Scoop
By Jacquelyn Curtis
|
Director: Woody Allen |
If you're looking for a little light entertainment, this film can certainly cater to your need.
With a little bit of magic, a little bit of romance and a little bit of Hugh Jackman it seems to have the goods stacked in its favour.
The film opens with a bizarre ‘heaven' scene where a deceased journalist ‘connects' with a student journalist via a magic show performed by Allen's character, the quirky magician Sid Waterman. Determined to give the student, Sondra Pransky (played by Scarlett Johansson), his last scoop he reveals the identity of the infamous tarot card killer.
This provides the catalyst for a sequence of humorous events as Sondra and her sidekick Sid set about finding the tarot card killer.
Jackman plays Peter Lyman, a dashing British Aristocrat and one of Sondra's investigative leads. Pransky is at times irritably naïve, but this is warranted as her character proceeds to fall for Lyman.
Comic relief is provided by Sid, who embodies both the famous Allen schtick and neuroticism that has become a staple in Allen's films.
| With a little bit of magic, a little bit of romance and a little bit of Hugh Jackman this film seems to have the goods stacked in its favour |
Written and directed by the eccentric but acclaimed Woody Allen, the film is less sombre than his previous release, Match Point. Both starring Johansson, this film sees her depart from the glamour girl love interest, thus avoiding typecasting the actress.
The interplay between Sid and Sondra and the friendship they develop is the hidden gem of the film but disappointingly overshadows any chemistry generated between Jackman and Johansson.
The film is not overly memorable but pleasant viewing nonetheless.
Rating: 3 out of 5
