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Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode, Brian Cox ... see more see more... , Penelope Wilton , Ewen Bremner , James Nesbitt , Rupert Penry-Jones , Margaret Tyzack , Selina Cadell , John Fortune , Gilly Gilchrist , Anthony O'Donnell , Colin Salmon , Simon Kunz , Mark Gatiss , Steve Pemberton , Paul Kaye , Scott Handy , Zoe Telford , Janis Kelly , Rose Keegan , Toby Kebbell , Georgina Chapman (II) , Geoffrey Streatfield , Alexander Armstrong , Alan Oke , Philip Mansfield , Mary Hegarty , Patricia Whymark , Miranda Raison , Nikki Inwood , Steve Morphew

A clandestine love affair sends one man's charmed life into a tailspin in this dark, disturbing drama written and directed by Woody Allen, his first film set and shot in Great Britain and one his few ... read more read more...films sans any humor. Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) is an Irish tennis player with an impoverished background. Just accomplished enough to make his way onto the professional circuit, but not skilled enough to be a consistent winner, he now works as an instructor at a London tennis club. The wealthy Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), who is as impressed by Chris's charm and good looks as he is by his game, takes a tennis lesson from the young man. Chris's intelligence and wit also make a strong impression on Tom's pretty sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), who soon falls for him. It isn't long before Chris and Chloe are engaged to be married, a match that pleases both Tom and his father, Alec (Brian Cox), a successful businessman who believes Chris has a bright future in his firm. However, Chris also feels an overwhelming attraction to Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a sexy blonde from the United States who is dating Tom. Though Nola initially puts up some resistance, Chris gently nudges her in the direction of an affair. Passion soon ignites between the two, and they have a one-time sexual encounter, even as Chris and Chloe plan their wedding. Nola resists, however, when Chris makes additional attempts to wheedle her into bed. Nola drops out of Chris's life shortly before his wedding, but a chance meeting a few months later resurrects the relationship as Chris and Chloe try to start a family. Match Point received its world premiere in an enthusiastically received presentation at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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227,494 ratings

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77% liked it

206 critics

R, 2 hr. 4 min.

Directed by: Woody Allen

Release Date: December 28, 2005

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DVD Release Date: April 25, 2006

Stats: 10,292 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (10,292)

  • cosmo313
    November 16, 2011
    cosmo313
    If I'm not mistaken, I do believe this this is my first time seeing one of Woody Allen's purely dramatic films. And I must say, I'm not disappointed. My viewing experienced was a bit tarnished by a few unfortunate interruptions, so perhas I should rewatch it, but nonetheless, I f... read moreound this to be a really engrossing film.

    Chris is a recently retired tennis player who fidns himself among the upper crust of British society after he mankes friends with a guy named Tom. Chris begins a relationship with Tom's older sister Chloe and eventually begins an affair with Tom's fiancee Nola- an American who's a struggling actress. That's the basic set up: guy has an affair and tries his best to keep his life from unraveling as a result of all that is going on around him such as his becoming a workaholic and him and his wife havign difficulty conceiving a child.

    While the broad plot is nothing new, the way it is done feels fresh and seems spectacular, because that's how strong of a filmmaker Allen is. The film seemed very literary and operatic toi me, and indeed opera palys a huge role, as does literature, as research tells me this is Allen's take on Crime and Punishment, as well as a call back to his earleir film Crimes and Misdemeanors. When this came out, it marked a change of pace for olel Woody as it was his first time working with a predominately non-American cast, his first time working with Scarlett Johansson, and his first film done in the U.K.

    It's also rather dark, and frankly rather nihilistic, especially towards the end. This caught me off guard a bit, but I think this was a neat way to handle things. It also comes off as more classy and intelligent than most films that deal with this sort of subject matter, but it could just be because it's Woody. Who knows?

    The cast are quite good. Johansson is terrific as always, Jonathan Rhys Meyers is really wonderful, and Emily Mortimer and Matthew Goode are both pretty decent. Putting in a nice little supporting role is Brian Cox, and he's always a good choice, so props there as well. I've never really found Allen's films to be all that showy or stylistic from a cinematic perspective a la Mann or Scorsese, for example, but the sequence involving murder and the escape really floored me, and is a nice little stirring and rather brilliant piece of work in and of itself. In fact, besides getting interrupted a few times, my only real complaint is the inclusion of the dream sequence stuff near the end. It's not bad, but it inda took me out of the moment and I don't think it worked as well as it should have. Maybe it should have just been left out or that sort of thing should have been done throughout the whole film.

    All in all, this is quite a film. Here's to hoping Allen's previous dramatic works (or predominately dramatic ones like this) and any he does from now on are as strong as this. Definitely give this one a look.
  • murphmann93
    June 23, 2011
    murphmann93
    Exceptional story from Woody Allen. One of my all time favourite films. Johnathon Rhys Meyers and Scarlett Johanson are on fire. A must see!
  • FrizzDrop
    October 31, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    A cliche that delivers upon ending, Match Point is a Woody Allen unlike any I have seen. There are are only hints of the director's presence instead of the usual grandstand, yet it's still vibrant, interpretive, and interesting. Still, a cliche is a cliche.
  • fb619846742
    October 8, 2010
    fb619846742
    An extremely well-crafted story concerning a retired tennis player (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers) who becomes involved with an upper-class family after meeting their son (Matthew Goode) and hitting it off well with their daugther (Emily Mortimer). However, while the man appears to be wit... read moreh their daughter, he really is in love with their son's fiance (Scarlett Johannson), who has a striking effect on him. This is a very well-acted, well-written movie that features a jarring tone change 3/4 of the way through. This is basically a "worst case scenario" glance at what an affair has on your life. Although it doesn't hold up as well to my memory compared to other Allen films, this is still a solid effort.
  • imrealgod
    March 18, 2010
    imrealgod
    God, what a pathetically clichéd movie on extra-marital affair!!! Sparing the last few minutes before the ending credits, the entire movie was a painful drag. Avoiding it is all I'd suggest as far as this one's concerned.
  • guaybanex
    January 22, 2010
    guaybanex
    After a string of forgettable flops, Allen gets his creative juices back with a change in locale and a focus on dramatic tension. Match Point matches Allen's eye for sexual politics with an effective murder mystery.
  • Deano78
    September 14, 2009
    Deano78
    I'm not a big fan of dramas but when you find a good one it just has a great way of engrossing you into the story. This is one of those films, well directed, great cast with an interesting story of greed, betrayal and desperation. A very entertaining film.
  • dreamfaeries
    August 22, 2009
    dreamfaeries
    Eh!
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    October 6, 2008
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    I just saw Match Point and it's brilliant. And, needless to say, has great performances. Rhys-Meyers and Johansson being the obvious stand-outs. It's immediately involving, has lot's of edge of your seat stuff and has several great twists, all of which are perfectly plausible. Th... read moreis film was masterfully executed. I reserved one star because it is a bit slow in a couple of places though the film as a whole more than compensates for this.
  • aliceinpunderland
    August 23, 2008
    aliceinpunderland
    A masterpiece. Most people assume it's just a rehashing of the "crimes" part of Crimes and Misdemeanors but it's not. The two films have completely different styles, timbres, and commentaries on morality, and Match Point's is more grand and polished.

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Critic Reviews

Peter Howell
January 20, 2006
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

... a nifty little crowd pleaser ... Full Review

Roger Moore
January 20, 2006
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

Match Point is airless, repetitive. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
January 20, 2006
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

In every scene, Allen's direction is unflinchingly clear-eyed, and it's a pleasure being walked through London at the same unhurried pace that he's taken through Manhattan all these years. Full Review

Liam Lacey
January 20, 2006
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

Johansson finds her own speech rhythms in Allen's arch dialogue, and in the process, gives his film a quality that his recent work has often lacked, the recognizable flutter of a heart beat behind the... Full Review

Tom Long
January 20, 2006
Tom Long, Detroit News

This is Woody beyond Woody, his best work in more than a decade and the antithesis of most fans' expectations. Full Review

Terry Lawson
January 20, 2006
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press

Match Point, a film that makes us examine well-considered questions in new light, is what Woody Allen sees when he gets out of his comfort zone, we can only hope he sees the benefit of travel. Full Review

Robert Denerstein
January 20, 2006
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

The combination of alluring atmosphere and ambition makes Match Point one of Allen's most involving movies in years.

Lisa Kennedy
January 20, 2006
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Woody Allen's Match Point is a too-rare thing: a fine film that waxes philosophical about morality, ambition and relationships. Full Review

Jeff Strickler
January 19, 2006
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune

The arrival of Match Point is good luck for movie fans. Full Review

Bill Muller
January 19, 2006
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

It's a film worth seeing several times. If you're lucky enough to get the chance. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Chris Wilton: The man who said "I'd rather be lucky than good" saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It's scary to think so much is out of one's control. There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net, and for a split second, it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward, and you win. Or maybe it doesn't, and you lose.
    • Nola Rice: He saw me across the room and he honed in on me like a guided missile.
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Match Point Trivia

  • Who has a cameo as detective Banner in Match Point?  Answer »
  • In the 2005 movie "Match Point", which actress does Jonathan Rhys Meyers have an affair with?  Answer »
  • After working with Scarlett Johansson on the film "Match Point", Woody Allen wrote a part in his film "Scoop" specifically for her.  Answer »
  • Which actor is common to all of these films: Velvet Goldmine Bend It Like Beckham Vanity Fair Alexander Match Point Mission: Impossible III August Rush  Answer »
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