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"I like it when you drink. You become flirtatious."
Many viewers will certainly find the larger part of the move MATCH POINT fairly boring and somewhat tedious,
if they are looking for comedy or action. The film holds neither at least not until the last 20 minutes.
This production is strictly melodrama in a mild Alfred Hitchcock style. So, expect long tedious portions
with excellent character set up, dialogue and very proficient acting.
"What've we got?"
"I want you to make me pregnant."
MATCH POINT is a film with a fairly simple premise or so it seems. One time pro tennis pro, Chris Wilton
played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers as a character that is used to falling just short in his life. He meets and
befriends a rich young man, Tom Hewitt (Matthew Goode). Chris meets and eventually marries Tom's sister
Chloe (Emily Mortimer). Tom is dating a beautiful and sensual failed actress played by Scarlett Johansson.
Unfortunately Chris has a fatal attraction to Tom's sensual fiancée.
"Are you having an affair?"
Chris' marriage into the Hewitt family opens doors to the kind of money and success that he has always
dreamed of experiencing. Unfortunately, instead of settling for this happiness with Chloe, Chris becomes
torn by his attraction to Nola Rice. After a short on screen passionate love scene in the rain, in a field of
hay, Chris becomes obsessed with her. After Nola's breakup with Tom, who marries someone else, Chris begins
a very passionate affair with her. Their lovemaking is wild and passionate compared to the staid and boring
encounters with his wife. Chris' luck will soon turn bad.
"Maybe it's the difference between love and lust."
Chloe insisted on becoming pregnant as soon as they got married as she always wanted a family while she is
still young. They try and even go to fertility specialists, but no go, she just can not seem to get
pregnant. Ah, but you see their is no problem with Chris because on a rare unprotected moment Nola becomes
pregnant. Since Nola has already had two abortions in the past, she refuses Chris' request.
"She picked the wrong time to come home."
Nola wants Chris to leave his wife and have the child. Chris says he will but in short time he realizes
that he can not do it as he has too much to lose. He begins to see that passion and love are not something
that are necessarily synonymous; he loves his wife and what comes with it. The seduction of family and
wealth is also overpowering.
"Ever thought about decaffeinated coffee?"
"How the hell could you get pregnant?"
Here is where the film's catch happens, in the last 20 minutes. The film takes a severe ninety degree turn.
The events that occur during this time are what make MATCH POINT worth the money. It is not something to be
expected in an Allen movie. I must admit it was the last thing I expected to see, and I am always impressed
when a film can surprise me in this manner.
"You were collateral damage."
"So was your own child."
Woody Allen uses interesting Hitchcock style McGuffins to steer the audience where it thinks it is to go.
Watch out, though because you will not see what you expect. The wedding ring sequence is sure to fool
everyone, even though you are sure where this sequence is meant to lead the audience. Watch for the unexpected
resolutions to the conflicts. I do not really want to give you anything about the last 20 minutes so that
it will be fresh after you plunk down the silver to see MATCH POINT.
"What a surprise!!"
Enjoy the pleasant surprises this movie has to offer whether you see it in a theatre or wait for the video.
Just avoid reading anything that gives you too much information until you see the movie. Oh, and by the
way the film premiered to rave critical reviews at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival.
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