|
|
|
Written by MCT
|
|
Monday, 24 July 2006 |
|
|
|
|
SCOOP
Grade: B-plus
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen and Ian McShane. Directed by: Allen. Rated PG-13 (sexual references, mild violence). In limited release. 96 min.
 Woody Allen's "Scoop" is a comfortable old shoe.
It reflects the filmmaker's proprietary love for his female characters, his adoration of old movies, his new affection for London and his fascination with the American psyche, including his own.
It all adds up to a cozy fit. It never matches "Match Point," Allen's 2005 salute to foggy London nights, but it's a charmer all the same. This time, Woody's out to challenge neither the audience nor himself. He simply wants to supply us with a good time. And he does.
Scarlett Johansson plays Sondra Pransky, an American journalism student vacationing in London. She comically discovers a major suspect in a rash of London slayings committed by the Tarot Card Killer. Aiding her efforts is the ghost of master journalist Joe Strombel (Ian McShane, "Deadwood's" nasty Al Swearengen). Attempting to aid her, not always successfully, is non-master Brooklyn magician Sid Waterman (Allen).
Sondra's prime suspect is aristocratic, amiable Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman). Strong circumstantial evidence points to Peter, but his natural charm makes him as unlikely a murderer as Cary Grant in "Charade." Inevitably, he and Sondra become romantically involved.
Like Allen's most memorable female protagonists, Sondra shows emotional growth. At first she seems too much a prototype of the breathless "girl reporter" stereotype. But it's fun watching her evolve into a resourceful, assured young woman.
Like most of Allen's recent offerings, "Scoop" borrows from old movies, including his own. Sid and Sondra's constant banter seems a father/daughter variation of 1934's "The Thin Man's" Nick and Nora. When we first meet deceased journalist Strombel, he's on a ghostly boat navigated by the Grim Reaper, prompting images from Allen's "Love and Death." Coupled with "Match Point's" caste-conscious storyline, one of "Scoop's" vignettes will make you wonder if the Woodman will ever get "A Place in the Sun" out of his system.
Woody's screenplay also includes variations of lines from his own films. If they don't quite shine like new, they still sparkle. Some observers may feel that one of Sid's best lines reveals Woody's psyche: "I was born to the Jewish persuasion but converted to Narcissism."
Woody manages to play a befuddled, awkward, sometimes irritating character without giving an irritating performance. And the rest of the cast performs with credible comic bounce. Possibly directed to initially overdo the cub reporter routine, Johansson eventually proves an engaging and endearing heroine. Jackman effortlessly delivers the kind of charm that could be either spontaneous or fatally deceptive. McShane's spectral reporter has the edge you'd expect of a ghost on a mission.
Some may dismiss "Scoop" as "minor Woody Allen" because it doesn't traffic in major psychological probes. But it makes you smile. And that's not such a minor accomplishment. | Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register. |
|
|  | "Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is Alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only truth." | |
|  | We're not that bright, even though in our own little world, we're geniuses. We like 80s hair bands and one-hit wonders, but among us we have respectable tastes, too. Metallica, Iron Maiden, U2. Pursuit of all things trivial is a lifestyle, not just a game. We like some sports, love other sports, and can find something to say about anything. We watch TV and movies and we've read a book or two, even a few classics (Yes, Classic Comics count!)
We call it insight, you call it what you will. | |
|  | Felix Wong is an outdoor enthusiast living in Fort Collins. A mechanical engineer by day, he is especially passionate about bicycling, running, and backpacking. | |
|  | Hola Amigos! I'm Sandra. I like to believe that people are 70 percent good and 30 percent dumb. I'm stickin to that story. Reading this blog might make you want to be good, but probably just dumb. | |
|  | Donovan Henderson is editor of NEXTnc. | |
|  | Here at Nextnc we have some characters. Get a sneak peak behind the curtain and find out what amusing antics our staffers get themselves into on a weekly basis. | |
|  | What is up FoCo?
I am a recent college graduate of Minnesota State University Moorhead. After recieving my B.A. in English and Mass Communications this past August I moved down to Colorado.
I enjoy long walks on the beach, candlelight dinners, and heavy metal. My hobbies include reading and writing, music, movies, and getting drunk. Some of my favorite contemporary authors include Bret Easton Ellis, Chuck Palahniuk, and Kurt Vonnegut. My top movies are anything directed by Kubrick. I enjoy listening to anything that rocks.
Right now I am just trying to get to know Colorado and FoCo better. Mostly in order to find the best drink specials on each day that ends in Y. So if you know where I can get a cheap drunk on, let me know!
--Drew | |
|  | Life's little morsels of inspiration, observation and encouragement seen through the eyes of the Nextnc reporter.
| |
|  | Ms. Giles currently lives in Colorado where she stars in her own private reality show. She writes aphoristic accounts of her life, taken completely out of context, and embellished with characters and situations disguised to resemble something close to interesting. | |
|  | over and out | |
| | My name is Michelle Turley and I'm 28 years old. I live in Severance with my hubbie, Brandon. We have 2 dogs and a cat. We enjoy camping, four-wheeling, and just being in the mountains. I like to cook, clean (go figure), flea market, and play poker. I have so much to say about poker... | |
|
|
