Match Point

Match Point is a movie I was not especially interested in when I first read about it a couple of years ago. There are a few reasons for this.

First is Woody Allen, who I respect as a writer/ director, but find his movies to be a little over-dialogued and drawn out. Then there is Jonathan Rhys Meyers, who - talent as an actor aside - I find generally unlikeable. His off screen antics are the main reason for this.

Notice my surprise to find then, that Match Point was a good show and well worth the watch!

Myers plays a former tennis tour pro (Chris Wilton) who befriends an upper-middle class member while coaching. He is quickly drawn into this rich, successful world of country houses and opera. Despite his immediate spark with Tom Hewitt's fiance Nola (Scarlett Johansson), Chris begins to date Tom's sister Chloe.

This leads him further into their world and the good graces of Hewitt's father, played by Brian Cox.

From here the plot is as you would expect on some points, but in others it twists and turns unexpectedly. Overall Allen maintains the flow of the movie and only digresses once or twice. Here is a clip from early in the movie, the rest I'll let you judge for yourself.