Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 12/28/05 (LA/NY) Home Video 04/25/06 MPAA Rating Rated R for some sexuality Running Time 2 hours 4 minutes Genre Suspense, Drama Director/Writer Woody Allen Cast Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode, Brian Cox, Penelope Wilton Studio Dreamworks Pictures |
MATCH POINT
SYNOPSIS
"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."
A one-time tennis pro, Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys
Meyers) was used to falling just short in his life. But
when he befriends Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode) and
marries his sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), the doors
are opened to the kind of money and success that
Chris had once only dreamed of having. Chris should
have settled for happiness, but he is torn by his
attraction to Tom's impossibly beautiful and alluring
fiancée, Nola (Scarlett Johansson). The attraction
turns to an obsession that forces Chris to make a
critical choice. Now everything in his life hinges on
whether or not Chris falls short again…and if his luck
runs out.
"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."
A one-time tennis pro, Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys
Meyers) was used to falling just short in his life. But
when he befriends Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode) and
marries his sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), the doors
are opened to the kind of money and success that
Chris had once only dreamed of having. Chris should
have settled for happiness, but he is torn by his
attraction to Tom's impossibly beautiful and alluring
fiancée, Nola (Scarlett Johansson). The attraction
turns to an obsession that forces Chris to make a
critical choice. Now everything in his life hinges on
whether or not Chris falls short again…and if his luck
runs out.
"Match Point" is a drama about ambition and obsession, the seduction of wealth, and the often
irreconcilable relationship between love and sexual passion. Perhaps most importantly, however, the
story reveals the huge part luck plays in the events of our lives, refuting the comforting misconception
that more of life is under our control than really is.
Written and directed by Academy Award® winner Woody Allen ("Annie Hall," "Hannah and Her Sisters"),
"Match Point" represents a departure for the native New Yorker, the majority of whose films lovingly
depict New York and—not always so lovingly—New Yorkers. Crossing the Atlantic for the first time in his
film career, Allen set "Match Point" in London, where it was also filmed.
The film stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("Bend It Like Beckham," TV's "Elvis"), Scarlett Johansson ("Lost
in Translation," "Girl With a Pearl Earring"), Emily Mortimer ("Lovely and Amazing," "Dear Frankie"),
Matthew Goode ("Chasing Liberty"), Brian Cox ("The Bourne Identity," "Red Eye") and Penelope Wilton
("Iris," "Pride & Prejudice").
Premiering to rave reviews at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, "Match Point" was produced by Letty
Aronson, Gareth Wiley and Lucy Darwin. Stephen Tenenbaum served as the executive producer, with
Helen Robin and Nicky Kentish Barnes co-producing, and Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe co-executive
producing. "Match Point" will be distributed domestically by DreamWorks.
--© DreamWorks
irreconcilable relationship between love and sexual passion. Perhaps most importantly, however, the
story reveals the huge part luck plays in the events of our lives, refuting the comforting misconception
that more of life is under our control than really is.
Written and directed by Academy Award® winner Woody Allen ("Annie Hall," "Hannah and Her Sisters"),
"Match Point" represents a departure for the native New Yorker, the majority of whose films lovingly
depict New York and—not always so lovingly—New Yorkers. Crossing the Atlantic for the first time in his
film career, Allen set "Match Point" in London, where it was also filmed.
The film stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers ("Bend It Like Beckham," TV's "Elvis"), Scarlett Johansson ("Lost
in Translation," "Girl With a Pearl Earring"), Emily Mortimer ("Lovely and Amazing," "Dear Frankie"),
Matthew Goode ("Chasing Liberty"), Brian Cox ("The Bourne Identity," "Red Eye") and Penelope Wilton
("Iris," "Pride & Prejudice").
Premiering to rave reviews at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, "Match Point" was produced by Letty
Aronson, Gareth Wiley and Lucy Darwin. Stephen Tenenbaum served as the executive producer, with
Helen Robin and Nicky Kentish Barnes co-producing, and Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe co-executive
producing. "Match Point" will be distributed domestically by DreamWorks.
--© DreamWorks
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
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