SCOOP by Woody Allen
American student of journalism Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson – adorable) has an encounter of the unearthly kind in the “dematerializer” of lame magician Sid “The Great Splendini” Waterman (Woody Allen). Recently deceased investigative journalist Joe Strombel’s (Ian McShane) ghost has one last scoop: Peter Lyman, son of a Lord and respected member of Great Britain’s aristocracy, is the serial killer known as the “Tarot Card Killer” who killed 10 prostitutes. Sondra enlists the less-than-thrilled Sid as her aide and starts to investigate the case.
Circumstantial evidence seems to confirm that Peter Lyman is indeed the killer – but he’s also an attractive and charming man, and Sondra, introducing herself as “actress Jade Spence” and Sid Waterman as her father, quickly falls in love with Peter, and the more time she spends with him, the less she believes he’s the Tarot Card Killer. But Sid, who didn’t believe Peter could be a serial killer first, grows more and more suspicious until he is convinced Peter really is the killer.
Woody Allen’s second film “Made in Great Britain” and starring the gorgeous Scarlett Johansson is a murder-mystery-comedy-fantasy not overly concerned with cultural (British/American) and class differences (unlike his first “London film” Match Point).
Instead the main points of Scoop are the witty dialogue (Scarlett: “If you put our heads together, you’ll hear a hollow noise.” Woody: “The man is a liar and a murderer. I say that with all due respect.” “I was born of the Hebrew persuasion, but I converted to narcissism.” Scarlett: “Oh, you always see the glass half empty.” – Woody: “No, I always see the glass half full. Of poison!”) and Scarlett Johansson (and sex, of course – this is a Woody Allen-film).
Not Woody Allen’s best, but far from his worst movie – it’s light entertainment, sure, without big revelations, but if you prefer sharp dialogue, Woody Allen and Scarlett Johansson to the hollow action and exercises in style many of today’s movies offer, then it’s good light entertainment and will make you laugh and smile – which is some achievement!
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