Scoop (2006)

An American journalism student in London scoops a big story, and begins an affair with an aristocrat as the incident unfurls.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Jim Dunk, Robert Bathurst, Scarlett Johansson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Dunk	...	Funeral Speaker
Robert Bathurst	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Geoff Bell	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Christopher Fulford	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Nigel Lindsay	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Ian McShane	...	Joe Strombel
Fenella Woolgar	...	Jane Cook
Pete Mastin	...	Death (as Peter Mastin)
Doreen Mantle	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
David Schneider	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
Meera Syal	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
Kevin McNally	...	Mike Tinsley (as Kevin R. McNally)
Robyn Kerr	...	Tinsley's Fan #1
Richard Stirling	...	Tinsley's Fan
Scarlett Johansson	...	Sondra Pransky

Storyline

In the funeral of the famous British journalist Joe Strombel, his colleagues and friends recall how obstinate he was while seeking for a scoop. Meanwhile the deceased Joe discloses the identity of the tarot card serial killer of London. He cheats the Reaper and appears to the American student of journalism Sondra Pransky, who is on the stage in the middle of a magic show of the magician Sidney Waterman in London, and tells her that the murderer is the aristocrat Peter Lyman. Sondra drags Sid in her investigation, seeking for evidences that Peter is the killer. However, she falls in love with him and questions if Joe Strombel is right in his scoop.

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Plot Keywords:

scoop | journalist | student | magic | magician | 

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Taglines:

The perfect man. The perfect story. The perfect murder.

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Genres:

Comedy | Mystery

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

TFM Distribution [fr]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (Iceland)

Also Known As:

Untitled Woody Allen Fall Project 2006

Filming Locations:

CityPoint, Moorgate, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$3,046,924 (USA) (28 July 2006)

Gross:

$10,515,579 (USA) (22 September 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Films, Ingenious Film Partners, Phoenix Wiley

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scoop is one of three 2006 films to feature both the topic of magic and magicians as main characters. The other two are The Illusionist and The Prestige, the second of which also stars Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. Woody Allen was tutored magic and illusion for the movie by Scott Penrose.

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Goofs

Sid Waterman uses the combination 16-20-12 to get into the music room. The actual combination was 16-21-12.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Funeral Speaker: Don't mourn for Joe Stromble. Joe Stromble had a full life. A newspaper man in the best tradition. A great credit to the Fourth Estate. It didn't matter if the bombs of the war zone were falling, it didn't matter how high up the political scandal went, or how many big corporations or small time racketeers leaned on him. Whatever the risk, if there was a story there, Joe went after it. And he usually got it.

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Connections

References Porky's Romance (1937)

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Soundtracks

"Swan Lake Ballet Suite"
Composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (as Peter Tchaikovsky)
Performed by New Symphony Orchestra of London
Adrian Boult (as Sir Adrian Boult), Conductor
Courtesy of Geffen Records & Manhattan Production Music

User Reviews

Delightful summer comedy

I thought this was a wonderful way to spend time on a too hot summer weekend, sitting in the air conditioned theater and watching a light-hearted comedy. The plot is simplistic, but the dialogue is witty and the characters are likable (even the well bread suspected serial killer). While some may be disappointed when they realize this is not Match Point 2: Risk Addiction, I thought it was proof that Woody Allen is still fully in control of the style many of us have grown to love.

This was the most I'd laughed at one of Woody's comedies in years (dare I say a decade?). While I've never been impressed with Scarlet Johanson, in this she managed to tone down her "sexy" image and jumped right into a average, but spirited young woman.

This may not be the crown jewel of his career, but it was wittier than "Devil Wears Prada" and more interesting than "Superman" a great comedy to go see with friends.