Needed a test audience.....

Rating: 6/10 (16 January 2006)

You know how in some movies, there is a test audience, and sometimes if the audience really dislikes one part of the movie, the writers and editors change it? For, example, in American Beauty, the original ending was that the next door neighbor boy got taken away in a police car for the murder. But the test audience really hated it, so they changed the ending.
Match Point needed a test ending for the entire second half of the movie. The first half of the movie was a romantic drama, about scum bag people, basically. The lead was such a liar and a scum, he makes the combination of Jude Law and Clive Owen's characters in Closer look like saints. Especially with the ending and the second half of the movie. It was beyond my comprehension to see the motivation and this buried evil person inside Rhys Meyers' character, to have killed his pregnant lover and her neighbor in order to make it look like a robbery. And most of all get away with it. But, hey, look at Scott Peterson, right?
Usually, in movies there's this redeeming character(s) to make the bad characters even out. Not, in Match Point. Johannason's character was basically a stupid b*tch, Rhys Meyers' wife was so incredibly annoying I don't know how he couldn't have strangled her. The parents were social climbers and so self involved it was ridiculous. The brother had to be the least immoral character in all, even though he left his fiancé for another lover. But, hey I guess that's better than marrying just for money, especially in Rhys Meyers' case right?
There were a few acceptable things in this movie, that did make it bearable and even a bit likable, but I definitely wouldn't go as far as saying this movie is a movie I love to hate. I will not be watching it a second time.
The acting was exceptional. Scarlett Johannason was really great, she's such a vision, she's so good to watch. Very understated, I can't think of a movie where I have seen someone act drunk so on target. I thought two of the funniest parts of the movie, was when she says "I'm just a small town girl from Colorado." Sorry, Scarlett, even with your acting skills that's hard to believe. And when she said "My career hasn't gone exactly as planned." I'm sure Scarlett had no idea that she's be a 21 year old legend.
The chemistry was there, and the tension. The cinematography was nice, especially because London and the countryside are so lovely.
I was so built up for this movie, so excited, was disappointed and felt almost nauseas after watching it. Basicially, I thought this movie was good, but I would NOT recommend it.