight plotting (by Allen standards) along with WA's always-excellent eye for the underlying dynamics of sexual attraction and obsession. Much to enjoy in this film.