"The man who said 'I'd rather be lucky than good’ saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It's scary to think so much is out of one's control. There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net and for a split second it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward and you win…or maybe it doesn’t, and you lose.”
Those are the opening lines of the film Match Point . I won't write much about the plot of since you can find it anywhere on the net. But my verdict on the movie is that it's a great watch. Romance, lust, intrigue, mystery and unexpected twists...all the elements of a great movie. Brilliant piece of writing from Woody Allen.
His steer away from his usual choice of location, Manhattan, to London is a brilliant one as the old world charm of London and its inherent class structure is a theme that's one of the backbones of the script.
Allen's choice of cast is also spot-on as the entire cast are perfectly suited for their roles. Great dialogue perfectly delivered by the cast in an entirely believable manner. The sexual chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Rhys-Meyers' characters is so palpable and the all-round acting by the entire cast is just brilliant.
The soundtrack, comprising mostly of operatic tracks, complements the film to a hilt...heightening both the intensity and mystery...stirring the emotions of the audience.
While the film is a depressing one, it throws up many questions about life. It's a film filled with many different layers and leaves the audience pondering and shocked after it ends. It's been a long time since I left the cinema feeling the way I did after I watched it.
Is it love or lust?
Which is more important--love or money?
Is life all about luck? How much of who we are and what we become depends on luck?
Posted by DSD at February 13, 2006 7:38 AMi got annoyed with the whole film halfway... i thought it lost the buzz of its beginning which i really quite enjoyed and it continued somewhat predictably Woody-Allen-like... that every thing had to be spelled out in words... maybe i have been traumatize by his films about neurotic new-yorkers...
Posted by: tiggie at February 13, 2006 10:16 AMHey DSD, we should continue our spoiler discussion one of these days. I know I ought to see it but I'm not sure if I'll have the time! Thanks for sharing the opening lines - provoking.
Posted by: monoceros at February 13, 2006 9:50 PM