Ghostbusters (2016 film)

Based on the 1984 film written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters is the story of two scientists, a gadgets inventor, and a MTA worker who discover strange paranormal events around New York City as they stop them from wreaking havoc all over the city. Directed by Paul Feig and screenplay by Feig and Katie Dippold, the film is a remake of sorts of the 1984 film where it’s women taking charge in trying to stop ghosts from being unleashed in New York City. Starring Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Andy Garcia, Cecily Strong, Neil Casey, Michael K. Williams, Charles Dance, Ed Begley Jr., Matt Walsh, and Chris Hemsworth as Kevin. Ghostbusters is a dazzling and adventurous film from Paul Feig.

The film is a simple story about the formation of a group of women who come together after some encounters with ghosts where they decide to stop them. That is pretty much the plot as it follows the same idea of the 1984 film but the film’s screenplay by Paul Feig and Katie Dippold focuses a lot more on the bond of four women trying to reveal what could be true despite the fact that they live in a world that is a bit more cynical as well as not wanting to believe that there is such things as ghosts. For the four women who would form their own team called Ghostbusters, they have to overcome many obstacles but also themselves as two of the women in physicists Abby Yates (Melissa McCarthy) and Erin Gilbert (Kristen Wiig) both wrote a book about the existence of ghosts where they were seen as jokes leading to a falling out between the two as the latter would disown the book as she feels it would threaten her tenure bid at Columbia University.

Yet, Gilbert’s past over the book would return due to these recent events as she reluctantly reunites with Yates and Yates’ colleague in inventor/engineer Jillian Holtzmann (Kate McKinnon) where they would make a major discovery that led to Gilbert teaming with the two to create something to study and stop ghosts. When a MTA worker named Patty Tolan (Leslie Jones) reaches out to the three about her sighting of a ghost as well as seeing a mysterious man named Rowan (Neil Casey) doing something odd at the subway station. Patty, whose knowledge of the city, would round out the team as they would also be joined by handsome but dim-witted secretary named Kevin. Still, the Ghostbusters have to keep their work under wraps for the mayor (Andy Garcia) who doesn’t want these stories about ghosts publicized feeling it would threaten his image.

Feig’s direction is definitely stylish in terms of the vastness of the film as it is shot in not just New York City but also parts of areas in and around Boston. While there are some wide shots of the locations, Feig would keep things simple with the compositions as well as create something that is quite loose in its approach to humor. Still, it is about the story and the women needing to prove that there ghosts lurking around in New York City as Feig doesn’t allow the visual effects or some of the offbeat humor to detract from that. Another thing about the film that succeeds is Feig taking his time for the characters to develop as well as developing their gadgets while having the time to goof off and have fun. Even as Feig makes no qualms in putting in references relating to the original 1984 for fun as it would also include a few famous characters from that film. The moments involving the ghosts and capturing them are definitely spectacular in a visual sense where it does have this nice mix of humor and horror that would culminate in this enthralling climax that features large ghosts and Times Square be re-envisioned as it was back in the 1970s/1980s. Overall, Feig creates an exhilarating and fun film about a group of ladies kicking some major ass on some evil ghosts.

Cinematographer Robert Yeomen does excellent work with the film‘s colorful cinematography from the look of the daytime exteriors and some of its interiors to the scenes at night including the rock club and for the film‘s climax at Times Square. Editors Melissa Bretherton and Brent White do terrific work with the editing as it is quite straightforward with some rhythmic cuts to play into the action without deviating too much into conventional speed-cuts that is often prominent of action films. Production designer Jefferson Sage, with supervising art director Bret Frutiger and set decorators Dennis Colvin and Leslie A. Pope, does fantastic work with the look of the home base that the team live in above a Chinese restaurant as well as the look of the hotel where the character Rowan works at. Costume designer Jeffrey Kurland does nice work with the costumes from the design of the jumpsuits the women wear as well as the casual clothes that represent their personalities.

Visual effects supervisors Anthony Dunifer and Peter G. Travers do amazing work with the design of the ghosts as well as some of moments in the ghost battles as well as the film‘s lavish climax. Sound designer Tom Lamberti, along with sound editors Andrew DeCristofaro and Becky Sullivan, does superb work with the sound to play into the sound effects of the noises the ghosts make as well as the sounds of the gadgets and other moments in the film. Music composer Theodore Shapiro does wonderful work with the score with its mixture of orchestral music and electronics that include variations of the original theme song while music supervisor Erica Weis provides a fun soundtrack that features some old-school music from DeBarge and DMX and more contemporary music from Elle King, Mark Ronson with Passion Pit and A$AP Ferg, Zayn Malik, 5 Seconds of Summer, and a bad remake of the original song by Fall Out Boy with Missy Elliott.

The casting by Allison Jones is great as it feature some notable small roles from co-writer Katie Dippold as a rental agent, Zach Woods as a tour guide who would first see a ghost in the film’s opening scene, Steve Higgins as a technical college dean Yates and Holtzmann work for, Ed Begley Jr. as a man who comes to Gilbert about a ghost in his tour house, Charles Dance as Gilbert’s boss at Columbia, Matt Walsh and Michael K. Williams as Homeland Security agents, Cecily Strong as the mayor’s assistant who tries to clean up all of the things publicly, and Andy Garcia as Mayor Bradley as New York City’s mayor who tries to not get the public be aware of the ghosts that are haunting New York City. Neil Casey is superb as Rowan as a mysterious man who has been releasing devices to unleash ghosts all over the city to express his disdain for humanity. Chris Hemsworth is excellent as Kevin as this dim-witted yet hunky secretary that isn’t very good at his job but Gilbert likes him a lot as he is just fun to watch in every scene he’s in while not being afraid of being the object of affection.

Leslie Jones is amazing as Patty Tolan as a MTA worker who joins the group in capturing ghosts as her knowledge on New York City makes her a joy to watch as well as some of the funny comments she brings. Kate McKinnon is brilliant as Jillian Holtzmann as the team’s gadgets inventor who has a very funny sense of humor as well as be very lively and odd in a fun way. Melissa McCarthy is fantastic as Abby Yates as a physicist who has never stopped believing in ghosts where she brings a nice approach to the physical comedy and in her mannerisms. Finally, there’s Kristen Wiig in a marvelous performance as Erin Gilbert as a college professor who reluctantly returns to the world of the paranormal as she is the straight person of the film that tries to deal with what she is seeing as she also brings in the laughs.

Ghostbusters is a remarkable film from Paul Feig. Featuring a great cast, incredible visual effects, and an accessible story that is just to fun to invest to. It’s a film that isn’t just a fun homage to the 1984 film but also a film that manages to be its own. In the end, Ghostbusters is a sensational film from Paul Feig.

Paul Feig Films: (I Am David) - (Unaccompanied Minors) - (Bridesmaids) - (The Heat) - Spy (2015 film) - (A Simple Favor) - (Last Christmas) - (The School for Good and Evil)

Related: (Ghostbusters) - (Ghostbusters II) - Ghostbusters: Afterlife

© thevoid99 2017

Swimming Pool (2003 film)

Directed by Francois Ozon and written by Ozon and Emmanuele Bernheim, Swimming Pool is the story about a murder-mystery novelist who travels to the French countryside to stay at her publisher’s house as she gets an unexpected visit from his outgoing daughter. The film is an exploration into the different generation gaps between two women as well as the similarities they have as one woman is trying to create a novel. Starring Charlotte Rampling, Ludivine Sagnier, and Charles Dance. Swimming Pool is a provocative and seductive film from Francois Ozon.

Seeking inspiration is something a writer must have when it comes to creating new material as the film is in some ways is about a famous British murder-mystery novelist in Sarah Morton (Charlotte Rampling) who is trying to write the next novel of her series involving a detective. Yet, she’s a woman who is unhappy with the outcome of some of her work while having to compete with younger writers who can the attention of her longtime publisher John Bosload (Charles Dance). By taking his offer to stay at his villa in the French countryside to work and relax, she soaks up the chance to enjoy a sense of peace until she gets the unexpected arrival of Bosload’s daughter Julie (Ludivine Sagnier) who causes trouble. Despite the tension between the two very different women, the two women do give something to each other where Sarah finds a muse while Julie gets someone to help after a night with a man has gone wrong.

The screenplay is definitely a thriller of sorts but acts more as a drama where it is about these two women sharing a villa as they don’t really know each other or want to do anything with each other. Especially since Sarah is a woman who had done her time as a young woman as she’s now middle-aged, bitter, and being usurped by younger writers. Julie is a young woman who is wild, likes to swim in the nude, have sex with various men, and is not afraid to get into a physical fight. Still, there is intrigue between the relationship of these two women where they share a few stories as well as interest towards a café waiter (Jean-Marie Lamour).

While the first two acts is about the relationship of these two women, the film’s third act is where the suspense comes in as it relates to not just a murder but also how to hide it as well as revelations about Julie’s mother whom her father had been estranged from for so many years. It would help play into the relationship between Sarah and Julie as the latter has been in need of a maternal figure. Yet, it would all help play into Sarah’s search for inspiration though its ending is very ambiguous as it ends up raising a lot of questions into what might’ve really happened.

Francois Ozon’s direction is quite straightforward for the most part in the way he presents scenes set largely in Southern France with a few scenes shot in London. Still, there is a degree of style to the way Ozon shoots some of his close-ups and medium shots to get his two leads into a frame. Even in playing up the element of suspense. There is also a sensuality to the film that can be quite serene at times but also a bit confrontational such as a scene of Julie lying on a chair outside as the café waiter stares at her as the two would masturbate to themselves. Yet, it is done with an air of subtlety that doesn’t make too graphic with the exception a different scene between Julie and the waiter in a pool. The film’s suspense has an air of mystery though its ending creates this ambiguity into whether anything that happened really happened as it mixes the idea of fantasy and reality. Overall, Ozon creates a very intoxicating and exhilarating film about mystery and the art of writing.

Cinematographer Yorick Le Saux does brilliant work with the film‘s very lush cinematography for many of the scenes set in France during the daytime while using more stylish lighting schemes for the scenes at night in its interior and exterior settings. Editor Monica Coleman does wonderful work with the editing to create some methodical cutting and stylish montages for its suspenseful moments along with some rhythmic cuts for a few of the film‘s dramatic moments. Production designer Wouter Zoon does excellent work with the look of the villa that Sarah stays at as well as a few places in France as well as the office of John Bosload.

Costume designer Pascaline Chavanne does nice work with the costumes from the more casual yet tightened clothes of Sarah to the more exotic look of Julie with the clothes and swimsuits she wears. The film’s sound by Benoit Hillebrant, Lucien Balibar, and Jean-Pierre Laforce is terrific for the way it creates an atmosphere in some of the quieter moments as well as some of the chaos for the scenes with Julie whenever she‘s partying with another man. The film’s music by Philippe Rombi is very evocative with its low-key yet playful piano-driven score for most of the film while intensifying things a bit for its suspenseful third act.

The casting by Antoinette Boulat is superb as it features a small ensemble with appearances from Frances Cuka as a fan that Sarah meets on the train, Sebastian Harcombe as a young writer Sarah has to compete with, Marc Fayolle as the villa’s gardener, Mirelle Mosse as the gardener’s daughter that Sarah meets late in the film to ask about Julie’s mother, and Jean-Marie Lamour as the café waiter Sarah meets early in the film who is entranced by Julie. Charles Dance is terrific as Sarah’s publisher John Bosload who gives Sarah the chance to stay at her home while is a man who is hoping for Sarah to deliver another hit novel so he can make more money.

Finally, there’s the duo of Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier as they both give exquisite performances in their respective roles as Sarah Morton and Julie. Sagnier brings a liveliness to her role as a very vivacious young woman who isn’t afraid to appear nude as she uses her sexuality to get what she wants while exemplifying all of the attributes of a young woman who seems very troubled. Rampling is more reserved as Sarah by displaying someone who is lost and bitter as she craves for some peace while also showing she’s also a bit funny as well as being sexy for someone of her age.

The 2003 Region 1 DVD from Focus Features is released in two version in a theatrical and unrated cut where the latter shows more nudity and sexually explicit content. Presented in its 1:85:1 theatrical aspect ratio with 5.1 Surround Sound for English and French along with DTS sound and subtitles in English, French, and Spanish. The DVD’s extras includes a trailer for the film as well as trailers from other releases from Focus Features. Another extra that is included are four deleted scenes which all relates to Sarah in a scene where she arrives along with a scene walking around the locations, reading a book, and a conversation with Bosload on the phone.

Swimming Pool is a ravishing film from Francois Ozon that is highlighted by the performances of Charlotte Rampling and Ludivine Sagnier. The film is definitely not just one of Ozon’s accessible films but also one of his more defining works in the way he brings intrigue and sensuality into an entire film while playing up the idea of what goes in the world of suspense. In the end, Swimming Pool is a remarkable film from Francois Ozon.

Francois Ozon Films: See the Sea - Sitcom - Criminal Lovers - Water Drops on Burning Rocks - Under the Sand - 8 Women - 5x2 - Time to Leave - Angel (2007 film) - Ricky - The Refuge - Potiche - In the House - Jeune & Jolie - (The New Girlfriend) - (Frantz (2016 film)) - (Double Lover) - (By the Grace of God) - Summer of 85 - (Everything Went Fine) - (Peter von Kant) - The Auteurs #33: Francois Ozon

© thevoid99 2013

Alien 3

Directed by David Fincher and screenplay by David Giler, Walter Hill, and Larry Ferguson from a story by Vincent Ward, Alien 3 is the story of Ellen Ripley waking up after crash-landing on a refinery planet near a prison. There, she deals with her new surroundings as well as the fact that an alien had boarded her escape pod as she and various prisoners try to fight off the alien. With Sigourney Weaver playing the role of Ellen Ripley once again. The film also stars Charles S. Dutton, Charles Dance, Brian Glover, Ralph Brown, Paul McGann, Danny Webb, Pete Postlethwaite, and Lance Henriksen. Alien 3 is a thrilling yet messy film from David Fincher.

After crash-landing into a refinery planet that includes a maximum security prison nearby, Ellen Ripley wakes up to learn that she is the only survivor of the crash leaving everyone else dead while the android Bishop (Lance Henriksen) is damaged beyond repair. In the care of the prison’s doctor Clemens (Charles Dance), Ripley learns what has happened as she looks at the crashed pod where she believes something was on board. Ripley convinces Clemens to perform an autopsy on one of the bodies as Ripley realize nothing is there as she is given permission by the prison’s superintendent Harold Andrews (Brian Glover) to hold a funeral. After shaving her head and accepting the fact that she’s in a prison full of men who hadn’t seen a women in years, Ripley deals with her new surroundings only for something bad to happen when one of the prisoners is found dead.

Andrews leads the inspection as the outcast prisoner Golic (Paul McGann) returns feeling deranged as Ripley believes something isn’t right. Taking what was left of the android Bishop as well as the flight log, she learns that an alien did board the pod though Andrews doesn’t believe so but the prisoner Dillon (Charles S. Dutton) believes that Ripley is right. More incidents emerge as Dillon, Ripley, and the other prisoners realize that there is an alien in the prison that is killing everyone but Ripley. With Andrews’ assistant Aaron (Ralph Brown) reluctantly taking command and no weapons available, the situation becomes dire as everyone tries to make plans to trap the alien and kill it with toxic waste. Yet, more problems emerge where Ripley makes an unsettling discovery that would only bring more trouble. With Ripley, Dillon, Aaron, and the remaining survivors left to deal with the alien as a rescue team from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation is coming. Ripley and the prisoners do whatever it takes to kill the alien.

The film is essentially a continuation of Ellen Ripley’s story and her encounter with an alien where she finds herself in an all-men’s maximum security prison where she’s surrounded by murders, rapists, and all sorts of things yet they’re not her problem. The problem is that there’s an alien that got attached to her pod and ended up getting its way into the prison. With no weapons on board and a bunch of scared prisoners who have also embraced a form of Christianity, it looks like there’s no sense of hope. Yet, there’s Ripley who has faced these aliens before yet she finds herself dealing with other problems that would make her a bigger liability.

The screenplay definitely plays to the element of suspense as well as its sense of horror and the stakes that these prisoners have to encounter. Yet, it plays too much into the formula of what happens where there isn’t a lot of surprises that occur while there’s very few characters that the audiences seem to care about. While the script’s lack of surprises in the way many characters are killed off is too as well as the involvement of the corporation that comes in late in the film. There is still something that is engaging in the way Ripley deals with the situation but there’s new stakes that emerges for her. Even as she makes a discovery in the film’s second half where it adds to the problems that emerge as she is aware that she is becoming more of a liability.

David Fincher’s direction is very stylish in terms of the presentation that is created with very fast and fluid camera work for the chase scenes along with more intimate moments involving the characters. Yet, there’s moments in the film where it definitely shows that Fincher definitely didn’t have a lot of control due to some very dodgy visual effects scenes and other moments that makes the film a bit silly. It’s also a major step-down from its predecessors considering that there’s not a lot of surprises and the suspense doesn’t carry much weight. Things get more clumsier in the third act not just in the final battle but the arrival of the corporation where it plays to things that are quite obvious as well as something that could’ve been a fitting finale. Overall, Fincher does a decent job with the film but it is hampered by the fact that the studio interfered too much to let him really give the story more bite.

Cinematographer Alex Thomson, with additional work by Jordan Cronenweth, does nice work with the film‘s photography with its sepia-drenched look to convey the dreary look of the prison. Editor Terry Rawlings does some excellent work with the editing to maintain the air of suspense as well as using dissolves and jump-cuts to help create some intense moments in the film. Production designers Norman Reynolds and Michael White, along with set decorator Belinda Edwards and supervising art director Fred Hole, does superb work with the look of the prison as well as the hallways and boiler rooms where it often takes place.

Costume designers David Perry and Bob Ringwood do fine work with the costumes as it‘s mostly ragged prison clothes and coats that the prisoners wear. Special effects supervisor George Gibbs and the visual effects of Philip Sharpe do some terrific work with some of the visual effects though some of the animation including the movement of the alien looks just downright silly. Sound editor Gary S. Gerlich and sound designer Harry E. Snodgrass do some excellent work with the sound to maintain that sense of terror that occurs throughout the film. The film’s music by Elliot Goldenthal is wonderful for the way it plays out the drama and the suspense with its orchestral bombast.

The film’s ensemble cast is brilliant as it does feature some nice small performances from Paul McGann, Pete Postlethwaite, Holt McCallany, and Danny Webb as prisoners who help out Ripley fight the alien as well as Ralph Brown as Andrews’ assistant Aaron and Lance Henriksen making a cameo as the damaged android Bishop and its creator. Brian Glover is terrific as the prison’s warden Harold Andrews who gets to chew up the scenery while Charles Dance is excellent in a more low-key yet subtle performance as Dr. Clemens who befriends Ripley. Charles S. Dutton is superb as the prisoner Dillon who helps Ripley out in fighting the alien while making sure that all of the prisoners know what they have to do in order to survive.

Finally, there’s Sigourney Weaver in a brilliant performance as Ellen Ripley where Weaver gets to display more leadership as well as internal conflict as a woman having to fight another alien while dealing with something that she realize that would impact everything else.

Alien 3 is a good though underwhelming film from David Fincher. While it features an excellent performance from Sigourney Weaver, the film is definitely among one of the weakest entries of the franchise due to its lack of surprises as well as some incomprehensive moments. For fans of David Fincher, this film isn’t the great debut that it wants to be as it doesn’t feature a lot of the visual traits that he’s known for in later films. In the end, Alien 3 is an engaging but somewhat lackluster film.

David Fincher Films: Se7en - The Game - Fight Club - Panic Room - Zodiac - The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - The Social Network - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Gone Girl

The 15 Essential Videos of David Fincher - The Auteurs #61: David Fincher

Alien Films: Alien - Aliens - Alien: Resurrection

© thevoid99 2012

Scoop

Originally Written and Posted at Epinions.com on 12/14/06 w/ Additional Edits & Revisions.

Written, directed, and starring Woody Allen, Scoop is about a young, American student trying to be a journalist gets a big scoop from a ghostly spirit who is trying to catch a tarot-card carrying serial killer. Helping the student is an American magician who suspects a rich heir as does the ghostly spirit while the young woman falls for the handsome suspect. Taking cues from his old films and love of mystery and comedy, Allen goes for laughs as the films reveal he's been re-inspired. Also starring Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Ian McShane, Romola Garai, and Charles Dance. Scoop is an entertaining, witty mystery from Woody Allen.

Revered British journalist Joe Strombel (Ian McShane) has just died as he meets a woman named Jane Cook (Fenella Woolgar) on their way to the afterlife. When Cook revealed that she had been poisoned by her boss and rich heir Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), she believes that he's the Tarot Card killer who has been killing hookers in a similar style to Jack the Ripper. Strombel jumps off the boat to give someone the scoop as a young college student journalist named Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson) is trying to catch a break. Going to a magic show with her friend Vivian to see Sidney Waterman aka Splendini (Woody Allen) perform magic tricks, Sondra is part of the act as she sees Strombel giving her the scoop of a lifetime.

When Sondra learns who Strombel was and finds information about the Tarot Card killer, she talks to Sidney about his magic box where they see Strombel's spirit who gives them more information. Sondra and Sidney decides to to investigate Lyman, who is the son of a well-respected lord (Julian Glover) as they managed to get into a posh gym through Vivian's connections where Sondra meets Peter Lyman as she calls herself Jade Spence with Sidney posing as her father. The two get invited to the Lyman estate as Sondra doesn't think that Lyman is the killer as she starts to fall for him. When Sidney holds another magic show, Strombel appears out of the box in front of an audience as he gives Sidney information about a vault in Lyman's home. Sidney goes to Lyman's home during the party as he goes into the vault and finds nothing much to Sondra's disappointment until she later finds a deck of tarot cards when she spends the night.

After turning to Vivian's father (Charles Dance), a newspaper editor, about what she believes, Sondra realizes that it might not be enough until the news that the real Tarot Card killer was caught. Sondra meets Peter again to confess who she really is as the two starts a relationship. Sidney however, doesn't think the case is over as he still suspects Peter Lyman as Strombel makes a last appearance where Sidney realizes who the Tarot Card killer is.

While the film doesn't rank up there with Allen's earlier, funnier films of the early 70s or some of his other comedies and the 80s and 1990s, Scoop does achieve in what Allen aimed for. A witty, clever mystery that features laughs and the kind of neurotic, insecure characters that Allen is known for. The screenplay is really Allen's most entertaining since Sweet & Lowdown where he finds the right timing for comedy while building the suspense of mystery where although it's kind of predictable. The adventure is still fun to watch where Allen's direction and locations of London really brings a new energy to his comedic style. Allen understands that mystery can be funny and he uses these flawed, characters who aren't smart or very driven but have something that audiences can relate to. Overall, the film features Allen in his finest.

Cinematographer Remi Adefarasin, who worked on Match Point, returns to bring in a more colorful, vibrant look of London in its exterior setting of the country side to the posh, interiors of some of the locations. Production designer Maria Djurkovic and art director Nick Palmer do excellent work into the look of posh London with its inspiring locations as well as costume designer Jill Taylor for the dresses that Scarlett Johansson wore. Editor Alisa Lepselter does some wonderful, tight editing to the film a nice, leisurely pace in its 96-minute running time. The film's soundtrack is filled with a lot of classical cuts that Allen has often compiled but most of its is done in a playful way along with elements of suspense as the music really adds a lot of wit and joy.

The film's cast is wonderfully assembled with notable small performances from Julian Glover, Kevin R. McNally, and Fenella Woolgar. Other minor performances from Charles Dance as Mr. Malcolm and Romola Garai as Vivian are excellent and memorable in their supporting roles. Ian McShane is very funny and intelligent as the wise, driven Joe Strombel. McShane, often known for playing dark, brooding characters, proves his range as a comedy actor where he plays his character very straight and intelligent as he steals every scene he's in. Hugh Jackman is wonderfully charming as the shady, charismatic Peter Lyman. The Australian-born actor proves he can do an authentic English accent while bringing a lot of wit and complexity to his character. Coming off films like the X-Men series and The Prestige, Jackman proves that he can do comedy and bring a lot of joy into a performance. Woody Allen is very funny in his usual, neurotic persona. While it's essentially Woody playing himself, Allen sticks with what works and it's consistently funny and witty as Allen brings a cleverness to his role while performing some magic tricks.

While not up to par with the sarcasm in Ghost World and the eerie minimalism of Lost in Translation, Scarlett Johansson gives an excellent performance as Sondra Pransky. A far superior performance than she gave in Match Point, in which it was uneven, Johansson brought more layers as she plays a nerdy, frumpy kind of woman who is driven but not very confident. When Johansson plays the sensual Jade Spence, it's all done in a comical way as Johansson plays a great straight-woman to Allen while having some wonderful chemistry with Jackman. It's clearly one of her better performances and far superior to the recent ones in The Black Dahlia and The Prestige also with Jackman.

While not as groundbreaking or one of his great films, Scoop is still a clever, witty mystery-comedy from Woody Allen. With a great cast led by Allen, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, and Ian McShane, it's a film that is filled with some wonderful, funny moments while being entertaining at the same time. Though it's one of the better films he's made in the 2000s, Scoop is a good and enjoyable comedy from Woody Allen.

Woody Allen Films: What’s Up, Tiger Lily? - Take the Money & Run - Bananas - Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) - Sleeper - Love & Death - Annie Hall - Interiors - Manhattan - Stardust Memories - A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy - Zelig - Broadway Danny Rose - The Purple Rose of Cairo - Hannah & Her Sisters - Radio Days - September - Another Woman - New York Stories-Oedipus Wrecks - Crimes & Misdemeanors - Alice - Shadows & Fog - Husbands & Wives - Manhattan Murder Mystery - Don't Drink the Water - Bullets Over Broadway - Mighty Aphrodite - Everyone Says I Love You - Deconstructing Harry - Celebrity - Sweet & Lowdown - Small Time Crooks - The Curse of the Jade Scorpion - Hollywood Ending - Anything Else - Melinda & Melinda - Match Point - Cassandra’s Dream - Vicky Cristina Barcelona - Whatever Works - You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger - Midnight in Paris - To Rome with Love - Blue Jasmine - Magic in the Moonlight - Irrational Man - (Cafe Society)

The Auteurs #24: Woody Allen: Pt. 1 - Pt. 2 - Pt. 3 - Pt. 4

© thevoid99 2011