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Match Point was a real change of contrast for its director Woody Allen; although the 70 year old director had touched on both the thriller an the romance element he had never blended the two together with such mastery. Not only that there is quite a high level of eroticism ... Read review
And so Woody Allen picks up his camera and moves the location of his latest film across ... more
the channel to London. In the process?Match Pointbecomes one of his finer efforts of recent times.Jonathan Rhys Meyers leads the cast as Chris Wilton, a former prof...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
And so Woody Allen picks up his camera and moves the location of his latest film across ... more
the channel to London. In the process?Match Pointbecomes one of his finer efforts of recent times.Jonathan Rhys Meyers leads the cast as Chris Wilton, a former prof...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Passion. Temptation. Obsession. At a turning point in his life a former tennis pro falls ... more
for a femme-fatal type who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law... Typically pinpoint dramatic thriller with flash of black humour from...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Passion, temptation and obsession explode in this sexy, stylish thriller which charts a ... more
young man's rise in society and the terrible consequences of his ambition. The protagonist Chris (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is torn between two women, and on finding no...
And so Woody Allen picks up his camera and moves the location of his latest film across ... more
the channel to London. In the process?Match Pointbecomes one of his finer efforts of recent times.Jonathan Rhys Meyers leads the cast as Chris Wilton, a former prof...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
For the first time in his long career, writer-director Woody Allen takes his cast and crew ... more
to London, and the European location breathes new life into the normally Manhattan-centric auteur. Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as Chris Wilton, a former pro on the world tennis circuit, with eyes set on a very different kind of prize. After meeting Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode) at an exclusive club, he becomes friendly with Tom's extremely wealthy family, including his powerful businessman father, Alec (Brian Cox) and his attractive sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who is desperate to get married and have children. The only problem is that Chris has fallen hard and fast for Tom's fiancee, the steaming-hot Nola (Scarlett Johansson), an unsuccessful American actress from Colorado who just might share Chris's lustful feelings, a romantic entanglement that could get in the way of his master plan. As he does with his New York-set films, Allen includes many London landmarks, including the Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House, the Queen's Club, St. James Park, the Millennium Bridge, the Palace Theatre, and the so-called Gherkin building, with its marvellous views of the city. He gets splendid performances from his actors, especially Rhys Meyers, who plays Chris with an intense glower, and Johansson, who is brilliant as the sexy, confident femme fatale. Allen is also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, with several references and homages to the work of the great British director. The soundtrack features songs from LA TRAVIATA, RIGOLETTO, OTELLO, MACBETH, SALVATOR ROSA, IL TROVATORE, and other operas, primarily sung by Enrico Caruso.
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: John Duigan - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Penelope Cruz
Production Year: 2004 - Drama - Director: Nick Cassavetes - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over, 12 years and over - Starring: Rachel McAdams, Ryan Gosling, Gena Rowlands
Advantages: A Woody Allen Movie Like You Have Never Seen! FANTASTIC! Disadvantages: No special features
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Match Point was a real change of contrast for its director Woody Allen; although the 70 year old director had touched on both the thriller an the romance element he had never blended the two together with such mastery. Not only that there is quite a high level of eroticism about the movie which has never been so cleverly exposes in a Woody Allen movie. Set rather unusually for a Woody Allen movie in London Match Point came under ... ...opinion is the case with Match Point.
The real nice touch about the movie is that with the exception of Chloe and her parents nobody is particularly likeable. From the mint Jonathan Rhys Meyers ponces in you know he is a snide little sod who needs a slap. The character of Tom is just a spoiled little rich kid who needs to learn how to live on the basic minimum wage for a week. And this leads us with our other lead character of Nola ... more
Minor Tennis legend Chris Wilton arrives in London; with finances rather thin on the ground he quickly manages to find himself work as a tennis coach at Wimbledon. It's during this tutorage that Chris meets Tom. One day after a game of tennis the two share a drink and discuss a love of opera. Tom invites Chris to the opera that very evening with his family. A little reluctant Chris accepts the kind gesture; and soon becomes a family friend.
For one member of Tom's Family, his sister Chloe; Chris has had a far more lasting impression. Chris and Chloe strike up a friendship that soon develops further into romance. But Chris has a secret; he has become fixated with Tom's fiancé American actress Nola Rice.
During one rainy summer's day in the country Chris and Nola make love in the rain. Although Chris assumes that more is to come, Nola makes it very clear that once was enough. Chris decides that its best to wipe Nola from his mind and having been groomed to be a husband for Chloe by her family the extremely wealthy Hewitts, Chris quickly falls into marriage.
Some time later after Nola and Tom have separated and Chris is settled into marriage with Chloe a chance encounter for Chris with Nola at the Saatchi gallery turns into a torrid affair.Cast
Jonathan Rhys Meyers .... Chris Wilton (as Jonathan Rhys Meyers) Alexander Armstrong .... Mr. Townsend Paul Kaye .... Estate Agent Matthew Goode .... Tom Hewett Brian Cox .... Alec Hewett Penelope Wilton .... Eleanor Hewett Emily Mortimer .... Chloe Hewett Wilton Mark Gatiss .... Ping-Pong Player Scarlett Johansson .... Nola Rice Simon Kunz .... Rod Carver Geoffrey Streatfield .... Alan Sinclair Mary Hegarty .... 'Rigoletto' Performer Rupert Penry-Jones .... Henry Steve Pemberton .... Detective Parry Ewen Bremner .... Inspector Dowd James Nesbitt .... Detective Banner
Match Point was a real change of contrast for its director Woody Allen; although the 70 year old director had touched on both the thriller an the romance element he had never blended the two together with such mastery. Not only that there is quite a high level of eroticism about the movie which has never been so cleverly exposes in a Woody Allen movie. Set rather unusually for a Woody Allen movie in London Match Point came under serious critical scrutiny. British reviewers stated "Allen does not understand the British class system" and "The British class system is not like that". But the annoying thing is while yes the people involved are generally well off the movie has little to do about affluence and furthermore the wealth shown in this movie is not the standard wealth associated with British classes; this family has so much money that few people with the exception of the Royal family has; so with this in mind how on earth would any critic know what that sort of class lives like? But it's quite typical of the big British reviewers to knock holes in something simply for the sake of it. Which in my opinion is the case with Match Point.
The real nice touch about the movie is that with the exception of Chloe and her parents nobody is particularly likeable. From the mint Jonathan Rhys Meyers ponces in you know he is a snide little sod who needs a slap. The character of Tom is just a spoiled little rich kid who needs to learn how to live on the basic minimum wage for a week. And this leads us with our other lead character of Nola (Scarlet Johansson) who starts the movie a failed actress who is completely up front and fearless who turns into a shop girl who becomes downtrodden, possessive and utterly wretched. That being said you want everyone in the movie to get on because its such a fantastic tale.
The grooming of Chris is particularly well handled as soon as Chloe expresses an interest in Chris he is gently lured into the inner circle. Chris starts off at a lower job in the financial district, slowly progressing and studying for several qualifications including an MBA; finally Chris reaches the top of his game having his own chauffeur driven car. But the beauty about this progression gives you a great look at the time frame involved in this tale; you're literally talking years which adds a real clarity and realism to the structure of the tale. You can actually envisage and in fact from reading the press understand that this level of grooming is actually something that really takes place. And if you sit back and have a think about it, I can think of very few movies that actually show you the routine of grooming other than for sexual purposes.
The short bursts of passion are highly charged but really beautifully tackled. It shows a real romance and passion between Chris and Nola where as the relationship with Chris and Chloe is more mechanical. There are very few sexually charged movies around nowadays it seems that this particular area was forgotten about in the 1990's. I must point out that you see nothing, no real contact at all. But the way that Allen has filmed the love making might make you believe you have seen more than you actually have. In one scene while Nola and Tom (whom are still together) are at a party they decide to go off to have sex; there is something very real about this seen, its not too movie style. When I say that I'm sure some of you will agree that when you see sex on a movie between a new or recent couple its never actually like it appears on screen. Allen is clever to make sure that you don't get that feeling, everything remains very real. Having sidelined slightly and going back to the aforementioned scene before Nola and Tom get down to the nitty gritty you see Chris positioning himself in a vantage point having discovered the two, obviously wanting to see what's going on. For some this is the first real pointer that you get indicating that Chris is not quite right.
Match Point is like two movies in one; the movie with a runtime of about two hours is split exactly don the middle to create two very different vibes. Movie one is a tale of grooming and romance; while the money has wooed Chris he is in love with Nola and its pretty obvious she is in love with him too. In movie two it's the story of betrayal, obsession and terror; as Nola becomes obsessed with Chris his obsession with her fails and when she applies pressure to an already pressurised situation and practically stalks him like the Glen Close character from Fatal Attraction. It's at this point that the true romance you felt at the beginning of the movie is going to turn into something far, far darker. The one consistent thought you have through the whole movie has to be "Poor Chloe".
I have always had a bit of a soft spot for a Woody Allen movie; in his movies it's seldom that anyone gets killed, the language is controlled and there is always a strong message to the story and a happy ending. Match Point is NOTHING like any other Woody Allen movie, and if it were not for the start and end titles you really would not know it had anything to do with him. I applaud Allen for his fantastic direction of this movie; which has become by far my favourite Woody Allen movie. And without a doubt the best romantic thriller I have ever seen.
There are no special features on the DVD which is priced at £7.99 from Play.com and I honestly believe this is £7.99 well spent.
Advantages: Scarlett Johansson is hot Disadvantages: It's boring. Bland, unoriginal story
...partiality for Johansson. Kirstymack80 mentioned Match Point whilst tallulahbang warned me against it. Against tallulahbang’s better judgement I watched it and here is my review. So what’s the story? Well, it’s a bland one. Chris Wilton is an ex-professional tennis player who teaches people how to play in some exclusive tennis club in London. Here he runs into Tom Hewett a wealthy young toff. They bond over a mutual love for opera and become good ... ...the Academy seen any soaps? Match Point isn’t the world’s first love triangle story. Chris Wilton is meant to be from Ireland in the film as Jonathon Rhys-Meyers who portrays him actually is but through-out he has this posh English accent and if it weren’t for Tom nicknaming “Irish” occasionally you wouldn’t know. He’s from Cork, I’ve been to Cork and last year I shared a flat with a guy from Cork and no-one there talks like that. As far as acting ...
Phelthew 01.04.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Match Point (DVD)
Advantages: Woody Allen's first thriller Disadvantages: No characters to root for
Ex-tennis player Chris is an ambitious social climber who strikes it lucky when he marries into money. His wife Chloe is sweet, undemanding and utterly besotted by him. Her family are filthy rich and provide him with the lifestyle and connections he's always dreamed of. But Chris is the sort of man who wants to have his cake and eat it. So he embarks on an ill-advised affair with the emotionally needy Nola, a young American actress that happened ... ...Nola becomes more and more jealous and threatens to reveal his affair to Chloe. So Chris has to make a difficult choice…
Director Woody Allen's work has become synonymous with New York, painting a picture of the teeming metropolis as a magical wonderland inhabited by the witty and well-connected. So "Match Point" should be something of a departure for him, considering it's set in London, right? Well, sort of; except he shoots the big smoke in exactly ...
afy9mab 20.04.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Match Point (DVD)
Advantages: Scarlett Johansson Disadvantages: The first hour is very slow
Chris Wilton is a former tennis pro who moves to London where he finds himself a job as a tennis coach at a rather exclusive club. Chris comes from a rather poor background however he aspires to make something of himself; he has expensive tastes but not the money needed for it.
Whilst coaching at the club he meets Tom Hewitt a man from a rather privileged background, the two men realise that they have much in common and Chris is invited into Tom's ... ...especially by Tom's sister Chloe.
Chris soon begins a relationship with Chloe much to her parent's approval and is welcomed into the family set up; it soon becomes clear that nepotism is encouraged as Chloe's father ensures that Tom is given a well paid job within his company.
With a rich girlfriend, a powerful and well paid job and a well connected social circle it appears that Chris has it all, that is until he meets Nola the fiancée of his girlfriend's ...
kerman 27.05.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Match Point (DVD)
Advantages: Can be tense, shocking and unpredictable Disadvantages: Appears to be a typical chick-flick on the surface
My reason for purchasing Match Point in the first instance was quite simple, Jonathon Rhys Myers was in it and for me that was as good an excuse as any to buy a new film. I'm so glad however that I did buy this film because not only does Rhys Myers play a fantastic part and look extremely handsome for the main but the film has become a firm favourite of mine.
Chris (Jonathon Rhys Meyers) is an Irish tennis coach who after coaching Tom, the son of ... ..."There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net and for a split second it can go either forward or fall back. With a little luck it goes forward and you win. Or maybe it doesn't and you lose."
This line sums up the double-edged sword that the film is, as on more than one occasion the ball may go forward and Chris may uphold the life he has dreamed of but just as easily it may fall backwards and the world he has come to love may ...
MI9to5 05.09.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Match Point (DVD)
Advantages: Excellent storyline with a chilling twist Disadvantages: Tom's second relationship seemed to fade into the background
This film is set in London. It follows the relationships and temptations of a tennis player and the family he befriends and becomes attatched to. The tennis player, Chris Wilton (played by Johnathan Rhys-Myers) decides to travel from Ireland to London to persue a career in tennis coaching following a marginally sucessful career as a competitor, and soon befriends Tom Hewitt, the son of a wealthy businessman. They realise they both share an interest ... ...as they attend the opera together along with Tom's family.
In time, Chris is invited to Tom's family home, and it is there he is introduced to Tom's dainty sister, Chloe. Chloe is obviously smitten with Chris on first sight and it appears that he feels the same way after they play a game of tennis together and Chris gratefully accepts Chloe's offer to show him around London. After the 'date' between Chris and Chloe has been arranged, Chris walks ...
la_chique 27.10.2006 (29.10.2006)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Match Point (DVD)
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Advantages: Excellent presentation, commentary, great cricket footage Disadvantages: only recommend to seasoned cricket fans
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The only BAD points were that the film quality could be better for me, and the DVD shows literally 'highlights' and you will sometimes end up seeing consecutive boundaries instead of an over, it moves away some of the tension from cricket.
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Advantages: Thriller in the same vein as Match Point Disadvantages: Terrible accents, rushed ending
Having scored a success with his previous British based movie MatchPoint, Woody Allen returns to serious mode in the movie Cassandra's Dream. This crime drama stars Ewan McGregor and Colin Farrell as brothers pushed to the limits by their need for cash.
Having thoroughly enjoyed MatchPoint I delayed watching this crime thriller for a considerable time, why you ask? Because having flicked through the DVD's chapters I was greeted with two of the worst "mockney" cockney accents I have ever heard. And these terrible accents come from the movies big stars. I guess if we turned the clock back 50 years these accents would be acceptable, but in modern day cinema this all seems terribly bad. But I guess as both actors have incredibly broad accents McGregor Scottish and Farrell Irish there has to be a bit of give, for anyone with an accent ...
Advantages: Great for nostaligia & Good extras Disadvantages: Only 1 disc, so much more should have been covered.
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For the first time in his long career, writer-director Woody Allen takes his cast and crew to London, and the European location breathes new life into the normally Manhattan-centric auteur. Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as Chris Wilton, a former pro on the world tennis circuit, with eyes set on a very different kind of prize. After meeting Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode) at an exclusive club, he becomes friendly with Tom's extremely wealthy family, including his powerful businessman father, Alec (Brian Cox) and his attractive sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who is desperate to get married and have children. The only problem is that Chris has fallen hard and fast for Tom's fiancee, the steaming-hot Nola (Scarlett Johansson), an unsuccessful American actress from Colorado who just might share Chris's lustful feelings, a romantic entanglement that could get in the way of his master plan. As he does with his New York-set films, Allen includes many London landmarks, including the Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House, the Queen's Club, St. James Park, the Millennium Bridge, the Palace Theatre, and the so-called Gherkin building, with its marvellous views of the city. He gets splendid performances from his actors, especially Rhys Meyers, who plays Chris with an intense glower, and Johansson, who is brilliant as the sexy, confident femme fatale. Allen is also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, with several references and homages to the work of the great British director. The soundtrack features songs from LA TRAVIATA, RIGOLETTO, OTELLO, MACBETH, SALVATOR ROSA, IL TROVATORE, and other operas, primarily sung by Enrico Caruso.
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
WARNER HOME VIDEO; CINRAM LOGISTICS
Release date
08/05/2006
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
D 087694
Barcode
7321900876940
Screenwriter
Woody Allen
Composer
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Gaetano Donizetti, Giuseppe Verdi, Gioacchino Rossini, Woody Allen
It pretty much keeps its pulse steady, its blood cold and its nerves tamped down which, combined with cinematographer Remi Adefarasin's architectural Hitchcockian flourishes, lends a queasy, cool air to the proceedings (Los Angeles Times, )
Woody Allen's best in years... Ice cold and pitch black... (New York Times, )
It's heart-poundingly tense, genuinely erotic and philosophically brutal in its closing pronouncement... (Uncut, )
An often riveting drama set in London amid the lives of the rich and cultured -- highlighted by an operatic score. And it's proof that Allen, who many have dismissed with his last few forgettable films, is still a filmmaking force (USA Today, )
DVD Description
For the first time in his long career, writer-director Woody Allen takes his cast and crew to London, and the European location breathes new life into the normally Manhattan-centric auteur. Jonathan Rhys Meyers stars as Chris Wilton, a former pro on the world tennis circuit, with eyes set on a very different kind of prize. After meeting Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode) at an exclusive club, he becomes friendly with Tom's extremely wealthy family, including his powerful businessman father, Alec (Brian Cox) and his attractive sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who is desperate to get married and have children. The only problem is that Chris has fallen hard and fast for Tom's fiancee, the steaming-hot Nola (Scarlett Johansson), an unsuccessful American actress from Colorado who just might share Chris's lustful feelings, a romantic entanglement that could get in the way of his master plan. As he does with his New York-set films, Allen includes many London landmarks, including the Tate Modern, the Royal Opera House, the Queen's Club, St. James Park, the Millennium Bridge, the Palace Theatre, and the so-called Gherkin building, with its marvellous views of the city. He gets splendid performances from his actors, especially Rhys Meyers, who plays Chris with an intense glower, and Johansson, who is brilliant as the sexy, confident femme fatale. Allen is also inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, with several references and homages to the work of the great British director. The soundtrack features songs from LA TRAVIATA, RIGOLETTO, OTELLO, MACBETH, SALVATOR ROSA, IL TROVATORE, and other operas, primarily sung by Enrico Caruso.
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