Review: Match Point.

This is the Woody Allen film that critics say was his "comeback," the first of two he made with BBC funding (who said, "We'll give you money if you make your films in Britain"). I got here after a long hiatus from Allen films after seeing and liking Scoop and wondering what all the fuss was about Match Point.

As Roger Ebert points out, this is not a "typical" Allen film, but there have been so many kinds that's a misnomer. There is no Woody character in the film. He's not before the cameras and there is no "nebbish" to be had.

It's a film noir that struggles with concepts of morality, crime, love, lust, and most of all, luck. It's not a heroic film and there are few likable characters.

I found it very compelling and well done by all involved. Great performances including Scarlett Johannson playing the part I call Object of Desire (often played by Monica Bellucci). There are lavish London scenes from beautiful apartments and homes, amazing offices in that pickle building, and huge hideous art in some cavernous gallery. I don't think it's Top 100 for me, but it's an excellent movie.

(Why does Woody hate movie titles? All his films have the same white typeface on black background. Must make them hard to promote, which is tough since they're so small-market anyway. We saw Scoop in one of the two tiniest 100-seat theaters in the eighteenplex.)

Match Point had lots of that music with people singing in foreign langauges. Not like Alizee or Shakira, with orchestras.