MATCH POINT (2005)

What makes me hook from the beginning of almost any Woody Allen film is the wonderful beginning quote as film opens. Here’s fine one of this film-
“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.”

Chris Wilton is young handsome and a talented tennis coach who loves to listen opera and read Dostoevsky; in short a man with a taste of classic. During his coaching hours he befriended with Tom, a multi millionaire young businessman. Soon Tom realized Chris’ love for Opera and invited him to share a place with his family. During opera, Tom’s sister got crush on him and both started romancing each other. As their bonding slowly accepted by Tom’s family and offered a white collar job in the business firm. But chance has something else planned for him. He started romancing with another sensuous woman and she’s none other than Tom’s fiancée. The rest is show to see full of struggle, guilt and a crime.

Woody Allen’s films question the moral social codes set by the society upon uncontrollable human instincts and urges for relationships. He portrays this not like other modern dark film directors but with irony in witty tone and that’s what makes his films different refreshing experience. His heroes are always instinctly guided smart and intelligent chaps who can’t resist their intensity of instinct. It’s struggling guilty face of modern day male looming like pendulum between wife and girlfriend or love and lust and slowly driven towards an unexpected crime. Watch the character of Javier Bardem in his last directed film- ‘Vicky Christina Barcelona’ or the character of Chris here played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Heroines of Woody films are also great blend of beauty with brain and they are always strong woman characters. Scarlett Johansson not only looks stunning here but acted wonderfully too once again.

While ‘Vicky Christina…’ was slice of fun and romance, this one is squash of intense romance and crime. Looking more from wonderful Woody and who said you are aging; what I felt is total reverse.

Catch it!!!!
Ratings-8/10