Lary Bloom
Writer, Editor, Teacher
The Bloom Blog
Photo by Nancy Dionne
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Woody Allen, Scarlett Johansson, Fyodor Dostoevsky
In his acclaimed new film, Match Point, Woody Allen cleverly presents at least three visual clues to the possible outcome, including the most obvious -- the gun in the right hand drawer (or in this case, the shotgun in the rich man's display case.) His twist at the end is inspired. And his seriousness of purpose clear throughout.So why is Match Point so tedious? It's not because Scarlett Johansson's lips are uninteresting. They aren't uninteresting. Or because Enrico Caruso provides the music. This is a wonderful touch. Or because all of this was inspired by Crime and Punishment. We can't point the finger at Dostoevsky for the two hours plus of Woody Allen's carefully crafted dullness.
Throughout Allen's film careers, and for whatever you've thought of his body of work, you would never say that the characters he created were uninteresting. But you could certainly say that here. When you are left with trying to decide whether you want the former tennis pro Chris Wilton to get away with his brutal crimes or not, you might as well be out in the lobby securing a box of Jujubees.
Those of us who are fans of Allen are desperate for him to succeed once again. And perhaps this accounts for some of the acclaim he's received. "His best film in years," seems to be the consensus.
This may be true. But it's nothing to celebrate.
Posted by:Lary Bloom at 9:28 AM
Web
Design by Arvid
Tomayko-Peters
Lary Bloom • Telephone: 860.526.2067 • Fax: 860.526.8088 • Email: