Match Point (2005)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

20 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Passion Temptation Obsession

Plot:

At a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro falls for a femme-fatal type who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law.

Plot Keywords:

Tennis | Instructor | Love | Tennis Pro | Actress

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 8 wins & 14 nominations

Cast

Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Chris Wilton
Alexander Armstrong	...	Mr. Townsend
Paul Kaye	...	Estate Agent
Matthew Goode	...	Tom Hewett
Brian Cox	...	Alec Hewett
Penelope Wilton	...	Eleanor Hewett
Emily Mortimer	...	Chloe Hewett Wilton
Janis Kelly	...	'La Traviata' Performer
Alan Oke	...	'La Traviata' Performer
Mark Gatiss	...	Ping-Pong Player
Scarlett Johansson	...	Nola Rice
Philip Mansfield	...	Waiter
Simon Kunz	...	Rod Carver
Geoffrey Streatfield	...	Alan Sinclair (as Geoffrey Streatfeild)
Mary Hegarty	...	'Rigoletto' Performer
John Fortune	...	John the Chauffeur
Rupert Penry-Jones	...	Henry
Patricia Whymark	...	Telephone Operator
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Custodian
Miranda Raison	...	Heather
Rose Keegan	...	Carol
Zoe Telford	...	Samantha
Margaret Tyzack	...	Mrs. Eastby
Scott Handy	...	Hewetts' Friend
Emily Gilchrist	...	Hewetts' Friend
Selina Cadell	...	Margaret
Georgina Chapman	...	Nola Co-Worker
Colin Salmon	...	Ian
Toby Kebbell	...	Policeman
Steve Pemberton	...	Detective Parry
Ewen Bremner	...	Inspector Dowd
James Nesbitt	...	Detective Banner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Argenti	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Morne Botes	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Michelle Lima	...	Spanish Tennis Player (uncredited)
Dawn Murphy	...	Cloakroom Girl (uncredited)
Leonard Silver	...	Bridge Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	producer
Nicky Kentish Barnes	....	co-producer
Lucy Darwin	....	producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer
Stephen Tenenbaum	....	executive producer
Gareth Wiley	....	producer

Cinematography by
Remi Adefarasin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Alisa Lepselter

Casting by
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto
Gail Stevens
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Jim Clay

Art Direction by
Diane Dancklefsen
Jan Spoczynski

Set Decoration by
Caroline Smith

Costume Design by
Jill Taylor

Makeup Department
Carmel Jackson	....	makeup artist
Sallie Jaye	....	hair designer
Sallie Jaye	....	makeup designer
Sharon Martin	....	makeup artist
Paul Mooney	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Tori Parry	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cara Cheeseman	....	additional third assistant director
Tom Glaisyer	....	third assistant director
Richard Goodwin	....	second assistant director
Christopher Newman	....	first assistant director (as Chris Newman)

Art Department
Eddie Baker	....	dressing props
Nicola Barnes	....	assistant set dresser
Les Benson	....	props storeman
Steve Bohan	....	construction manager
Stephen Conway	....	stand-by props
Gill Ducker	....	props buyer
Sarah Forbes	....	art department assistant
Oliver Goodier	....	assistant art director
Saskia Green	....	art depertment assistant
Robert Hooker	....	stand-by rigger
Glenn Lewis	....	stand-by stagehand
David Lowery	....	supervising carpenter (as Dave Lowery)
Steve Macdonald	....	chargehand stand-by props (as Stephen McDonald)
Philip McDonald	....	property master
John McGee	....	supervising carpenter
Eamon McLoughlin	....	supervising carpenter
Neil Murrum	....	chargehand dressing prop
Roy O'Connor	....	dressing props
Nick Pearce	....	stand-by painter
Anthony Szuch	....	drapes master
David Williamson	....	stand-by carpenter (as Dave Williamson)

Sound Department
Coll Anderson	....	sound effects editor
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley artist
Ryan Collison	....	foley recording engineer
Lee Dichter	....	re-recording mixer
Peter Glossop	....	sound mixer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Thomas Kodros	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby Stereo
Stephane Malenfant	....	sound assistant
Matthew McDonnell	....	sound trainee: FT2
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Shaun Mills	....	boom operator
David Wahnon	....	sound editor
Akil Wilson	....	assistant sound editor

Special Effects by
Jonathan Bullock	....	special effects technician
Dean Ford	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Paul Alexiou	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC
Matthew Bristowe	....	producer: The Moving Picture Company
Richard Comline	....	visual effects artist: The Moving Picture Company
Martin Cook	....	visual effects artist: The Moving Picture Company
Mark Curtis	....	visual effects artist: The Moving Picture Company
Dan Duran	....	digital artist (as Daniel Walton)
Michael Elson	....	head of production: MPC
Richard Etchells	....	title designer: The Moving Picture Company (as Dickie Etchells)
Martin Hobbs	....	visual effects supervisor: The Moving Picture Company
Rudi Holzapfel	....	visual effects artist: The Moving Picture Company
Begoña Lopez	....	producer: The Moving Picture Company
Begoña López	....	producer: The Moving Picture Company (as Begoña Lopez)
Michelle Martin	....	production assistant: The Moving Picture Company
Andrew Morley	....	visual effects artist: The Moving Picture Company
Stuart Nelhams	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC
Patric Roos	....	visual effects artist: The Moving Picture Company (as Patrick Roos)
Martyn Drake	....	systems: MPC (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adefarasin	....	clapper loader (as Johnny Adefarasin)
Remi Adefarasin	....	camera operator
John Arnold	....	grip
Ray Bateman	....	generator operator
Tony Burns	....	electrician (as Tony Burnes)
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
David Cozens	....	focus puller (as Dave Cozens)
Ian Franklin	....	rigging gaffer
Mark Funnell	....	best boy electric
Dennis Holliday	....	electrician
David Lee	....	camera trainee
Gary Parnham	....	rigging electrician
Robert Rabson	....	electrician (as Rob Rabson)
Brian Sullivan	....	rigging electrician
Roger Tooley	....	Steadicam operator
David Wall	....	rigging electrician (as David 'Jim' Wall)
Ben Wilson	....	electrician
Jimmy Wilson	....	gaffer

Casting Department
William Davies	....	casting assistant
Claire Saunders	....	casting associate
Julie Schubert	....	casting assistant
David Wheal	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Martin Chitty	....	wardrobe master
Nadia Dunn-Hill	....	assistant costume buyer
Charlotte Finlay	....	costume supervisor
Ella Hastings	....	wardrobe assistant
Charlotte Sewell	....	assistant costume designer
David Wootton	....	wardrobe assistant
Katie Hill	....	daily costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Ravi Desai	....	trainee assistant editor: FT2
Steve Farman	....	negative cutter
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Kate Rose Itzkowitz	....	apprentice editor
Scott Kordish	....	post-production coordinator
Steve Mercer	....	assistant editor: dailies
Morgan Neville	....	first assistant editor (as Morgan A. Neville)
Katy Skjerping	....	assistant editor (as Katy Fisher)

Transportation Department
Waseem Barlas	....	unit driver
Guy Bostock	....	action vehicle coordinator
John Burden	....	driver: minibus
Ian Clarke	....	vehicle technician
Steve Mitchard	....	unit driver
Mike Moran	....	driver: minibus
Ron Narduzzo	....	unit driver
Robert Rabson	....	supply truck (as Rob Rabson)
Simon Saunders	....	unit driver
Darren Thackeray	....	driver
Darren Thackeray	....	unit driver
Llewellyn Thomas	....	camera car driver
Sean Thornton	....	picture vehicle technician

Other crew
Sarah Allentuch	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Kim Armitage	....	script supervisor
Philip Ball	....	stand-in
Carrie-Ann Banner	....	assistant production coordinator
Isabel Begg	....	head of business and legal affairs: BBC Films
Sarah Best	....	production and finance controller: BBC Films
Peter Bevan	....	production assistant
Michelle Binieda	....	cashier
Colin Bishop	....	projectionist: Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre
Mauro Blanco	....	dubbing artist
Jake Bogert	....	clearances coordinator
Finlay Bradbury	....	location assistant (as Finlay Pile)
Leah Chalk	....	health and safety
Antonia de Barton-Watson	....	publicity assistant (as Antonia De Barton-Watson)
Jimmy de Brabant	....	production executive: Thema Production SA
Michael Dounaev	....	production executive: Thema Production SA
Francesca Dowd	....	production coordinator
Jake Edmonds	....	health and safety advisor
Lucy Foulds	....	location coordinator
Max Greenhalgh	....	floor runner: dailies
Michael Harm	....	location manager
Tim Haslam	....	worldwide sales
Nikki Inwood	....	stand-in
Joseph Jayawardena	....	assistant location manager
Carrie Johnson	....	unit nurse
Martin Joy	....	unit location manager
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	post-production accountant
Steve Morphew	....	stand-in
Kami Naghdi	....	legal services
Derry Neilan	....	projectionist: Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant
Jeremy Pelzer	....	studio director ealing studios
Sue Quinn	....	location manager
Lee Robertson	....	assistant location manager
Maximillian Roeg	....	runner (as Max Roeg)
Kerry Smith	....	assistant production accountant
Aurelia Thomas	....	assistant location manager
David M. Thompson	....	head: BBC Films
Molly Tudhope	....	location assistant
Catherine Tyler	....	floor runner
Michael Wood	....	production executive: BBC Films
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative (uncredited)

Thanks
Rosine Handelman	....	acknowledgment and thanks

Production Companies

• BBC Films (presents)
• Thema Production (presents) (as Thema Production SA)
• Jada Productions (as A Jada Production)
• Kudu Films (in association with) (as Kudo Films Limited)

Distributors

• Icon Film Distribution (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Prokino Filmverleih (2005-2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2006) (UK) (DVD) (PAL)
• DreamWorks Distribution (2005-2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• A-Film Distribution (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Alfa Films (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Chantier Films (2006) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• On Pictures (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Pandasia Entertainment (2006) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (theatrical) (DVD)
• TFM Distribution (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2006) (Japan) (all media)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2008) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Divisa Home Video (2006) (Spain) (DVD)
• Film1 (2007) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2005) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Gateno Films (2006) (Peru) (all media)
• Icon Home Entertainment (2006) (UK) (DVD)
• Ledafilms (2006) (Mexico) (TV)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2006) (Italy) (all media)
• Movie Bank (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Net5 (2008) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Odeon (2006) (Greece) (all media)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2006) (Germany) (DVD) (special edition) (PAL speed up)
• TF1 Vidéo (2006) (France) (DVD) (PAL)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2008) (2010) (Finland) (TV)

Special Effects

• Effects Associates (special effects)
• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (visual effects) (as The Moving Picture Company)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben, Inc.)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting equipment supplied by
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Aigle  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Alfred Dunhill Limited  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Alfred Dunhill)
• Anya Hindmarch  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Aspreys of Bond Street, London  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Asprey)
• Axium Entertainment  payroll
• Bank of Ireland  financing provided by
• Barbour  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Belstaff  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Bottega Veneta  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Bulgari  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Cartier  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Casting Collective  extras casting (as The Casting Collective Ltd)
• Catherine Walker  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Chanel  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Church's Shoes  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Compuhire  computer playback
• Crombie  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Damask  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Dart Group, The  publicity
• Darwin and Associates  publicity
• Diamond Trading Company  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Dunlop Slazenger  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Emporio Armani  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Armani)
• Flowers East, London  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Flowers East)
• Fred Perry  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Gina  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Giorgio  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Harbottle & Lewis  legal services
• International Film Guarantors  completion guaranty
• Invicta Capital  sale and leaseback finance by (as Invicta Capital Limited)
• Jaeger  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Jimmy Choo  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Joseph  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Kettler  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• LaCoste  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Lacoste)
• Lays International  facilities and trucks (as Lays International)
• Le Chameau  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Loeb & Loeb  legal services (as Irwin J. Tenenbaum, Loeb & Loeb)
• Louis Vuitton Italia  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Louis Vuitton)
• Malo  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Media Safety  health & safety
• Michael Rose Jewellers  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Milan Records  soundtrack released by
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  titles
• Mulberry  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Orbit Digital  avid equipment
• Pavilion Records  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Pick-Ups  facilities & trucks (as Pick-Ups Film & TV Transport)
• Pringle of Scotland  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as Pringle)
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative matching (as Professional Negative Cutting Ltd)
• Really Useful Group, The  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance (as The Really Useful Group Limited)
• Richards Butler International Law Firms  legal services (as Richards Butler International Law Firm)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sassi Halford  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording mixer (as Sound One Corp.)
• Tanner Krolle  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Tenon Group  accountants
• Valentino  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• West London Shooting Club  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Wickedwavs.com  the producers gratefully acknowledge and wish to thank the following for their assistance
• Wood Hall Catering  catering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some sexuality

Runtime:

124 min | Turkey:115 min (TV version) | Finland:126 min (theatrical version)

Country:

UK | Luxembourg

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

USA:R | UK:12A | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-11 | Spain:18 | Germany:6 | Austria:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Norway:11 | Australia:M | Sweden:Btl | Malaysia:(Banned) | Brazil:14 | Argentina:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:12 | Hungary:16 | Greece:K-13 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | South Korea:18 | Japan:PG-12 | New Zealand:M | Peru:14

Filming Locations:

Belgravia, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

The other song frequently played is 'Romance de Nadir', from Bizet's 'Les pêcheurs de perles', in which one of the pearl fishers dreams about his forbidden love.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tom and Nola play chess, the amount of wine in Nola's glass changes between shots.

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.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Richard Roeper & the Movies: Leap Year (#1.11)" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Mi par d'udir ancora

a serious channeling of Dostoyevsky via infidelity drama by Woody Allen

Match Point is my favorite American-directed film of 2005. Woody Allen, coming off of hitting his stride again with Melinda and Melinda, goes back to his darker, dramatic side, and makes a story that may seem a little familiar, though not to his discredit. Woody borrows (some may say steal) elements from Fyodor Dostoyevsky's Crime and Punishment, one of the great novels of the 19th century (some may say ever written, I have read his work though not this yet), and transfuses it with subject matter that he's more than well acquainted with- the relationship drama. But un-like Love and Death, which was Allen's way of parodying the work of the author, this time he takes the work seriously, plunging the audience into the mind, conflicts, and outcome of the protagonist. That the performances by the actors involved, particularly the three main leads are top notch (Jonathan Rhys-Myers, Emily Mortimer, and Scarlett Johnasson in one of her best) brings full blood and flesh to Woody's strong skeleton of a film.

The story starts slow. Chris Wilton (Rhys-Myers) is an Irishman in London, a tennis instructor who could've gone pro. He meets Chloe (Mortimer) through her brother Tom (Matthew Goode) and they soon become close, close enough for marriage. Basically, he marries into an upper-class family where he's coaxed into becoming a businessman for the family. But during this he also meets Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a struggling American actress, who's engaged to Tom. One thing leads to another, yada-yada, and Chris winds up in a big pickle as he's in a love-triangle between Chloe and Nola. Allen handles this dilemma with a powerful precision, by building up the relationships Chris has with each girl, and how there is not unbelievability in the set-ups. Nola is sensible and intelligent, if not altogether, while Chloe is caring and decent, if maybe too picture perfect for Chris. The dynamics are set-up so well, it leaves room for ample drama and suspense.

Allen, who has also been a playwright for decades, knows the way people interact like so, and how not to rush the situations and use tact with delicate scenes. There is also the element of Opera, which Chris sees with Chloe's family often, and the element of tennis. The analogies that both produce could possibly be very trite or cliché. It's not to say a couple of scenes are even cliché (ladies, you know you've seen quite a few movies with passionate kissing in the rain), but I even bought into those scenes. There is perhaps a certain manipulation that goes into these kinds of love stories, how much the audience can go with the inner conflict of our main character. But as the protagonist goes into a frame of mind that most may not be able to identify with, we're still with him all the way. And, perhaps, it's also because I love a good, solid infidelity story. Allen has here not only his best film in several years, but also likely his most suspenseful one.

Those who may not go with the sympathies &/or empathy for the characters may not like the film as much. Some have even criticized minor gripes with the film, like Rhys-Myers's unconvincing accent, or the over-usage of London's most famous landmarks. As an American, perhaps, I didn't mind certain things like these. When a filmmaker has this much trust in his script (and Woody, pushing 70 in making this, is not amateur), and has the right cast, it just takes off from there. To say I was on the edge of my seat through a good chunk of the third act is an under-statement and, at the core, was even cathartic in a way. It's the kind of film I would love to tell more people about, even if they think Woody is washed up after years of arguably less-than-great pictures. For some it might not even 'feel' like a Woody Allen movie, that at times it's a little 'slick'. It still is, however the work of an artist reaching further into his grab-bag with younger, exciting actors, and an interesting use of a (finally) new city.