Fine and unexpected thriller from Woody.

Rating: 8/10 (12 March 2006)

A tennis coach turned businessman (Jonathan Rhys Myers) begins an affair with his brother in law's former fiancée (Scarlett Johansson) but can't decide whether to leave his wife (Emily Mortimer), whose family has provided him with upper-class comforts, or to break it off with the mistress.
Impressive film written and directed by Woody Allen, this is very much a change of pace for the veteran filmmaker. The film is very well written as Allen ensures his script touches on themes of fate and luck, which ultimately have an enormous bearing on the climax, and class struggle and the desire to enter 'higher society'. The acting is excellent as Myers' character is both shifty and almost likable. Allen draws considerable suspense throughout the film as we (the audience) ultimately follow Myers and, in the tradition of the best of Hitchcock, want him to succeed even when his intentions take a turn for the worse. Perhaps a tad slow in parts and hence slightly overlong, but overall a very impressive film. This was likely influenced by A Place in the Sun (1951), which is also recommended. Also with Brian Cox.