MATCH POINT |

Genre: DRAMA / ROMANCE / THRILLER

Release Dates: DECEMBER 28, 2005

Trailers

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Official Websites:

Taglines: Passion Temptation Obsession

Production Company: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) / Magic Hour Media / Thema Production / Invicta Capital BBC Films

Synopsis:
“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.”

A one-time tennis pro, Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) was used to falling just short in his life. But when he befriends Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode) and marries his sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), the doors are opened to the kind of money and success that Chris had once only dreamed of having. Chris should have settled for happiness, but he is torn by his attraction to Tom’s impossibly beautiful and alluring fiancée, Nola (Scarlett Johansson). The attraction turns to an obsession that forces Chris to make a critical choice. Now everything in his life hinges on whether or not Chris falls short again…and if his luck runs out.
“Match Point” is a drama about ambition and obsession, the seduction of wealth, and the often irreconcilable relationship between love and sexual passion. Perhaps most importantly, however, the story reveals the huge part luck plays in the events of our lives, refuting the comforting misconception that more of life is under our control than really is.

Written and directed by Academy Award® winner Woody Allen (“Annie Hall,” “Hannah and Her Sisters”), “Match Point” represents a departure for the native New Yorker, the majority of whose films lovingly depict New York and—not always so lovingly—New Yorkers. Crossing the Atlantic for the first time in his film career, Allen set “Match Point” in London, where it was also filmed.

The film stars Jonathan Rhys Meyers (“Bend It Like Beckham,” TV’s “Elvis”), Scarlett Johansson (“Lost in Translation,” “Girl With a Pearl Earring”), Emily Mortimer (“Lovely and Amazing,” “Dear Frankie”), Matthew Goode (“Chasing Liberty”), Brian Cox (“The Bourne Identity,” “Red Eye”) and Penelope Wilton (“Iris,” “Pride & Prejudice”).

Premiering to rave reviews at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival, “Match Point” was produced by Letty Aronson, Gareth Wiley and Lucy Darwin. Stephen Tenenbaum served as the executive producer, with Helen Robin and Nicky Kentish Barnes co-producing, and Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe co-executive producing. “Match Point” will be distributed domestically by DreamWorks.

Crew: Woody Allen (Director & Writer); Letty Aronson, Lucy Darwin, Gareth Wiley (Producers); Nicky Kentish Barnes & Helen Robin (Co-Producers); Charles H. Joffe & Jack Rollins (Co-Executive Producers); Stephen Tenenbaum (Executive Producer)

Cast: Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Chris Wilton, Alexander Armstrong as Mr. Townsend, Paul Kaye as Estate Agent, Matthew Goode as Tom Hewett, Brian Cox as Alec Hewett, Penelope Wilton as Eleanor Hewett, Emily Mortimer as Chloe Hewett Wilton, Janis Kelly as’La Traviata’, Performer, Alan Oke as’La Traviata’ Performer, Mark Gatiss as Ping-Pong Player, Scarlett Johansson as Nola Rice, Philip Mansfield as Waiter, Simon Kunz as Rod Carver, Geoffrey Streatfield as Alan Sinclair, and Mary Hegarty as ‘Rigoletto’ Performer

Studio: DreamWorks

Other Info:

Film Fetish trivia:
At 124 minutes, this is Allen’s longest film to date.

Kate Winslet was originally cast in this film as Nola Rice, but backed out in order to spend more time with her family. Since this was filmed in England Woody Allen had to have a certain percentage of a English cast and crew. Since he had met that quota before casting Winslet, after she bailed, Allen cast American Scarlett Johansson.

This is Woody Allen’s first film to be shot entirely in Britain.

The painting of a girl with a red balloon on the wall that Chris walks along was done by Banksy, a graffiti artist from London.

Originally, the story is set in the Hamptons, New York.