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By CityMatchPoint
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MatchPointAre You Lucky?
2006-03-02
Article Written by: Sami Jo
The underlying theme of the film, presented with a tennis metaphor, is that people are terrified to admit how much luck plays an integral part of their successes throughout life. It presents the idea that no matter how hard one works, at the end of the day, luck is what makes you or breaks you. Marking Woody Allen’s fist notable film in some time, Match Point was one of the best-written stories of the year (as evidenced by its Oscar nomination).
Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a not-good-enough Irish tennis pro takes a job as a club trainer, where he meets Tom Hewitt (Matthew Goode), a wealthy member of the social class that befriends him. Chris hasn’t even begun to date Tom’s sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer) when he finds himself attracted to an American, wannabe actress and ping-pong hustler, Nola (Scarlett Johnansson). Nola also just happen to be Tom’s fiancé. Financially struggling, Chris positions himself as the perfect guest, romancing the entire family with his charm. Easily finding a place in Chloe’s pants, Chris gets offered a job at her father’s prestigious company and quickly moves up as his relationship with Chloe leads to marriage. During their engagement, he succeeds at making his fantasies a reality with Nola, but receives a harsh rejection when he goes back for seconds.
Tom breaks off his engagement to Nola soon after Chris and Chloe are married. This sends Chris on an all-encompassing search for the lusty American girl. Their affair soon continues and leads down a path of destruction. Chris’ harsh character is discovered as his lies flow out of him like the Mississippi River flows south. The London setting for this adulterous film adds intensity and sophistication.
Johansson (In Good Company) once again brings her sexy voice and mesmerizing speech pattern to work, capitalizing in a role made for her. Rhys Meyers (Vanity Fair) almost makes the audience want to pull for his lying, cheating character. In their supporting roles of brother and sister, Goode and Mortimer (both native to the United Kingdom) are two faces audiences should expect to see increasingly in American cinema. Despite a person’s take on the subject, Allen’s luck will get him the Match Point.
