What The Critics Say

"The characters' sundry fates never become a great concern, leaving the viewer, more or less, adrift in indifference." John Wirt ADVOCATE BATON ROUGE "Match Point may be Allen’s best film in years, but the disastrous casting of Rhys-Myers makes it another disappointment." Jeffrey Westhoff NORTHWEST HERALD CRYSTAL LAKE "How much you enjoy the film, a sort of modern-day rake’s progress set in London, may depend on how much you enjoy gazing at co-stars Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers." James Verniere BOSTON HERALD "While not as awful as some of Allen's flubs, this film is one of those instances in which the cinematic ball doesn't quite make it over the net." Frank Swietek ONE GUY'S OPINION "While not as awful as some of Allen's flubs, this film is one of those instances in which the cinematic ball doesn't quite make it over the net." Frank Swietek ONE GUY'S OPINION "Not one of Allen's best films, but it is somewhat different than most." Robert Roten LARAMIE MOVIE SCOPE "Okay, Woody. This is the Last Chance You Get. Next Time, I Swear I am not coming back." Jimmy O FILM SNOBS "Watching This Movie Is Like Having Your Tooth Pulled In Slow Motion Without Novocaine." Fiore Mastracci, OUTTAKES WITH FIORE

The Inside Story It's hard not to be critical of Woody Allen's latest film "Match Point" because good as it is there are just as many reasons to cane it. Sure it stars that gorgeous young starlet Scarlett Johansson, sure the cinematography is exquisite and yes, it turns into a real thriller, but on the opposite side of the ledger these are characters you don't really care about. It's definately not sexy nor is it erotic, the soundtrack grates the nerves and for many, "Match Point" will, to be honest, just drag on and on. Critics are hailing this as Woody Allen's best work in a decade. Well it isn't! It is different but there are still many of Allen's hallmarks throughout the film. It's not that big a film, something I'm sure will be borne out by box-office takings. Shifting the film to London has given an air of freshness to "Match Point" as Allen's previous works have been New York based. In this respect I happen to think the cinematography in "Match Point" is superb. The locations include some of the city’s most famous landmarks like the Tate Modern, St James’s Park and one of the more recent additions, 'The Gherkin'. Also used in exterior and interior shots were Belgravia, Marylebone, Notting Hill, Chelsea, Covent Garden as well as a country estate in Buckinghamshire. On the subject of locations, Allen received a lot of help from production designer Jim Clay. "Jim Clay was a major contributor. I relied on him to solve a lot of problems and he had very little money to work with," says the Academy Award winning Writer ["Hannah And Her Sisters", 1986] and Director ["Annie Hall", 1977]. "He came up with not only great locations but wonderful sets and great solutions to problems." Allen added further praise for Clay noting, "He was so meticulous and imaginative, sometimes quite astonishing, working the same way Santo Loquasto [Allen’s Production Designer for the past 20 years] works, which is on a very limited budget but producing very large impressive sets for me." While it created a challenge working in a new country, Allen obviously enjoyed the experience. "Working with a British crew was a wonderful experience. I had a great team; very friendly, enormously efficient and tremendously good at what they did in every department. It was very loose and easy and everyone brought enthusiasm to their work which made the experience very pleasurable." That shines through in the work of Cinematographer Remi Adefarasin who had long wanted to work with Allen. "Woody loves warm tones and we realized that if we all fell over backwards to produce warm sets, clothes, hair and light then nothing would stand out. We did extensive screen tests before the shoot and this was extremely useful." And how did he find working with Allen? Adefarasin revealled that Allen "likes to look through the lens a lot, stays close to the camera when we’re rolling so he can see the actors faces and does not use a video monitor as he realises they are deceitful." Also working with Allen for the first time was Costume Designer Jill Taylor. She strove for accuracy when approaching her brief. "It wasn’t a stylised look, we wanted to get everything believable and real within the characters lifestyle. I interviewed a lot of people and talked through their wardrobes to determine the kinds of things they would wear to certain events." The job of finding the cast members went to London based Gail Stevens. "Gail Stevens introduced me to wonderful British actors , the result is that every little part in the movie is beautifully played everyone and anyone in the movie who even had a tiny one line role or little supporting part does it beautifully. The cast was impeccable." And what did the cast think of working with Allen. Jonathan Rhys Meyers admits he was initially terrified. His agent forced him to a meeting with Allen. "Woody came in and he said 'Hi Jonathan, I’m making this movie, I’m presenting you with the script, and if you like the material I don’t do much rehearsal'. After the meeting I almost collapsed and cried, convinced it was all a mistake." Scarlett Johansson was quick to take an offer to appear in the film. "The script was so different to anything I’ve really seen in his films. It was very very dark, I couldn’t pass on the offer". And how does Johansson decribe her character? "Nola was very unusual and absolutely neurotic. She’s had a long twenty years and lived a lot in that period. She’s needy, sensitive and a survivor." Working with Allen was a revelation for actress Emily Mortimer. "With a Woody Allen film you are just straight in there and there is no time wasted so it’s both scary and bracing," she said. "It’s been a great experience working on such an intimate film." Acclaimed actor Brian Cox says he "was surprised and delighted to be cast as wealthy English landowner Alec Hewett. It was very funny to be cast as 'posh', only a Jewish New Yorker would cast me in such a role. For years I’ve been trying to get roles like this in England and no one will cast me." Allen is full of praise for all the cast noting, "They all made my characters come to life beyond my fondest expectations. They all made a major contribution." Despite all their efforts, "Match Point" still has an 'art house' feel about it. Of course, if you happen to like 'art house' films and Woody Allen, you have two very good reasons to see his latest effort. Cast & Crew Bytes "MATCH POINT" stars .......
Jonathan Rhys Meyers ["Ride With The Devil", "Bend It Like Beckham", "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" and "Vanity Fair"]; 2003 Venice Film Festival Best Actress Award winner Scarlett Johansson ["Girl with a Pearl Earring", "A Good Woman", "In Good Company" and "The Island"]; 2003 Independent Spirit Award winner Emily Mortimer ["Lovely & Amazing", "Bright Young Things", "Young Adam" and "Dear Frankie"]; Alexander Armstrong ["There's No Business", "Birthday Girl" and "Beginner's Luck"]; Matthew Goode ["South From Granada", "Chasing Liberty" and "Imagine Me & You"]; Penelope Wilton O.B.E ["Iris", "Calendar Girls", "Shaun Of The Dead" and "Pride & Prejudice"]; John Fortune ["Bloodbath at the House of Death", "England, My England", "The Tailor Of Panama" and "Calendar Girls"] and EMMY Award and Two Time Olivier Award winner Brian Cox ["Kiss the Girls", "Troy", "The Bourne Supremacy" and "Red Eye"] as Alec Hewett.
"MATCH POINT" was .......
directed by Woody Allen ["Manhattan", "Hannah and Her Sisters", "Manhattan Murder Mystery", "Bullets Over Broadway", "The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion" and "Melinda and Melinda"]; screenplay by Woody Allen ["Radio Days", "Crimes and Misdemeanors", "Everyone Says I Love You" and "Deconstructing Harry"]; costume design by Jill Taylor ["The Full Monty", "Crush", "Last Orders", "Two Men Went To War" and "Johnny English"]; production design by Two Time BAFTA Award winner Jim Clay ["Captain Corelli's Mandolin", "About A Boy", "Love Actually" and "Stage Beauty"]; edited by Alisa Lepselter ["Sweet and Lowdown", "Small Time Crooks", "The Curse Of The Jade Scorpion" and "Melinda and Melinda"]; cinematography by BAFTA Award winner Remi Adefarasin B.S.C ["The House of Mirth", "About A Boy", "Johnny English" and "The Haunted Mansion"] and set decoration by Caroline Smith ["The Darkest Light", "Conspiracy Of Silence", "Love Actually" and "Stage Beauty"]. What It's All About Former pro tennis player Chris Wilton has returned to the game, not as a player but as a coach at an exclusive London Tennis Club. Here he meets Tom Hewett. The two young men get on well. They have a lot in common considering their vastly different social status. Tom suggests that Chris joins him in their private box at the Opera. Here he introduces Chris to his sister Chloe who is instantly attracted to the charming, good looking guest. It's not long before they are an both an item and lovers. The wealthy Chloe pampers Chris and though he at first politely resist the feel of wealth sits well with him. Then Chris meets Tom's fiancé, the very attractive, wanna-be actress, Nola Rice. He is besotted by her. He can't keep his eyes off her. He becomes so obsessed he begins manipulating his and Chloe's social life so that he can be near Nola at every opportunity. Even marriage to Chloe does little to curb his feelings. Then Tom and Nola break off their engagement. With Nola off the scene things settle down, until by chance, Chris runs into her. Throwing caution to the wind he aggressively pursues her. They begin an illicit affair, one which later become complicated by the news that she is now pregnant. Chris finds himself torn between his lust for Nola and the wealthy security offered by his marriage to Chloe. Under relentless pressure from the pregnant Nola, Chris makes a decision. It is one that will have far reaching consequences for both himself and Nola. The Verdict "It's not hard to understand why the critics are raving about this latest film as being the best Woody Allen work in a decade, after all, they gave his last two films "Melinda and Melinda" and "The Curse of the Jade Scorpion" [both of which were in fact far more entertaining than his latest effort, the rather sterile "Match Point"] a real caning. "Match Point" is inhabited by featureless characters who are uninteresting and a storyline with more holes in it than the Titanic. "Match Point" will certainly test the patience of many cinemagoers. The films narrative provides a useful comparison. Liken it to a game of tennis. Whether you like "Match Point" or not will depend on which side of the net your ball falls when it clips the tape. I'm tipping this will be a 50-50 call. Recommended only if you're a die-hard Woody Allen fan, a lover of 'art house' films or if you've seen everything else at your local cinema complex. Who's Who?

Jonathan Rhys Meyers Scarlett Johansson Emily Mortimer Alexander Armstrong Matthew Goode Brian Cox Penelope Wilton Philip Mansfield Simon Kunz Geoffrey Streatfield John Fortune Rupert Penry-Jones Anthony O'Donnell Miranda Raison Rose Keegan Zoe Telford Margaret Tyzack Scott Handy Emily Gilchrist Selina Cadell Colin Salmon Toby Kebbell Steve Pemberton Ewen Bremner James Nesbitt

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Chris Wilton Nola Rice Chloe Hewett Wilton Mr Townsend Tom Hewett Alec Hewett Eleanor Hewett Waiter Rod Carver Alan Sinclair John the Chauffeur Henry Custodian Heather Carol Samantha Mrs Eastby Hewetts' Friend Hewetts' Friend Margaret Ian Policeman Detective Parry Inspector Dowd Detective Banner

The Crew Directed by Woody Allen Written by Woody Allen Produced by Letty Aronson/Lucy Darwin/Gareth Wiley Cinematography by Remi Adefarasin Film Editing by Alisa Lepselter Casting by Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto/Gail Stevens/Juliet Taylor Production Design by Jim Clay Set Decoration by Caroline Smith Costume Design by Jill Taylo Run Time 124 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2006 - Icon Film Distribution - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2006 - Impact Internet Services - All Rights Reserved