setup 02-06-06 -w 1/26/06 11:28 AM Page 24 Film tions that animated his most productive period. By moving the setting to Mixed Doubles London and its suburbs and by using a British cast and crew, he has given him- self enough distance to create the illu- sion of objectivity. But this is still quintessential Woody Allen. Despite the Y PRESENCE at a midday years chewed over the question of order locale, several of the characters bear the meeting a few weeks ago in the universe with the persistence of stamp of the Woody Allen autobiogra- was not essential. Surely, Dostoevsky. A physicist in “September” phy. M other demands on my time (1987), one of his gloomiest films, Allen’s most familiar films are set in were more pressing, but for some answers an inquiry about his work by his sanitized version of Manhattan, pop- strange reason as the campus carillon explaining that no, he does not work on ulated with smart, artistic, sophisticated struck noon, even though I’d be a few nuclear bombs, but something far more people who constitute the idealized minutes late, for some inexplicable rea- terrible: the realization that the universe world that this middle-class, relatively son, I decided to put in an appearance. I is a realm of unspeakable random vio- uneducated boy from Brooklyn once opened the back door of the building and lence, without sense, without purpose, strove to enter. These self-centered noticed that the sun had finally reap- coming from nothing and returning to writers and actors have freed themselves peared after a fairly robust December nothing, inexorably. from the social constraints of family and snowstorm. Before I had taken 10 steps, If the universe as a whole has no religious principles, but they find them- a wedge of snow and slush piled on the meaning, then logically neither does the selves imprisoned in their own neuroses. roof gave way and dropped five stories, human person. In a comic touch in Rarely do they form lasting relation- hitting me with the precision of a smart “Annie Hall” (1977) Allen links the two ships, nor can they take satisfaction in bomb. It knocked off my glasses and hat ideas through a 10-year-old (an Allen their obvious achievements. Allen tem- and filled my coat with snow. I staggered surrogate) who refuses to do his home- pers his admiration for such people with for a few steps to regain my balance, but work because he read the universe is envy by assuring himself they are thor- I did not go down. A student rushed over expanding and headed to oblivion. Why oughly miserable in their success, and to help. The brick walkway on either bother? Neither his parents nor the none are more miserable than the tal- side of me was perfectly clean. Had I rabbi can change his mind. The ethical ented but neurotic characters that he been five seconds earlier or later, it implications are ghastly. Human actions portrays himself. would have missed me altogether. Had it have no value and thus cannot be classi- London enables him to sharpen his been a late afternoon meeting, when the fied as good or bad. Therefore, no one social criticism even more. Here he snow might have melted and refrozen, may judge the moral responsibility of deals with old money and traditions, the the falling ice could have caused serious another on the basis of any kind of uni- supremely wealthy who have country injury. Think of the amazing coinci- versal ethical principles. Each individual estates, shoot grouse, engage in interna- dences that led to my being at that pre- “creates his own moral universe” and tional trade, associate with the titled and cise place at that exact time. Yet on bal- learns to function within it with impuni- enjoy life’s finer treasures, like vintage ance, I was pretty lucky. I could have ty. Some commit terrible crimes and opera records. Remi Adefarasin’s cine- been killed. prosper, while the just suffer unspeak- matography and Jim Clay’s set design Match Point is Woody Allen’s able tragedy. This is just the way the create a world of rich reds and golds, of philosophic reflection on such questions world functions, and since an individual old leather in the library and mossy of coincidence and luck. Unlike most of can do nothing to change it, one simply stone in the formal gardens. Chris us, who note the irony of life’s many odd accepts it and goes on living according Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), a for- twists and then move on, Allen finds that to personal needs and desires, regardless mer tennis pro from a modest back- random events reveal a terrifying chaos of others. In “Crimes and Mis- ground in Ireland, has lost his competi- in the universe. Even though a large seg- demeanors” (1989) the ophthalmologist tive edge and accepts a job as a tennis ment of the filmgoing public has refused who murdered his mistress and then instructor in a very exclusive country to revise its initial perception of him as flourishes in his life of wealth, privilege club outside London. Like Allen, Chris “just another New York Jewish comedi- and respectability explains that the true finds that his talent enables him to cross an,” Allen himself has over the last 30 horror is not his crime but the realiza- the waters (the Irish Sea differs little tion that it makes no difference whether from the East River) and crash a world RICHARD A. BLAKE, S.J., is professor of fine or not he is punished for his crime. No far above his origins, but, like Allen, he arts and co-director of the film studies pro- one cares. is not particularly comfortable there. He gram at Boston College, Chestnut Hill, After crossing a long plateau in his knows he is an interloper and fears oth- Mass. career, Allen has come back to the ques- ers will despise him for it. 24 America February 6, 2006 setup 02-06-06 -w 1/26/06 11:28 AM Page 25 The breaks fall his way, however. ment and passion. But with her earthi- pursue those of wealth and power with One of his first clients at the club, Tom ness and modest background, she will relish? Does Chris have a conscience at Hewett (Matthew Goode), wears his never break into the Hewett family cir- all, or if he does, is he capable of killing extraordinary wealth easily and invites cle, as Mrs. Hewitt (Penelope Wilton) it? What will happen to him in the long Chris to join him and his family at the makes absolutely clear after a third run? Will his actions doom him to a life opera and then for a weekend at their cocktail one evening. When the family of remorse? Allen’s sad conclusion is estate. His sister Chloe (Emily finds a more suitable partner for Tom that none of these questions really make Mortimer) is captivated by the hand- and Nola is cut out, the pressure on any difference. In Allen’s grimly nihilis- some tennis pro, and her father (Brian Chris intensifies. He will have to make a tic worldview, there is no guilt or inno- Cox), ever eager to please his beloved choice. cence, only survival. daughter, brings Chris into the firm, Allen builds momentum like This conclusion echoes the opening where his future will be secure and more Hitchcock at his best. As Chris feels ever shot. Under a colorless English sky, the than comfortable. more trapped, he resorts to lies that camera focuses on the top of a net, while Chris is not the only interloper. become transparent to both women. He a ball flies back and forth over it in slow Tom’s fiancée is Nola Rice (Scarlett even ponders murder, but he hesitates. motion. Finally, the ball hits the net and Johansson), an aspiring but unsuccessful Even if he could go through with it, pops straight up, and the camera freezes actress from Boulder, Colo. The four which woman would he choose, and it a foot above the upper lip, a shot that principals form a matched set of cou- would he jeopardize his golden future reappears in a slightly different form ples: Tom and Chloe, brother and sister, simply to avoid the painful ordeal of near the climax of the narrative. The are the establishment; Chris and Nola, separation from one of them? Does he ball could drop to either side, and the their intended spouses, the arrivistes. have the sophistication to plan and exe- difference could mean victory or defeat After several family gatherings, Chris cute a “perfect” crime? Could he main- in the game. Allen cuts away and refuses finds himself torn between the two tain his poise during a police investiga- to show which way the ball drops. It will women. Chloe provides the path to a tion? Would the police, with their touch ground where it will, by random level of security and status Chris could working-class accents, follow form and chance. In the long run, the outcome of never achieve on his own. Nola, with defer to their social betters, or would the game makes no difference. It just her sensuous beauty, provides excite- they give in to class resentments and happens. Richard A. Blake Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode, center) introduces his friend, Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), to his fiancée, Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), in Woody Allen’s new film, “Match Point.” PHOTO COURTESY OF DREAMWORKS February 6, 2006 America 25 .