Films/DVD Asylum

Posted by Victor Khomenko (M) on May 19, 2006 at 11:23:57

In Reply to: Match Point? Victor!-------- posted by patrickU on May 19, 2006 at 08:39:41:

There is much to be enjoyed about that film. Starting with the opening notes by Caruso, it sets the rich tone for intellectual enjoyment, something we are used to seeing from Woody Allen, and something that is missing so sorely in most of the modern cinema.

I have great difficulties with Allen as a person, but his directing is something one should simply consider as a separate entity, and something of truly high class... one of the best today.

The film's richness is evident everywhere, in the settings, camera work, actors and even the story... at least initially. While one get an early warning of things to come, that subtle hint remains an uncashed chip until much later in the film, and this predictability is not entirely bothersome when counterbalanced by great directing, good actors and... ah... the incredible music. Real treat to this opera lover' ears.

However, the film starts losing its beauty towards the last one third or so, when Scarlett begins throwing her expected tantrums, and when the sense of things to come becomes just too obvious... and in fact unwelcome. The subtle references to Raskol'nikov (Dostoyevsky’s Crime and Punishment the hero reads in his poor flat) in the opening scenes become too direct, and one can keep saying in vain "Please... oh, Please... not another Crimes and Misdemeanors!" - for the director has his eyes set firmly on just that, and indeed just that, or another take of the same, you are gonna get, all your screams for compassion notwithstanding.

However, it is not the obvious derivative nature of the story that bothered me most, it was the fact that apparently the director also lost his drive. Perhaps he thought from that point on, the film took a life of its own, not needing any further... ahem... directing, and the run time was apparently getting too long already, so a hasty finish is evident, and frankly, holds no mystery, no intrigue and not much interest.

Scarlett gives a pretty good performance, her facial dumbness plays well here, and she comes across as an actress with great potential, but extremely limited range.

The lead actor has future, I hope, and in good hands should be able to produce marvelous performance.

Every film by Allen is an event, and this one is no exception. Its appearance did not exactly create the shock wave of the far superior C&M, but at the same time it is a more mature work in many respects. Too bad the director had charted a somewhat unclear course - being essentially a C&M remake, it was supposed to move it to next level, not sideways and slightly downwards.

An altogether a profound and interesting experience, Match Point falls short of Allen's true potential, Allen we all know as trailblazer - I was hoping that with growing talent and maturity, he was going to give us something of a higher caliber, but as I said, in today's stale atmosphere filled with all those LoTR’s and DVC’s, films like Match Point provide a much welcome breather.

Did I say I enjoyed the whole experience?