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Written by Book Reviews
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Of all of Woody Allen's films, "Match Point" most resembles "Crimes and Misdemeanors" in content, and it can be considered a companion film. In "Match Point" former tennis pro Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) gets a job teaching tennis at a posh London club. Chris, an Irishman, makes friends with upper crust Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), and soon he's invited back to the country estate where he meets Tom's sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer). Chris also meets Tom's American girlfriend, Nola (Scarlett Johansson), and while he's immediately attracted to her, he begins a relationship with Chloe.
The Hewetts aren't bad people, but they're shallow. Tom's scandalous relationship with unemployed actress Nola infuriates his autocratic mother, and there are some great scenes as Tom's mother--professing innocence--baits Nola about her non-existent acting career. While both Nola and Chris are outsiders vastly outclassed by the Hewett's old money and social prestige, Chris is accepted but Nola isn't. Chris is a social climber and a cipher, but he's such a chameleon, in the beginning of the film his sincerity is difficult to gauge. A few clues are dropped--in one scene, for example, Chris reads Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment"--an ironic choice--but he puts the book down to read an explanation of the text. It's this sort of subtle clue that reveals that Chris's motives in sucking up to the wealthy Hewetts are less than stellar. But Chris's true character is revealed after he marries Chloe. He has an important job in her daddy's firm, a splendid office, a gorgeous London flat, a doting, sweet-natured wife, but it's not enough....
"Match Point" examines the balance of power in relationships, guilt, ambition and luck through its main character, Chris. It would seem that Chris experiences a stroke of luck when he stumbles upon Tom Hewett's friendship, but how much is luck and how much is engineered by Chris? In spite of the great good fortune that comes Chris's way, character will out, and Chris's true character is revealed through a series of desperate events affected by both bad and good luck. "Match Point" is an intriguing, excellent film packed with surprises and containing a depth that resonates long after the film's conclusion. Woody Allen fans--don't miss this one--displacedhuman
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