Match Point
Even though I liked Everything you always wanted to know…, I hated Celebrity and these are the only two movies I’ve ever seen by Woody Allen. The reason why I watched Match Point was only a recommendation. I’m glad it wasn’t a wrong decision – in fact, I did not know what the movie was about at all.
In fact, it also did not turn out how I have expected it – which, in this case, was not a bad thing. The movie’s greatness consists in how the events turn it into a completely different genre, from some love-quadrangle-story to a slightly funny, witty murder story. Wow.
To be honest, I have liked Chris Wilton through the whole movie, and it’s definitely not because I’m hot for the guy for I am actually not. It’s weird, I think he looks okayish, but there is no attraction at all… very unlike Jake Gyllenhaal *hehe* I liked the way he was successful and that hypocritical politeness (What’s gotten into me?) And besides, even though Chloe was really lovely, I totally disliked her voice and I honestly can understand a guy who betrays his wife when she is obsessed about becoming pregnant and only has sex with him for that purpose. *ack*
Btw, I thought that the very first sex scene in the rain looked good, but the massage oil and the way she blindfolded him and then unbuttoned his shirt were just horribly cheesy XD
People have been referencing Match Point to so many movies and books, it’s unbelievable. The best comparison, if you ask me, is the one with Gosford Park. Even though its setting is in another time, I think the parallels are huge: they’re both about the british upper class, there’s both a murder in it… and it’s both american directors pulling out british clichés. Okay, Match Point isn’t that socio-critical, but you see that certain evilness in it, don’t you? *g*
Momo immediately thought of Felix Krull, which I think is very interesting. That one, and “The Talented Mr. Ripley” may be compared to it. But still, I disliked Mr. Ripley (the book, that is – the movie was okayish) and I think that Mr. Ripley did not have the charm of Chris Wilton, even less of Felix Krull.
Now let’s come to the comparisons I’m not particularily fond of: Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” and A Place in the Sun. “Crime and Punishment” appears in the movie, but I do not see any similarity between Raskolnikov and Wilton, unfortunately. Wilton’s life is all about luck (and that’s what makes the movie interesting and great), Raskolnikov’s story is all about the “meaning of life” and how the world should be. Not to forget that Wilton got out of the whole thing while Raskolnikov obviously didn’t.
A Place in the Sun is, imho, an even worse comparison. Okay, the story is the same up until the murder – but it ends completely differently, Match Point is most definitely not a love story and even without having seen that old movie, I know already that the atmosphere and meaning of these movies are as similar as “The Fifth Element” is to “Lord of the Rings”.
Now, I shall bring the movie back and go to shower. I’ve got loads of stuff to do today T_T