Match Point

[moviegroupie]

Chris, a former tennis pro, social-climbs into the world of the British upper crust when he gets engaged to one of his wealthy tennis students. But Chris is not the type to leave well enough alone, and he soon falls for Nola, a sexy American actress who is dating his rival Tom, Chris' soon-to-be brother-in-law.
Genres: Comedy, Drama and Thriller
Running Time: 2 hrs. 04 min.
Release Date: December 28th, 2005 (limited)
MPAA Rating: R for some sexuality.
Distributors:
DreamWorks Pictures

-------------------------------------------------------------
Comes out tomorrow and in theaters everywhere in January. Melinda and Melinda was alright (did that come out this year or last? I can't remember). But I'm a fan of SJ and it looks like Woody Allen could be onto something special here. I'll definitely check it out. I must say, for a chick fick type trailer, it really turns into another genre at the blink of an eye.

And wow, when SJ was all oiled up, not to be a perv but

OHMIGOD SHE'S GORGEOUS

Oh, and I discovered Koop from the jazzy music playing in the trailer and I like him/her/them/it very much.

[dman476]

Oh god I can't wait for this film. It looks so fucking amazing.
I will watch it tomorrow and I'll be oozing joy while I'm watching it.
I really hope Allen doesn't mess up with this genre-bending.
And yes, Scarlett Johansson is a beauty like no other - and I will resonate with you, Oh my god, she is GORGEOUS.

[Cronos]

im not sure what to think about this, i saw a trailer on tv earlier and it looked like a period drama but then the title appeared and confused me

ill have to wait for some reviews

[Fisting Ackbar]

This is opening mid-January in my area. I seriously can't wait.

BTW, am I the only one who thinks that the US poster (http://movie-reviews.colossus.net/2005images/match1.JPG) is pretty boring?

[dman476]

I'm not sure what grade I should give the film - I think I need to process it in my mind a little bit more. It's good, but not that good. This particular forum, I'm sure, is filled with Allen fans, and with good reason too.
I love Allen as much as anybody, shit maybe alot more than some casual fans, but this was just pretty stiff for me.
The acting is fine, Rhys-Myer pulls it off well, as does Johansson.
All the supporting characters are great in their roles but most none of the characters backgrounds are explored, unlike most Allen comedies.
The film is straightforward and not clever.
There's one little "Twist" at the end but nothing noteworthy even. It's not up to par with Allen's other films.
The film is dull and unimaginative, it seems to me like a rip-off of Dreiser's American Tragedy. Even the names sound somewhat similar:
Chris Griffiths-Chris Wilton.
But enough about that, it has the usual Allen banter which makes the film worth it. more later...

On a sidenote, I thought I was going crazy at the theater.
First, at the theater's cafe - I thought the person sitting across me was the actress who played President Lara Roslin on "Battlestar Galactica" - I wasn't sure.
Then, upon entering the theater, I saw Jason Bateman, the lead in Arrested Development. Now, that's not all. When I already came to my assigned seat. I see a bald head with glasses and I saw his foot which had sneakers - guess what I'm thinking. Larry David.
Now, this was around 1:30 and I'm not taking halucinogenic drugs so I don't know what was up.

Anyway, back to the film. It had it's moments. The placidity is awing and England is beautiful. Scarlett Johansson in a see-through bra is one of the film's uber high points.
As I said before, I thought the film would have it's cleverness. I mean this plot has been done and overdone so many times, I was expecting some insane pay off at the end but all I got was something I predicted an hour into the film. Pity? Yes it is.
I don't know what to think - I was overtly looking forward to the film and I hope it grows on me but I doubt it will.
This isn't a bad film in anyway, just not the shell-shocker I was expecting it to be. But I still think you all should see it for yourselves before listening to me.

[Sigur509]

I can not wait until this comes to my area. It will make up for not seeing Melinda and Melinda at the theater.

I agree about the poster, there nothing too it. Or mabye thats a good thing? Short, Sweet, and simple?

[TylerDurden182]

I will be there at the very first showing on opening day.

[NightStalkerGtx]

wait so u dont see S.J bare breasts only a see through bra shot? if so bummer...

[thedudeman69]

Originally posted by NightStalkerGtx
wait so u dont see S.J bare breasts only a see through bra shot? if so bummer...

we got to see her ass in Lost In Translation. so don't start whining. :D

[NightStalkerGtx]

Tits > Ass... Can I start now? :D

[dman476]

Originally posted by NightStalkerGtx
Tits > Ass... Can I start now? :D
pretty see-through white bra is better than nothing I must say, and at the way Scarlett's going, this special pivoting scene will come soon.
And by the way, I regard Scarlett's underwear opening scene in Lost in Translation as one of the film's high points.

[Sigur509]

All I want for Christmas is for Match Point to come to Fort Worth Texas.

[ChemicalRomance]

Plot confuses me :(

[blankpage]

You know the usual.

Woody Allen = I'm there.

But I'm even more excited as it's being called his glorious return, etc.

:D

[bankholdup]

I'll be seeing it this weekend, hopefully. I'm going back to the city for my next semester, and I'm a huge Allen fan, so it only makes too much sense.

[chinton]

I enjoyed the film certainly better than a lot of other stuff hes done but doesnt anybody get thats its a remake of plot A from Crimes And Misdeamenors only that film did it fa r better.

7/10

[ilovemovies]

What see through bra??? I didn't see Johansson wear any see-through bra! I was disappointed that I it wasn't there!


SPOILERS!


I disagree with those that says that this is Allen's best film in years. I really loved Anything Else. To me this movie was good but not great. All of the performances were solid with special mention going to Jonathan Rhys-Meyers who is excellent. And Johansson has never looked better. The scene where they make out and have sex in the field outside while it's raining is gorgeously shot. And it takes an interesting turn in the third act although it seemed to come out of nowhere. I mean, I know why he did it but I didn't see him capable of killing. But it was intersting. And the movie is good but not as amazing as some of the reviews seem to say.

[dman476]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
What see through bra??? I didn't see Johansson wear any see-through bra! I was disappointed that I it wasn't there!


SPOILERS!


I disagree with those that says that this is Allen's best film in years. I really loved Anything Else. To me this movie was good but not great. All of the performances were solid with special mention going to Jonathan Rhys-Meyers who is excellent. And Johansson has never looked better. The scene where they make out and have sex in the field outside while it's raining is gorgeously shot. And it takes an interesting turn in the third act although it seemed to come out of nowhere. I mean, I know why he did it but I didn't see him capable of killing. But it was intersting. And the movie is good but not as amazing as some of the reviews seem to say.
Maybe I was imaginaning the see-through bra, actually I'm pretty sure I did. But it was white and I did see stints of nipple.
Anyway, I also don't think it's his best work in years - I for one think Jade Scorpion was better. Seriously, am I the only one who like Curse of the Jade Scorpion?
Match Point was all right (7/10) but nothing phenomenal.

[chinton]

Have you guys seen Crimes And Misdeameanors. Great film but it ahs the same story even the same scene where the lead character talk to spirits to rationalize what hes done

[dman476]

Originally posted by chinton
Have you guys seen Crimes And Misdeameanors. Great film but it ahs the same story even the same scene where the lead character talk to spirits to rationalize what hes done
No, I definately agree.
The scene where Nola and that old woman appear is just so far-fetched in Match Point, it's ridiculous.
In C&M, it's fine.
C&M is a much much better film.

[Mr. Durp]

just saw "match point".

i know people felt woody's act was getting a little stale. new york city atmosphere. neurotic protagonist. the same things that make up the woody allen films that i've loved over the years. it was a little strange watching a woody allen movie that took place in london, involving high class brits going to the opera. just didn't feel like the same woody allen experience. i like the old woody much more.

i didn't care for this movie all that much, not nearly as much as the critics are adoring it. i'm not sure what it was about the characters, but i just felt they were unrelatable , to me at least. that's normally what i love about woody allen films. in this one, i felt distanced from the characters. the story was intriguing, but when it came to resolving the issue at hand, that's when things spun out of control. i know this is a movie, but i felt, considering the plot preceding it, that the resolution was a little unbelievable.

there were some positives, though. scarlett johansson acted as incredibly as she looked. the rest of the cast did well, although the main guy didn't do it for me. i think they could've picked a better actor for the role. the scenery of london was refreshing. i also liked the whole theme of luck shown with the tennis ball, except i felt they were pushing it on the audience toward the end there.

i didn't dislike this movie, i just didn't like it all that much either. i think just being caught off guard by no woody trademarks pretty much put me off from the beginning. if the story had been set in new york city with different actors, i'd probably have liked it much more.

3/5

[Fisting Ackbar]

Hot damn, I loved the hell out of this movie.

I've only seen two other Woody Allen films, so I can't say how similar it is to CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS or if it's an improvement from his other recent work. Yet I found myself totally engrossed in the world of British upper class and the attempts of two individuals to enter into it (and remain there) at whatever cost. And the final act had me literally squirming from suspense.

And Scarlett was sexy as ever, though you could tell she would be absolute trouble to be with from the very start you see her. Very cool stuff.

9/10

SPOILERS!

















Maybe I was imaginaning the see-through bra, actually I'm pretty sure I did. But it was white and I did see stints of nipple.

You must be referring to when she's in the rain, where I also caught some nipple action.

Originally posted by ilovemovies
And it takes an interesting turn in the third act although it seemed to come out of nowhere. I mean, I know why he did it but I didn't see him capable of killing.

The Crime and Punishment book that Rhys-Myers was reading near the beginning foreboded this in a subtle way. Yet at the same time, that scene was used to establish the intentions of the protagonist, when he's also reading something to explain the work of Dostoevsky. Clearly using all that knowledge to impress anybody he would meet, most certainly the Brian Cox character. Brilliant.











END SPOILERS

[TylerDurden182]

Just saw it and I fucking loved it.

10/10

[rbowden81]

Just saw this tonight and really enjoyed it. I give it 8/10.

Thought the acting was great and the scenery was beautiful. How bout that view in the apt!? I also really liked how the movie begain with the tennis court and the whole "sometimes it's better to be lucky..." spill. Thought the ending came back around to that well. Also the final act caught me off guard cause I had heard stuff about the ending but wasn't sure how it would play out but I really enjoyed the resolution.

I recommend it!

[ledfloyd18]

original screenplay of the year. not even a question about it.

[EDsoulsurvive*]

I saw it last weekend and loved it too. It was just such an unconventional thriller, like as the climax played out i really was sweating bullets, I didn't even realize how into the movie I was until that scene. All the performances were great, so let me be frank. Scarlett Johansson was mesmerizing, from her first scene (especially) to her last. If you consider yourself a fan of hers, you most definitly need to see this movie. All in all, I was pleasantly surprised.

Match Point - 8/10

Past Woody Allen films
Melinda and Melinda - 7/10 (i think this movie's underrated)
Anything Else - 3/10

[BuffZBrown]

I saw this movie two weeks ago. I'm in the same boat as the "good, but not great" category. For a thriller, it felt pedestrian. The plot has been done to death as some have said, and it offered no new ideas. The acting was good, Meyers is very good at playing the conniving husband, but other than that, nothing stellar. Walking out, I remember thinking, "Wow, how cool... Woody Allen made a thriller without comedy." But over time, I compared it to other great thrillers and this one fell short. I think I would have liked the movie more if I wasn't able to guess everything... it just sort of played out by the book. I was hoping for something to surprise me.

[dman476]

Originally posted by BuffZBrown
I saw this movie two weeks ago. I'm in the same boat as the "good, but not great" category. For a thriller, it felt pedestrian. The plot has been done to death as some have said, and it offered no new ideas. The acting was good, Meyers is very good at playing the conniving husband, but other than that, nothing stellar. Walking out, I remember thinking, "Wow, how cool... Woody Allen made a thriller without comedy." But over time, I compared it to other great thrillers and this one fell short. I think I would have liked the movie more if I wasn't able to guess everything... it just sort of played out by the book. I was hoping for something to surprise me.
Yeah dude, you got it right. I said the exact same thing.
I mean the film is good, but nothing extraordinary.
Allen should stick to doing his routin comedy - at least that is original.

[TeawithBlood]

Well I just broke my Woody Allen cherry today with Match Point. Pretty good film. A little slow for my tastes but enjoyable. But those last 20 or so minutes had me like WTF. Was that suppose to be some kind of comic relief or something.

8/10

[bob]

Personally, I loved it. I thought it was his most intelligent, complete film since the mid-90s, easily. John Rhys Meyers and Matthew Goode both gave fantastic performances, and Scarlett Johansson fulfilled her rather marginal (in terms of screen time) role well.

It is similar to Crimes & Misdemeanors, but with enough differences to keep it fresh.

A-

[chinton]

For people who love this film but havent seen Crimes And Misdemeanors please see that excellent film

[moviegroupie]

7/10 Stylish fun. A tad long at portions, but great ending.

[veddhead83]

If you want to be bored, Match Point is for you. I enjoyed the climax, but the journey there wasnt worth it. I dont recommend it. Avoid if you are at all tired.