DVD Review: Woody Allen’s Serves Up a Suspenseful Psychological Thriller in ‘Match Point’ (2006)
Regarded as one of Woody Allen’s most remarkable film in the last decade and more, Match Point is a surprisingly suspenseful and enthralling tale of greed, lust and luck. The movie marks quite a departure for a filmmaker mostly known to make light-hearted comedies and the most pleasant aspect of Match Point is without a doubt the fact that it takes you down to dark and shocking places you never thought possible at the onset of the story.
Jonathan Rhys-Meyers stars as Chris Wilton, a former good-but-not-great professional tennis player who realized he would never be able to compete with the Andre Agassis of the world. Employed as a tennis instructor at a posh country club, he meets and befriends one of his student, Tom Hewitt (Matthew Goode), the son of a wealthy business tycoon. It doesn’t take long for Tom’s sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), to become smitten with Chris, and soon enough the two are dating, to the delight of the family.
Tom’s father, Alec (Brian Cox), holds in high regard the fact that Chris was able to make something of himself despite his unprivileged childhood and offers him a highly promising job in his corporation. In short, everything seems to be looking up for our protagonist.
The trouble is that while Chris is dating Chloe, he is completely overcome by lustful desire for the beautiful Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a struggling American actress who also happens to be Tom’s fiancee. As their relationship eventually becomes an affair, Chris must navigate a rapidly growing web of lies he’s spun, and let’s just suggest that the film goes to unexpected places that Woody Allen has never gone to before or since.
Match Point is masterfully conceived, starting with a deceptively calm and unobtrusive tone which you might find in your standard romantic drama. The director then draws the viewer deeper and deeper by slowly and subtly ratcheting up the tension and desperation that Chris and Nola are feeling as the story unfolds, leading the protagonists down a much darker, suspenseful and thrilling conclusion.
Rhys-Meyers is more than compelling as the soft-spoken protagonist, capturing his character’s desire to hold on his new-found upper-crust lifestyle while knitting this increasingly overwhelming life of lies. Is Chris a well-intentioned young man who can’t believe his luck or is he a cold and manipulative social climber? The Irish actor keeps us guessing and does a commendable job with a complicated role and while his character becomes increasingly unlikable and immoral, he remains captivating to watch.
Meanwhile, I’ve always had an ambivalent opinion of Scarlett Johansson, that she is usually competent enough but rarely brings anything special to her characters. This is very much the case here again as she is appropriately cast to play a sexy and magnetically attractive young woman. She gives her typical low-key performance except for one scene near the end where she expresses her outrage at Chris. The other actors are quite excellent, with Brian Cox and Emily Mortimer shining in their respective roles.
The film overarching theme revolves around the nature of luck and how it’s better to be lucky than good. If you were to believe this movie, hard work and talent only go so far. It’s who you know, it’s being at the right place at the right time and sometimes, it’s whether a tennis ball bounces one way or another after hitting the net.
Those who enjoy slow-burning, elaborate and truly suspenseful story-telling will find Match Point to be an excellent film with a deliciously dark, edge-of-your-seat conclusion.
16 Comments
It’s a film I still like although I did have a few issues with it. One was that it felt a bit familiar to Crimes & Misdemeanors.
The other was Scarlett’s performance late in the film as I don’t think she’s very good when she’s over the top and goes into a rage. Everything else she did worked but not that scene.
Other than that, I still like it.
True but the thing is just about any decent actress can do the “everything else” part credibly. That’s my main beef with Scar Jo, thinking of it, she is easily interchangeable.
You do not want to hear me and one of my closest mates talk about this one. Well actually we talk mostly about how annoying ScarJo is and how much we did not wish her well.
Of course what drew me in was the tennis and I love tennis. Combine tennis and London and I am sold. Does not hurt that Matthew Goode is in it either
Ahaha well she really becomes annoying near the end but it’s the whole point of her character so that the ending can come about. I liked it because it started as this forbidden love story then slowly evolves into this Hitchcockian conclusion.
I agree with the B+ rating. Woody’s dramas and thrillers get a bad reputation. By comparison, they aren’t as good as Annie Hall or Manhattan. But that is not a fair comparison to make. I found “Match Point” to be a perfectly fine thriller that is more intellectual than most thrillers these days. There is some great imagery in the film. Especially the scene where the ring lands on edge and you aren’t sure what side it will fall to. That ring could have been some inspiration to Chris Nolan’s “Inception” scenes.
Yes, unexpectedly intellectual and convoluted. I had no idea what to expect and thought I was in for another of Woody Allen’s light-hearted romantic tale so this was a very pleasant surprise. That ring scene ties in well with the opening scene of the tennis ball hitting the net.
You got it finished then? hehehe
Nice review. I haven’t seen the film, but I am intrigued now
Definitely check it out! Plus it takes place in London
A courageous failure on Woody Allen’s part. I could never warm to these horrid characters and thus the film fails to engage me. There are some things about it though, however, overall I was underwhelmed.
It’s too bad you didn’t like it Dan. I hear though that US critics and audiences seemed to like it a lot more than their British counterparts ahah
Seems to hold true.
I remember liking this one
Good! Maybe see it again to refresh your memory
Nice review Cas, I haven’t seen this one but I was curious about it before I became um, indifferent about Scar-Jo. I still might rent it one day for Matthew Goode
Do give it a watch sometime, I think you will really enjoy it!
Sexy, brilliant and unpredictable. I am not an avid fan of Woody Allen but this one is one of his best.
Match Point is a great suspense movie that finishes with a truly original twist. Woody Allen definitely mixed up his normal directorial style to create a solid film. I highly recommend this movie, and never has Scarlett Johannson looked so sexy.
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