Match PointThe first half is spent on setting the obvious plot, twisted characters and dark tone of the feature and takes its time to kick in but when it does its enthralling, electrifying and brutal in its last hour. Woddy Allen's smart and finely detailed script is the real game changer in here along with his brilliant execution that makes you think twice. On performance level, the objective seems unsatisfied as the lead characters i.e. Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Meyers and Emily Mortimer aren't as convincing as they should have been. Match Point seems like a normal rom-com with a predictable twist until its last act hits on screen that may shake the audience dreadfully for despite of its genre it goes into places where Woody Allen has never been.

Match Point, or, Crime & Misdemeanors, Except I Changed Like 4 Things, And the Mistress is Really Hot This Time

Woody Allen is not a director whose films I am familiar with, but the first one I have had the pleasure of seeing is something both smart and funny. Some may find the humour on show, off putting but me I found it extremely amusing and refreshing to what most films call comedy these days; especially during a scene involving Meyers and a shotgun that reminded me of the great film 'American psycho' from the year 2000.The first half hour is pretty simple but effective, Jonathan Rhys Meyers (Chris Wilton) is not sure what he wants to do with his life when he moves to London, during which you see his character getting use to London and meeting new people, like where he meets Tom Hewett played by Matthew Goode at a members only club in a friendly tennis match; in which they become good friends and the family introductions are all done and so forth, then he has a liking for Tom's sister played by Emily Mortimer which ends up with them together, but only later does he meet Tom's fiancée (Nola) played by the beautiful Scarlett Johannsson and has already fell in love with her on their first meet, however as it all unravels you get to see a terrific drama with a comedic tone, some very good romance and a truly great scene involving Johansson and Meyers when they finally kiss and make out in a field during heavy rain.The acting is very good, with some other notable performances from Brian Cox (Eleanor's Father), Penelope Wilton (Eleanor's mother), and Ewen Bremmer as a detective to name a few. However Johansson and Meyers chemistry is even better with both of them giving highly respectable performances and contributing to some of the best moments in the picture. During the first half I kept thinking this is extremely predictable but still completely enjoyable, but by the end I literally ate my words, as the second act and most notably the surprising third act had me on the edge of my seat; and I kept thinking Allen, your script is pure genius, not only did you give us an entertaining film, you gave us a highly entertaining, great piece of filmmaking with a remarkably engaging plot. There's plenty of energy within the cast, it's cleverly written, smartly directed and like I mentioned very amusing with plenty of refreshing dialogue; Match Point is simply a great film.

Match Point isn't a wholly original Woody Allen movie, building on similar ground covered in Crimes and Misdemeanors (just without the comedy subplot and Bergmanesque philosophizing), but it's definitely one of Woody's better films in his recent output, and certainly the best of his European movies. The chemistry between Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers is excellent, as is rest of the acting. The themes of luck, infidelity and morality are well implemented into the plot here and aren't as forced as some of Allen's other dramas.My only complaint is that some of the dialog feels very expository and just for the sake of forwarding the plot and setting up the next scene, whereas other Woody Allen movies hide this better behind witty, conversational dialog.But it's good to see a seasoned Director do something different, and succeed in most regards.