MATCH POINT at the Oscars- Page 3

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:04am

I'm just saying the same thing happens in American movies set inside the US as well. The story is what matters to the director and the geography simply fits in where they need it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:04am

That's kind of a blanket value judgment of all academy members, don't you think?

This is to Blue Wizard

Updated On: 1/9/06 at 12:04 AM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:23am

No, it's a fact that most Academy members are Americans, living in the U.S.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:33am

Never mind.

[PJ]

Posted: 1/10/06 at 5:09pm

I just saw Match Point last night and here are a few of my thoughts:
-Scarlett's performance is way overrated. I can think of five or so actresses that could have done that and been better. I don't get why there is any awards buzz for her.
-Jonathan Rhys-Meyers didn't begin to actually act until at least half way through. He was terrible early in the film. He sounded almost as if he was reading directly from the script at a read through.
-Emily Mortimer was the real star of this one for me. She's wonderful in the role of the wife.

The plot of the film is good, if a bit too "Fatal Attraction" here and there. However, the twist at the end was very nice I must say.

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:07pm

I was pleasantly surprised. I just returned from seeing it and made a point to read nothing about it beforehand. I was honestly expecting something along the line of Allen's other work. The twists did surprise me. There were a few predictable parts(Nola getting pregnant, the timing of Nola getting pregnant.) I overall enjoyed it. I think Johansson may have one character that she plays. She may branch out within that character, but at the core, it's the same person. I could be wrong. I liked Rhys-Meyers, and at times he was very wooden, but I think that was needed for the character.

On a different subject: I saw this film at a very small theatre. We went in and sat down and the movie started immediately. There were no commercials or previews. Is it up to the theatre whether or not to show them? I was a bit confused. But again, it wouldn't be the first time.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:18pm

PJ, how was the film like Fatal Attraction? I'm trying to think of the similarity, but I can't.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:29pm

Scarlett has her moments where she's stiff and self aware but as I said before, those are the moments when she's struggling with some truly appalling dialogue that nobody could make work. For the most part however, she's absolutely radiant in the role, a truly breakout performance. That people can't see it and think Rhys Meyers was good really boggles my mind.

The trailer of the movie made it seem like it was Fatal Attraction Redux which the movie then completely turns on its head. Which is one of the few things I actually liked.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:37pm

Oh well I hadn't seen the trailer. I thought Rhys Meyers was kind of stiff but it didn't ruin anything for me. As far as Scarlett goes, I've already mentioned that she always plays the same character. I hope she does have a breakthrough role someday soon.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:41pm

That people can't see it and think Rhys Meyers was good really boggles my mind.

Why is that? I usually think she's excellent, but I just didn't care for her in this.

I hope she does have a breakthrough role someday soon.

I think she did, but no one saw it: A Love Song for Bobby Long. Updated On: 1/12/06 at 05:41 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:46pm

Now that's the one thing I haven't seen- the Bobby Long film. I'll try to make sure I see it. I love Scarlett and have loved everything I've seen her do. She does it well-but again, she's yet to show me she's anything more than good. thanks for the tip.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:50pm

No problem. Let me know what you thought.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 5:51pm

I've said this over and over and over again, but I really think the reason people didn't care for her in this is because she's playing a role written for an English actress that wasn't modified after she was cast. Now, usually that wouldn't matter, but when Woody Allen has all the British cast talking like they're in a 1930's Agatha Christie play, it's going to hurt your performance. I was bothered by all the dialogue and didn't think any of it fit. As has been mentioned on this thread already, a lot of Americans didn't notice why it bothered me. So is it possible that when you hear the awful dialogue in an American accent, you notice that it rings false? Does that make sense? I managed to divorce all the performances from the dialogue as it all bothered me.

And she doesn't always play the same role. The Horse Whisperer, Ghost World, Eight Legged Freaks, Lost In Translation and Girl With A Pearl Earring can hardly be considered the same. I think the characters she chooses to portray for the most part are very low key so people assume she's not really acting. Which is why a firecracker performance in Match Point should really make people see different. But for some reason it's not.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 6:04pm

Oy, oy, oy. We get that you loved her in this film! But you yourself just posted reasons why she didn't come off that great in the role so why are you so disturbed when we mention it?

BTW-all the roles you listed that she played in her films that you think are so different-I think they're all the same. You want just one example of stretching? Take Meryl Streep in Angels in America. In that one film, she showed more versatility than Scarlett has in her entire career so far. 1.A male Rabbi 2.Ethel Rosenberg 3. The mother. Of course I realize I'm using one of our finest actresses of all time as an example, but that's stretching and doing it the best that can be done by any human. In fact, all her roles are entirely different.

Anyway, have a good evening, I'm off to work.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 6:07pm

I posted that even I think she had moments when she struggled. Just moments. Not the whole performance. And I think it was because I could remove her performance from the crappy dialogue and that I knew it was originally offered to Kate Winslet. Which is why people complaining she didn't feel organic and was stiff and unnatural know EXACTLY how I feel about EVERY SINGLE ASPECT of the REST OF THE MOVIE!

[badreligion]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:09pm

Match Point got some globe nods yes, and I agree it is finally finally finally finally Allen's comeback film, but alas it will win no globes and get ZERO oscar nominations. All the guild noms are out, Match Point was ignored, slim chance in hell that it will receive even one nom at the oscars.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:19pm

OK, a few things:

Michelle Williams is winning Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, that's without debate.

I was thinking CAPOTE would be the best bet for the Original Screenplay Oscar, as a way of giving the film some recognition, since Phillip Seymour Hoffman will be losing Best Actor to Heath Ledger.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 1/12/06 at 8:21pm

Michelle Williams is winning Best Supporting Actress at the Oscars, that's without debate.

Oh it's REALLY not without debate. Supporting Actress is the most crowded category this year, who knows, she may even end up without a nomination.

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:24am

Though I haven't seen the movie yet, never underestimate Woody at the Oscars--he has the most noms for Best Orig. Screen. and his ladies do quite well in the Oscar races...I think a screenplay nom is assured, maybe a director nod, and a pic nod is a long shot, but I think Scarlett has a great shot.

[Jane2]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:41am

But you haven't seen the film yet...?

[lildogs]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 10:49am

That's what i said. Just going from the publicity that Woody's doing, the vanity fair article, the Academy's love of Woody...merely a guess...

[Jon]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 2:03pm

I would love to see Thandie Newton in CRASH get a supportinmg nomination.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 2:37pm

I would rather Sandra Bullock score one, but Thandie is also deserving.

Broadway: You really think BOBBY LONG is Scarlett's breakout role? I would consider that to be LOST IN TRANSLATION or GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING, hands down...

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 2:40pm

Munk-

I think that there's a mix-up of words here. Her breakout roles (the ones that got her notice) were Girl with a Pearl Earring and Lost in Translation.

But, I felt that her breakthrough as an actress was A Love Song for Bobby Long. I think it's her best work. She was refreshing, spunky, natural, and heartbreaking. Updated On: 1/13/06 at 02:40 PM

[PJ]

Posted: 1/13/06 at 5:08pm

Fatal Attaction: Man cheats on wife. Mistress gets pregnant. Misstress becomes too attached.

Match Point: Man cheats on wife. Mistress gets pregnant. Misstress becomes too attached.