I am seeing it either on the 28th or the 29th as well as it comes out here (in rather wide-ish release).

That's what EW says about the movie:

"To call Match Point Woody Allen's comeback would be an understatement - it's the most vital return to form for any director since Robert Altman made "The Player."

I think I'm going to drop Match Point from my predictions at this point.

I guess with A History Of Violence's win and renewed buzz and a good Oscar studio, higher rankings with the critics, etc. etc. etc. I don't know how Match Point would overcome that to get a BP nomination.

I think you're right but what's kind of tugging me on the other side is that given maybe an earlier release date or just more buzz, I think it could have really been a big player.

Maybe. I dunno.

It's still getting a screenplay nod at least.

Well, I never predicted Match Point to get a Best Picture nom in first place, but I think that a Best Director nomination is a very good possibility and that a Screenplay nom is locked. Johansson is close to a lock as well for a nom.

Maybe. I still think Bello and Williams are the two really fighting over Supporting Actress.

There is also Amy Adams. Those who think that her movie is too small need to think of Marcia Gay Harden and Pollack.

Pollock was a lot more well known than Junebug is.

A LOT more well known, populated and produced by a well known actor.

Yet, the actress was not receiving tons of awards and acclaim prior to the Oscars, it was mostly all about Kate Hudson if I rememeber correctly.

Well Amy Adams *is* So I don't see a parallel.

I think she will be nominated.

I think it will be:

Amy Adams - Junebug
Maria Bello - A History of Violence
Catherine Keener (sp?) - Capote
Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain

and someone else. Scarlett is in the running for that someone else, but I'm not sure yet.

Well, that 5th spot would be down to Keaton, Johansson or Li.

RT UPDATE:

79% fresh with 39 reviews: 31 fresh, 8 rotten. Average Rating: 7.3/10

89% COTC, Average Rating COTC: 7.5/10


http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/match_point/


IMDB UPDATE:

8.0/10 with 1,338 votes

The thing about Match Point is, it hasn't even been widely seen yet. It exists under the radar. It's won no critics awards (where, if anywhere, Woody would get support) and as we can see from the Top 10 lists at Movie City News, even if most like it (as RT would indicate), it appears on relatively few Top 10 lists. Few are over-the-moon..

I can't imagine it shoring up enough support to sneak into the top 5. I'd love to be wrong.

I agree. It is kind of like Hotel Rwanda, except, as an "issue" movie, Rwanda was able to grab more headlines.

Rwanda was more "important".

But Match Point has Allen and that means something. Hollywood likes it when a master of filmmaking finally delivers a good comeback.

RT UPDATE:

83% fresh with 47 reviews: 39 fresh, 8 rotten. Average Rating: 7.3/10

91% COTC, Average Rating COTC: 7.5/10


http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/match_point/


IMDB UPDATE:

8.0/10 with 1,359 votes

Okay...seen it, liked it, but didn't love it as much as I hoped I would. It is not getting a Best Picture nom and a Best Director nom would actually only happen because it's Allen, not because the movie would deserve it. Cronenberg certainly deserves it more for AHOV.

Screenplay is an absolute lock for a nom and deservingly so.

Johansson wasn't nearly as strong as I expected. Good, but great? I don't think so... The lead actor was better.

RT UPDATE:

81% fresh with 69 reviews: 56 fresh, 13 rotten. Average Rating: 7.3/10

88% COTC, Average Rating COTC: 7.4/10


http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/match_point/


IMDB UPDATE:

8.0/10 with 1,408 votes


METASCORE UPDATE:

72/100 with 19 reviews

Sorry you didn't like it Lecter. I know you were looking forward to it (obviously!).

I said in my post that I did like it, I just didn't love it. I suppose it was a personal disappointment after setting expectations too high. My problems lie in the first half of the movie. It mostly redeems itself in the second half. Allen is still a master of screenwriting, no denying here. I can't put my finger at it...but something lacked. The way the story developed at the beginning...

Good movie, just not A-worthy. Suppose it's a similar kind of a disappointment you had with Brokeback Mountain.

No, I wasn't looking forward to Brokeback as much as you with Match Point

True that.

I saw it with a friend, by the way, a guy just a year older than me who rarely ever sees movies of this kind (and this was probably his first Allen movie ever, heh) and he was very impressed as he went in with no expectations at all. Much like me, however, he thought that the ending (or at least the last third) elevated the movie big time.

Worth a theater experience or just as good on DVD?

Hmmm...it is certainly a movie that does not have to be seen on the big screen, but then again that probably applies to most "plain" dramas.

I would see it, if only for the great final act and the perfect use of music to raise suspense as well as interesting cinematography in a certain dialogue scene between Rhys Meyers and Johansson. It alludes to several literary works, including American Tradegy and Crime and Punishment, so if you like those the movie will put a smile on your face.

It is in a B-ish range for me. So I say it is good enough for a theatre trip, just don't keep the expectations too high.

I suppose I also should add that half of the ending was spoiled to me beforehand.

Rhys Meyers has sex with Heath Ledger?