Review: Match Point (A-)

Match Point (2005)
Directed by Woody Allen
Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Alexander Armstrong, Scarlett Johansson, Penelope Wilton, Brian Cox, Matthew Goode
MPAA: R
Grade: A-

Review by Sebastian Francis Kennedy

For fans of Woody Allen, Match Point will come as a bit of a surprise. Serious, erotic and at times, thrilling, Match Point is a wonderful film. However, it has few of the trademark "Woody Allen" elements and it has a restrained visual style that works extremely well.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays Chris, a tennis pro that is drawn in to the inner circle of a wealthy London family. He is initially smitten by Chloe, and the affluent lifestyle that she brings to the mix. However he is also tragically in love with his brother in-law's fiancee Nola, played wonderfully by Scarlett Johannson. What appears to be a simple love triangle unfolds into a much more complicated story.

The way in which Match Point unfolds is masterful. Slow and concise, the film plays out like... well, a long, wonderful tennis match. It is no wonder that Woody Allen was nominated for an Oscar for the screenplay. The true wonder is that Match Point was not nominated for Best Director, Best Film and Best Actor for Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Scarlett Johannson (Ghost World, Lost In Translation) is also wonderful and she shows serious range in the role of Nola, the frustrated actress.

Match Point was one of the most underrated films of last year, and it is perhaps Woody Allen's best film since Manhattan. Match Point is highly recommended.

Buy Match Point On DVD