Thursday, May 25, 2006

Matchpoint

Yes, this is like so out of date- but I only got to watch it on the plane recently. It’s good, really good. Very rarely in the recent times is a show so well paced and story well developed as this. Will even discuss this in the same breath as Before Sunset & Before Sunrise, except that they’re of a different genre. The twist at the end is disturbing but yet so delicious. Not about to critique or discuss the film here, wont be able to do it justice. Just wanna sprawl two haunting thoughts after the show.

Lola is Chris’s sexy, coveted prey. He moved in at first sight, but circumstances forbid any fruit. Chloe is Chris’s sanguine, considerate pet. He moved along with her well-meaning plans up the high society ladder. Do women want to be Lola or Chloe? A prima facie answer would be Lola of course, the woman of a man’s desire. But a second look at the relationship would cause one to think again. Yes, she was wildly pursued, but is that love? Did he love her or was she just a product of his obsession? Woman, you may not want to be Chloe who gets her man but not his heart, but do you want to be Lola, honestly?

Chris is one lucky guy who gets his ball across the net at life’s matchpoint. Though one may frown at his actions at the end, he is so real that he is understood- at every point. And that is scary, because you wonder if that somehow reveals a part of the secret you in him. And despite everything, you wonder why you would not have preferred an alternative ending. There is no elation, but why did you heave a sigh of relief when the ball went across the net? Why did you not want him to lose?


The man who said 'I'd rather be lucky than good’ saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It's scary to think so much is out of one's control. There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net and for a split second it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward and you win…or maybe it doesn’t, and you lose.

Wont say more. This Woody Allen film is good, really good. Go watch.

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