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Game…set…match
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The church bells rang six times and with the ominous resonance in the air I knew it was time for me to awaken from my two hour slumber and face the day. With my one open eye I panned over to my travel alarm clock to confirm, indeed, that it was 6 a.m. and time to rise. First thing on the agenda: Woody Allen’s new film, “Match Point,” playing at the illustrious Grand Lumiere theater.
The film, which stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johansson, seemed to me to be the best film Allen’s done since “Sweet and Lowdown,” in 1999. It plays almost like a Preston Sturges film (minus the slapstick) at first, then does a sort of “Double Indemnity” twist, and ends up somewhere in the realm of “Crimes and Misdemeanors,” although Allen himself doesn’t see the connection.
The story is about a young Irish lad in London who marries a girl for money and has a dangerous affair with tragic consequences.
At the press conference following the screening Allen proclaimed that it was actually “an extremely positive experience,” and that it “turned out pretty good,” which is rare for him to say. The film, shot in London with an almost entirely British cast and crew, was such a positive experience for Allen (who usually shoots in New York) that he is shooting his next film there this summer. He was first drawn to London because of a financing package with complete creative control and no interference from the producers.
Allen was joined at the press conference by the stars of the film Rhys Meyers, Johannson, and Emily Mortimer — who all expressed the endless delights of working with Allen.
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By Jinxie
May 13, 2005 1:38 PM | Link to this
At the risk of sounding like a total flake, I’m so excited you’ll be in the same city as Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He’s my favorite Irish guy I’m not related to, and Colin Farrel ain’t got nothing on him. And he can act too! Excellent coverage, so far, Monsieur Roy.