 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Match Point
- Review Date: April 23, 2006
- R
- Genre: Drama
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Woody Allen film has adult themes, not for kids.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this film includes frequent references to sex and sexual desire, including scenes of a married couple in bed and of adulterous sex (one takes place in a field, in the rain; the imagery is not explicit, but a minute or so of lusty performance). Characters frequently refer to "making love" and use verbal innuendo ("Who's my next victim?", "a powerful serve"). Characters appear in various states of undress (the rainy scene shows the woman's nipples through her wet shirt). The film includes some arguments among family members; characters smoke cigarettes frequently and drink alcohol. The climax involves a murder with a shotgun, rendered in a way that emphasizes the emotional impact of the violence on the shooter.
What's the story?
Set in London, MATCH POINT focuses on Irish tennis pro Chris (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), who'd rather be lucky than good. He's bewildered by women, in particular by vivacious, sensuous Nola (Scarlett Johansson), an aspiring American actress. This even as he's engaged to be married to Chloe Wilton (Emily Mortimer), a bossy if occasionally sweet heiress, and Nola is dating Chloe's brother Tom (Matthew Goode). The British siblings are blandly self-absorbed and pleasantly ignorant, owing to their old money, while the outsiders want in. Chris' efforts to achieve his ambition grow increasingly nefarious. Chloe's father Alec (Brian Cox) takes a liking to Chris, but Chloe's mother, Eleanor (Penelope Wilton) disparages Nola, whose acting career stalls. Mummy's disapproval underlies Tom's own evolving diffidence; he ends up dumping Nola, while Chris commits to a career with Alec's company and a fancy church wedding with Chloe. Feeling "pressure" at home, Chris turns to Nola, their affair becoming more urgent, if not exactly passionate.
Is it any good?
Grim and gloomy, Woody Allen's film is a noirish character study by Woody Allen, not a comedy and not for kids. Chris's slide into the standard soul-sucking vortex is not especially affecting. His thudding caddishness, lacking in conscience or compassion, makes his appeal to Chloe, who otherwise seems self-confident to a fault, seem odd, except for the fact that she's preoccupied with having a baby, that recurrent bane of Allen's women.
Because Chris is the indecisive, unhappy protagonist in a Woody Allen movie, you can pretty much guess what happens to him. Though Chris begins by asserting his faith in luck, he ends up adrift and haunted, without any "measure of hope for the possibility of meaning." Maybe it's just luck that the women around him -- irrational, demanding, and voluble -- come to represent that lack.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Chris's ambitions: does he want to be rich? To feel passion? To feel lucky? How does the film compare instances of luck and talent? How is Chloe's desire for a child a problem for Chris? How do the outsiders (American Nola and Irish Chris) show their desire to get "inside" the upper class British family?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 16 years old
December 27, 2009
AGE
Great movie, must-watch for mature teens and older!
Fascinating, suspenseful, and brilliant. Deals with alot of intense subject matter like sexual affairs and murder, but is never graphic.
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Teen, 16 years old
April 9, 2008
AGE
Not Bad
Pretty good movie. A mature 13 year old could handle this. The strongest profanity is "D**n" and "hell". There is sex and adultry, but it is not explicit and it is breif (although it appears often). It is a somewhat complex plot, but still pretty good.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Not a movie for children.
Wonderful movie, but not for children. Watch this after the kids go to bed. Violance, sex, and adultry.
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Parent of 3 and 14 year old
December 9, 2010
AGE
Match point
It was ok, the guy was a total ass. Funny quotes but sexual in nature. Good storyline, very different, kind of boring though. I wouldnt recomend it, But watch it if your in to soap operas.
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Parent of 3 and 5 year old
December 9, 2010
AGE
Hate it, horrible role models, terrible for young children. Suggestive actions. Keep your children away till the age you think is appropriate
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Perfect tragedy
This is a great movie, and definitely an adult movie, but I don't think kids will even bother. It's very slow moving. I nearly walked out--until it all came together 2/3's of the way through, like a Greek tragedy where you could see everthing that had come to pass set up the horrible ending. This is Allen's genius at work. A great look at the complexities of the human mind.
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Adult
July 18, 2011
AGE
Great Social Commentary for Older Teens
I'm surprised that CSM rated this one so poorly! Match Point provides a fantastic social commentary about class and nationality. It delves into the fabric of relationships. For the mature viewer, there is really a lot to be gained. Maturity really is key, here. The complexity of themes and relationships is best suited for an older audience. Content wise, the sexual content, violence, and profanity just aren't suitable for younger teens.
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
A must-watch
Wonderful movie. Watch it.
There isn't any violence, and the sex is a frequent theme but never too explicit, and no nudity is shown. If you think that your kids are mature enough, watch it.
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| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Director: | Woody Allen |
| Cast: | Emily Mortimer, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Scarlett Johansson |
| Genre: | Drama |
| Run time: | 124 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | December 28, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | April 25, 2006 |
| MPAA rating: | R |
| MPAA explanation: | some sexual content |
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