Match Point

I saw Match Point last night. As you all know I’m a big Woody Allen fan, but this film was quite a disappointment for me. First off, I cared little for the characters. Centred around London’s middle to upper class I identified with and had no sympathy for anyone. Jonathan Rhys-Myers plays a tennis coach who has ‘built himself up from nothing’. However he talks as posh as anyone and seems fairly minted from the off.

The next thing that put me off it, and I suppose it’s not Woody’s fault, was the succession of British comedians and TV stars that passed through it. Alexander Armstrong, Paul Kaye, Mark Gatiss, Steve Pemberton and James Nesbitt to name a few.

It definitely didn’t have the same flavours as previous Woody movies. It takes about three quarters of the film to get going, but by that time I didn’t really care and the unbelievable premise did nothing to pull me in.

I’m glad he’s getting the plaudits once again, but this didn’t do it for me. It takes home 2 Tom stars.

So, Back to his Best or Not as Good as he Used to be? When was the last great Woody movie? Well, looking back at them. Melinda and Melinda was kind of unremarkable, Will Ferrell wasn’t used as well as he could have been. Anything Else was certainly funny, but not great. The Curse of the Jade Scorpion and Hollywood Ending got such limited releases here I haven’t seen them. Small Time Crooks had its moments, though he should have spent more time on the daft crooks. Sweet and Lowdown hits the mark in many places Sean Penn’s crazy guitarist with a touch of the Moe Syzlaks about him was great. Celebrity was okay, but suffered from Kenneth Branagh’s Woody impression. Deconstructing Harry was very good but perhaps too disjointed. Everyone Says I Love You was also excellent. A film that used a great cast well. Tim Roth as a scary ex-con, Edward Norton, Julia Roberts, Natalie Portman, Drew Barrymore, Billy Cruddup, Alan Alda and Goldie Hawn.

But here it is – his last great film it’s 1995 and it’s Mighty Aphrodite. Mira Sorvino lands an Oscar for her performance as idiot porn star Linda Ash the natural mother of Woody and Helena Bonham Carter’s adopted son. Michael Rapport gives a nice comic performance and F. Murray Abraham leads a Greek choir which juxtaposes with the contemporary action.