awesomeredhead:

This movie was sluggish and even when it appeared to be going somewhere, it just fell flat. It was the typical "Boy loves girl but can't have girl 'cause he's married" kind of story, with a couple twists thrown in for good measure, but nothing sensational. This one didn't keep me interested since it was all but telling you what was going to happen. 2.5 stars for the great performances in a so-so film. 1/18/09

Southern Belle 1:

In a nutshell, this was a little bit the movie ?Fatal Attraction? and a little bit the TV show ?Dynasty? in terms of extravagance. It was an interesting, intriguing plotline that addressed the question of whether luck plays a part in our destinies. The acting wasn't wonderful, but Jonathan Rhys-Meyers was excellent as the young up-and-coming tennis player who marries into an exceedingly wealthy London family. Scarlett Johansson is okay as the "other woman", but I found her annoying, not sexy or alluring. In fact, I couldn't quite understand what all the fuss was about over her. The story was entertaining as the events unfolded and there were a few surprises along the way, including the ending. Although this wasn't worthy of a higher rating, it was appealing and absorbing for a couple of hours. Recommended for those who enjoy psychological thrillers, Rhys-Meyers and Johansson.

ToxicDon:

Only my second Woody Allen movie. I HATED the first one (Everyone Says I Love You), and while I didn't LOVE this one, it was much more to my liking. The movie is well acted but a bit long for the storyline. The story is told straightforward, giving you enough (okay, almost too much in some cases) information to make you invest in the characters. Scarlett Johansson has become a favorite of mine, and this movie proves that she deserves it. Nice little twist at the end, playing back to some foreshadowing at the beginning. Good movie; well worth your time.

skillerified:

I wonder if I've ever seen a film that is more skillfully manipulative. The plot twists are obvious from a mile away, but when what you thought was going to happen happens, something else totally unexpected happens right after it. In a way, this is a strength and weakness. I call it a strength because I feel it takes a lot of skill to make a film in that manner. But it's also a weakness because it can cause a viewer to disconnect. In the end, the film does come full circle, but keeping in mind the opening lines will do you much good.

Moe:

I could not finish the movie. The predictable storyline is a bit painful to watch. None of the characters are likable. I've hear there is a twist at the end, but after an hour I didn't care.

Trenchcoat:

Quite possibly Woody Allen's best film ever, forget about the past decade. The themes and language are definitely adult-oriented, and I think that most kids would be bored by the movie as a whole and by the anti-climax. The cast is wonderful, the script perfect. What happens when a low-class Irishman gets swept up in the British upper class, falling for one before meeting his brother-in-law's sultry American beau. Rhys-Meyers plays the protagonist who you're not sure you want to root for, but you still don't feel comfortable rooting against either. Mortimer is sweet and innocent, and Brian Cox...it's wonderful hearing him in his natural British accent. Simply an almost perfect movie. It keeps you guessing and showcases how much talent Johansson truly has (and I'm not talking about her "talents" either!)

crewark:

Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) once played on the professional men's tour and is now taking gainful employment as a tennis pro. He illustrates the importance of luck by showing a tennis ball striking the tape at the top of the net. The shot is played out in slow motion so we can see the point at which the ball is either going to sustain its spin and make it over the net to drop on the other side for a winning point, or it is going to drop down on the same side and cost who hit it a point (then again, it could be a serve and therefore either a bad first serve or a double fault if it is a second; but the assumption is that it is a regular shot and not a serve, so we will proceed on that basis). We are given to believe that Chris' life is heading for such a moment, although we expect it to be rendered metaphorically and not quite so literally.

qgv 1016282:

Nice twist at the end. A little long, though. I think Woody could have done just as good of a movie in about 30 minutes shorter length.

Jollymann:

Between the Black and White colors and Woody Allen's serious side with an intense, really practical and believable plot, this was a super film. More than anything else this was a reminder of people's self interest above all. As others have said, this is more like an Alfred Hitchcock film than anything else. I think A.H. would have approved of Scarlett Johnanson based on the comparison to Princess Grace. Concerning the actual plot itself instead of the style, this is not actually new material and I don't think that many will make the same comparison I'm going to make. There's an enormous similarity to "A Place in the Sun" which was a Montgomery Clift film from 1951. Of course the differnce here lies with the premeditation of the main character, which is substantial. If you like this, you ought to like that too. Both are more about desparation and entrapment than anything else.

B3rt0:

Decent movie. It made me feel something which is more than I can say about lots of films out there.

JV 1001399:

I liked this movie better when it was called Crimes and Misdemeanors. Filled with simplistic and unintriguing meanderings about luck, the script reads more like a rhetorical dialogue than an real conversation. There's some good off-the-line acting by Rhys-Meyers and Johansson, but mostly I felt like they were trying to rescue the script.

KY 1532132:

It's generally quite entertaining even with a conclusion that stretches your imagination. There are terrific shots of London; peaks at a social class most of us don't know; realistic characters and dialogue and some suspenseful scenes. In the end, I found the actions of the former tennis pro almost entirely out of character. And, the ultimate fateful event that decides his future would be less likely than your winning the lottery with one ticket purchased. Luck is one thing -- this is a huge miracle! Still, a nice change from Mr. Allen.

DH 1306941:

Some movies are pretty good but have a bad ending North Country comes to mind. Some movies are horrible but have a good ending. Match point caught my attention at the beginning and knocked it home with.I really liked this movie. The writing was the definition of tight. The characters were fun to watch maybe not someone you could root for but think about it like watching a well played chess match. I reccomend this movie for people who think they don't like Woody Allen films.

raghus:

What a great movie! Both Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Rhys Meyers turn in extraordinary performances under Woodly Allen (03/Sep/09)

AC 1294165:

I've tried and tried to enjoy Woody Allen films. Really, I have. But this film was so S L O W. I couldn't handle it. It was boring and the characters were poorly developed. That's all I have to say about that.

2BeeOrNot2Bee:

I "think" I liked this movie. It doesn't hold a candle to Hitchcock, I'm afraid. Jonathan & Scarlett do heat up the screen in their steamy sex scenes. This is a story of a man that plays his cards right to get everything he wants. When he finally has it, he wants more. He finds Scarlett. However, be careful what you ask for. Sometimes, you will get it. I am not thrilled with the ending. I can't think of a better one, but I just felt that Jonathan's character should have gotten what he deserved.

Istaqa:

Superb. I'm a fan of Woody Allen, but even if you're not movie will still appeal to you. Credited as a thriller, it plays out as a comedy of manners for the first part. People being rude while being polite, it's almost completely character with little else happening, aside from some sexual tension. Subtle variations on Allen's standard fare. When the thriller element does emerge, however, it's not treated as you would expect. Instead of going for big movie tactics, Allen pulls in his theater elements. Anyone who has seen or read hisplays knows that he likes to play with knowledge and awareness more on stage than sex. His ideas of self take the forefront. This is the same. True characters emerge when things start to go wrong. then, playing with expectation, things sometimes don't go wrong. It's more Hitchcock suspense than anyhting else. And it's an amazingly pleasant surprise after movies like Jade Scorpion and his other, recent lite flicks.

Jeremy K.:

This movie is simply amazing and probably one of the best I've seen in quite some time. Not only is the plot and acting amazing, but the entire cast just blew me away and left me stunned by how good it was. The movie discusses the impact of luck on one's life and takes place in Europe. Woody Allen really managed to create a new, outstanding movie which is original and yet brilliant! Two thumbs up right there.

JV 1424920:

Very uninspiring from about 30 minutes on. Starts off well (+ 1 star) with good production an interest, but most of the characters are stupid and not interesting--just wicked and depressing. The only Woody Allen I ever liked was Jade Scorpion (and yes, I did see Annie Hall).

JDoors:

Have an affair, commit murder then something about luck. The only interesting, likeable characters were peripheral to the plot.