Movie Flashback: Seven Years Ago Woody Allen Makes a Comeback with this Scarlett Johansson Pic
Posted 12.28.12 by Chris
Woody Allen is currently in the midst of a second comeback in his long career. Last year, the director had his biggest hit ever with Midnight in Paris, but Allen had to leave New York for his second resurgence, starting with this drama about a tennis pro playing both sides of the court.
For much of his career, Allen and New York were inseparable with many of his most memorable movies taking place in the Big Apple (Annie Hall, Manhattan), but lately Allen has found success with movies taking place overseas, including last year's Midnight in Paris and 2008's Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Allen first found success on foreign soil with Match Point, which was released seven years ago today.
Starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emily Mortimer, and Scarlett Johansson, Match Point told the story of former tennis pro (Meyers) who falls for a women (Johansson), who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law. The movie was a return to form for Allen after a string of forgettable projects (anyone remember Melinda and Melinda, Hollywood Ending or The Curse of the Jade Scorpion?)
Match Point initially was set in New York but after Allen had difficulty securing financing for a New York shoot, he changed the movie's setting to London. Surprisingly U.S. audiences enjoyed the movie more than London moviegoers, who found fault with the movie's locations and the idiom of the dialogue. Nonetheless, Allen struck box office success after a long drought. Match Point earned $85 million worldwide off a $15 million budget.
Match Point has a 77 percent rating on RottenTomatoes.com, and critics often cite it as Allen's resurgence. Match Point was also the first collaboration between Allen with Johansson. The two would later pair up to work on Scoop and Vicky Cristina Barcelona.
Where to watch: Match Point is available on DVD and Blu-ray and on iTunes.