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Woody Allen's Match Point anyone?

Went into this today not knowing what was coming. It got an "A" in the Dallas paper, but as custom, I read only the first and last paragraphs. That was good on my part as when I got home, I read the whole review. Paragraphs 2-9 told the whole story. Almost. I won't here. Just some teasers,

First if there is such a thing as a Genteel love story with very dark undercurrents, this is it. Not set in New York, no Woody Allen in it, no Woody-ish neebish character. In fact, most of the characters are the antithesis of the typical Allen character.

This is a story set amongst the British upper class in modern day London. Playing the male lead is Jonathan Rhy-Meyers, as the ever so courteous and unassuming,humble commoner (tennis pro at a posh club) who makes all the right moves to earn his place in polite, monied society. Providing the dramatic adge in this movie is Scarlett Johanssen. Again, she is a temptress, but not the naive innocent of Lost In Translation. Here she is the Kathleen Turner type of Body Heat, seductress wise at least, duly aware of her powers over men. Unlike Turner, she has a vulnerable side. I can't say enough about her performance. She burns up the screen (hey what else is new) in dang near all of her scenes. We might get to see Scarlett-boobies. Or not.

Complications ensue in both of their lives as they find romance amongst the London elite. Detours, some quite unexpected, abound in the latter half. No caricautures of the monied elite either. This is a movie with real characters who have concerns that problably all of the viewers can relate to at least in part. As it moves along, the sense of darknesss becomes stronger and conflicts build resulting in a shattering conclusion at the end.

Nope, theres no giant apes, no vengeful elimination of wrongdoers, no exciting car chases, no bombs or machinegun fire, just strong performances and a complex, all too believable and often surprising, story line. Actually, for me, this was a "makeup" film for dragging Mrs. Nasty to King Kong and Munich. I'm not telling her it was probably my favorite of the three (not that I didn't really enjoy the other two), but I'm telling youse guys. ***. Check it out.


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Topic - Woody Allen's Match Point anyone? - Road Warrior 16:02:55 01/07/06 (11)


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