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Movie Description
In 2005, famed New York City filmmaker Woody Allen made MATCH POINT, a murder mystery set in London, starring Scarlett Johansson. Allen remains in London for the follow-up, the murder mystery SCOOP, again with Johansson, but this time he jumps in front of the camera as well. Woody plays Sid "Splendini" Waterman, a pathetic magician who somehow conjures up the ghost of Joe Strombel (Ian McShane), a recently deceased ace reporter who has been given a great scoop from beyond the grave. Strombel's spirit links onto young journalism student Sondra Pransky (Johansson), demanding that she get the story--and get it right. Pretending to be father and daughter, Sid and Sondra get into the good graces of Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), a wealthy British lord who just might be the Tarot Card Killer, a madman who has been terrifying London by brutally murdering prostitutes. Against her better judgment, Pransky starts falling for the charming playboy even as she gathers more and more evidence that points to him as the probable killer. Jackman and Johansson have an intoxicating on-screen romantic chemistry that is a terrific counterpoint to the manic energy she shares with Allen. While MATCH POINT was an homage to Alfred Hitchcock's STRANGERS ON A TRAIN, the comedy-thriller SCOOP pays tribute to the master director's FRENZY and NOTORIOUS. Allen also manages to get one of his favorite characters--Death (Peter Mastin) into the film. The score includes works by Tchaikovsky, Strauss, and Grieg as well as swinging numbers by Xavier Cugat and Lester Lanin.
Industry Reviews
"Ian McShane has a delicious cameo....[The] comedy has enough sly touches to keep us entertained."
Movieline's Hollywood Life - Stephen Farber (07/01/2006)
"[O]ddly appealing....[With] a pleasantly carefree vibe..."
Ultimate DVD - Manohla Dargis (07/28/2006)
3 stars out of 4 -- "Scarlett Jo, a potent combo of zaftig and zany, and Jackman, oozing killer charm, handle the sexual high jinks in style."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (08/10/2006)
"Allen's departure from America has clearly encouraged a new interest in issues of class and privilege....SCOOP is essentially MATCH POINT reconfigured as a comedy..."
Sight and Sound - Brad Stevens (07/01/2007)
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