Another disappointing work by a formerly great author

Rating: 6/10 (14 November 2005)

I have found 'Match Point' as disappointing as other promising Woody Allen releases in the last years. The critics in Spain spoke about a comeback to the times of 'Crimes and misdemeanors', one of his best movies, because of the darkness in the argument, or the link to the Russian classic 'Crime and punishment'. In fact, the argument of the film has some things in common with that of the late eighties movie: a guy that appears to be happily married, keeps an affair with another woman that demands of him more than he is willing to give. In this case, the guy, Chris Wilton, is not a renowned dentist but a low-class Irish tennis teacher that arrives in London, starts giving classes and relates to a wealthy family via one of his pupils, Tom Hewett, and most importantly, with his sister Chloe. Chris and Chloe get married but by the time the wedding occurs he is already involved in a passionate relation with Tom's seductive girlfriend, Nola. At the beginning of the movie, it is interesting to see how Wilton gets gradually engaged to the Hewetts. You never know how sincere his intentions are, a little bit like in Pasolini's 'Theorem' (besides, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is such an inexpressive actor that it is difficult to catch a sight of what lies beneath his character). Soon, a sexual relationship more explicit than in other Allen's movies begins, and despite the arguable charms of Rhys-Meyers and Johansson ---they look more like models than actors---, the film turns boring and plain. None of the passion that the characters should feel reaches the audience. At the end of the movie, Wilton gets gradually in despair because of his infidelity ---in fact, Nola gets pregnant--- and decides to end with the problem in the Raskolnikov-style. Then comes the scene of the crime, and for the first time in near two hours we feel some tension. It is a matter of opinion if the merits are of Woody or another guy called Fjodor. The citing game is excellent: the shotgun under the coat, the knock on the door, the robbery, the killing... A comforting prove of the sleepy talent of Woody Allen. I won't say more about the ending. Just a few thoughts about the film. Why do Allen's main characters lack any interest nowadays? Probably because the bourgeoisie that he has always portrayed in his films is much less interesting now than some fifteen years ago. Why did he choose so inexpressive actors? Maybe because they are perfect to look like people from covers of magazines, instead of complex individuals. Why didn't he decide to film 'Crime and punishment'? Maybe next year.