Match Point
January 26th 2009 23:17
I'll admit that sometimes I buy DVDs based on who stars in it rather than what the story is about. Actually, sometimes I buy them based on who has an obscure, not even top billed, cameo in the movie which was the case with Match Point.
If you read my other blog, tvwatchers.net, you'll know that I love the BBC show, Spooks. So when I heard that Rupert Penry-Jones had a small (incredibly small) role in Match Point I picked it up at a DVD sale. The big stars were Jonathan Rhys Meyers and ScarlettJohansson and of course, the film was written and directed by Woody Allen. So while the Penry-Jones watching lasted for two scenes and a total of about five minutes, I was definitely not disappointed with my purchase.
The story centres around Chris Wilton (Rhys Meyers), a retired tennis pro who takes a job as a coach at the Queen's Tennis Club. After giving a lesson towealthy playboy, Tom (Matthew Goode ), he befriends the young man and goes on to meet his family. He later begins a relationship with Tom's sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer) but this remains rather passionless as once Chris meets Tom's beautiful American fiancee Nola, (ScarlettJohansson) he begins obsessing over her.
At first it seems as thought Chris' obsession with Nola will remain just that. He continues his relationship with Chloe and Tom and Nola appear to be a very happy couple. But events in Tom's family and Nola's work life pushes the two of them together and they give into their passions in a field during a rain storm. Nola later tells Chris that it won't happen again and shortly after, Tom breaks up with her and she disappears.
Meanwhile, Chris accepts a job with Chloe and Tom's father and starts to enjoy living a privileged life. He marries Chloe and they move into a beautiful apartment. And while outwardly it looks as though Chris now has it all, what little passion he shared with Chloe completely disappears when she becomes desperate to have a baby. Just when he's started to reach the end of his tether, he bumps into Nola again and the two begin a passionate affair.
To me, the film seemed predictable for a start. The choices that Chris is faced with seem typical of the situation; he has to choose between money and privilege over passion and sex. But I should know better than to assumepredictability from Woody Allen. There are so many twists and turns to this very clever, very dark film that any assumptions that I'd made in the beginning soon disappeared.
Rhys Meyers is excellent. He's creepy, kind of gross and very forward when it comes to Nola. But when he makes some tough choices, his hard facade disappears and what's left is a quivering crying mess. In all a great film. But my advice is not to make the mistake I made and stick it on at the end of a long day of movie watching when you're looking for something brainless (and hoping for a perv on RupertPenry-Jones). You'll need your thinking cap on for this one.
Oh, and just as a side note, to my friendly anonymous commenter from my previous post: I actually liked Indiana Jones more than Marley and Me too. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions.
If you read my other blog, tvwatchers.net, you'll know that I love the BBC show, Spooks. So when I heard that Rupert Penry-Jones had a small (incredibly small) role in Match Point I picked it up at a DVD sale. The big stars were Jonathan Rhys Meyers and ScarlettJohansson and of course, the film was written and directed by Woody Allen. So while the Penry-Jones watching lasted for two scenes and a total of about five minutes, I was definitely not disappointed with my purchase.
The story centres around Chris Wilton (Rhys Meyers), a retired tennis pro who takes a job as a coach at the Queen's Tennis Club. After giving a lesson towealthy playboy, Tom (Matthew Goode ), he befriends the young man and goes on to meet his family. He later begins a relationship with Tom's sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer) but this remains rather passionless as once Chris meets Tom's beautiful American fiancee Nola, (ScarlettJohansson) he begins obsessing over her.
At first it seems as thought Chris' obsession with Nola will remain just that. He continues his relationship with Chloe and Tom and Nola appear to be a very happy couple. But events in Tom's family and Nola's work life pushes the two of them together and they give into their passions in a field during a rain storm. Nola later tells Chris that it won't happen again and shortly after, Tom breaks up with her and she disappears.
Meanwhile, Chris accepts a job with Chloe and Tom's father and starts to enjoy living a privileged life. He marries Chloe and they move into a beautiful apartment. And while outwardly it looks as though Chris now has it all, what little passion he shared with Chloe completely disappears when she becomes desperate to have a baby. Just when he's started to reach the end of his tether, he bumps into Nola again and the two begin a passionate affair.
To me, the film seemed predictable for a start. The choices that Chris is faced with seem typical of the situation; he has to choose between money and privilege over passion and sex. But I should know better than to assumepredictability from Woody Allen. There are so many twists and turns to this very clever, very dark film that any assumptions that I'd made in the beginning soon disappeared.
Rhys Meyers is excellent. He's creepy, kind of gross and very forward when it comes to Nola. But when he makes some tough choices, his hard facade disappears and what's left is a quivering crying mess. In all a great film. But my advice is not to make the mistake I made and stick it on at the end of a long day of movie watching when you're looking for something brainless (and hoping for a perv on RupertPenry-Jones). You'll need your thinking cap on for this one.
Oh, and just as a side note, to my friendly anonymous commenter from my previous post: I actually liked Indiana Jones more than Marley and Me too. Don't be so quick to jump to conclusions.
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