At a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro falls for an actress who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law.At a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro falls for an actress who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law.At a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro falls for an actress who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 12 wins & 32 nominations total
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThis is writer and director Woody Allen's favorite movie of his own.
- GoofsNola calls Chris on his mobile when Alec and Eleanor Hewett are visiting. Chris's Motorola phone plays Nokia's default ringtone.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Christopher "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.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 (2006)
- SoundtracksUna furtiva lagrima
from "L'Elisir d'Amore"
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani
Performed by Enrico Caruso
Courtesy of Sony BMG Entertainment Inc.
Licensed by Sony BMG Special Markets
I have been a hot and cold Woody Allen watcher, but was only a fan during his comedic phase. So, despite hearing from a few reliable sources that this is Woody's masterpiece, I was skeptical and went in with few expectations. I am glad. Approaching the movie this way allowed it to creep up on me.
The NYC Jewish dialog is gone. The quirky sense of humor is nowhere to be found. the hypersensitivity is missing. Where's Woody? Well, he's in London, but the place and time, despite the opinions of some critics, are largely irrelevant in this film.
There is only one line in this film that indicates its origin - it has something to do with 'intertwined neuroses' and nearly made me laugh.
The first 3/4ths of this film is almost completely taken up with character development, but also contains all of the basics of the inexorable plot that truly unfolds near the end. The characters are all quite likable, and, if you're like me, you will yearn for a happy ending. Watch out! - you've just been hooked and Woody's about to reel you in!
Match Point draws its audience in quietly and slowly at first, defining its territory as a smart, hip, and sophisticated character study early on (in no way unexpected for Mr. Allen), but then it takes an irreversibly sinister turn as one man threatens to bring everybody we have grown to love and respect down with him.
The performances and cinematography in this film are all-around the best I've seen this year. Allen uses a lot of very close-in face shots, and his cast handles it with ease, performing their parts with accuracy and no lack of passion. Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emily Mortimer, and Scarlett Johanssen are all excellent, and the rest of the cast lends excellent support. I found no fault in the pace or the plot - this is easily Woody's most plot-heavy film, and you can tell that he had a great time putting it together.
The story line of Match Point is powerful, disturbing, and exceedingly clever. Philosophical folks will likely want to talk about it afterward. Some will find it frustrating and others will find it pretentious. Still others will point to Woody's own life and claim that this film is some form of perverse confession. Well, from my perspective, it is simply damn good story-telling.
Highly recommended for adult audiences.
- How long is Match Point?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- La provocación
- Filming locations
- Parliament View Apartments, 1 Albert Embankment, Lambeth, London, England, UK(apartment of Chris and Chloe)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $15,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $23,151,529
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $398,593
- Jan 1, 2006
- Gross worldwide
- $85,638,656
- Runtime2 hours 4 minutes
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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