Scoop (2006)

It's no definitive masterpiece but it's damn close.

Good movie, but best of all time? Hardly . . .

From my favorite movies..

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

'Scoop' is a Woody Allen film set in London. Despite this, most of its lead actors are not British. But that's by the way. The fact is that it's supposed to be a comedy. Only it's not really that funny. Sure, there are a few lines here and there (largely delivered by Woody Allen himself) which may raise a smile, but overall it's hardly a 'laugh out loud' affair.Scarlett Johansson plays a student journalist in London who, while on stage during one of (magician) Woody Allen's tricks, happens to be contacted by a ghost (Ian McShane) who tells her who a serial killer really is. She, in turn, decides to enlist Woody's help and track down the alleged culprit. Only the man in question is Hugh Jackson and she falls in love with him. So you're left with a kind of mish-mash of genres, encompassing supernatural, murder/mystery and romantic comedy. Sadly, it never really focuses on one area enough.Scarlett and Woody are likable enough leads, but they breeze through the story (which is about a serial killer murdering women and leaving tarot cards at the scene of the crime) like they're going on a picnic. It's actually quite a dark affair, but you never really feel it, even in the climax at the end.I read online that Woody Allen picked Scarlett Johansson because he thought she had untapped comedic value. She may well have, but she doesn't really get much of a chance to shine here. Woody takes all the best lines for himself, leaving little else for her to do apart from fall in love and act a bit kooky.Overall, 'Scoop' isn't a bad film, it's just not focused enough to be that memorable.Bonus point (for men!) – Scarlett in a swimsuit (still doesn't really save the entire movie though).

It has the funny Woody Allen schtick as the master plays a two bit magician who finds himself thrust into a murder mystery. Scarlet Johanssen plays a ditzy young journalism student who is looking for a story. Her hackney junk is going nowhere when a famous reporter, who has died, escape the boat to the underworld, and informs her that a well known, rich man, played by Hugh Jackman, is a notorious serial killer, the Tarot killer. He is so charming that she falls for him and sleeps with him. Meanwhile, Woody, who initially wants nothing to do with this case, becomes protective of the pretty young woman and continues the pursuit when she is no longer interested. This is not Allen's best work. There is no suspense to speak of and it is more of a format for one liners. Johanssen is stiff and not very believable as a character. The conclusion is not very interesting. I did like the death ship with all the people heading for the underworld. It reminded me of a much funnier movie, Love and Death, where Death become corporeal and visits Allen in prison.

Admittedly on first viewing I didn't care for Scoop, finding it weirdly plotted and not very funny. Seeing it again as part of a Woody Allen film marathon and being much more used to his style(that I wasn't at the time on first viewing must have a lot to do with not caring for it in the first place), Scoop was far better than initially remembered. It is a long way from Allen's best films, see Annie Hall, Manhattan, Crimes and Misdemeanours, Hannah and her Sisters and Husbands and Wives to see him at his best, but it is better than Cassandra's Dream and To Rome with Love. Scoop is not without imperfections, the story is very far-fetched at times with some convolutions and scenes that don't add to very much, Hugh Jackman is very underused and Scarlett Johansson looks uncomfortable, she's much better in Match Point. Scoop is photographed with style and atmosphere and there is great use of locations. The classical music score is a good fit and will be a delight for any classical music fan, while Allen's directing is as adroit as ever. Allen's writing has been much more insightful and thought-provoking, but the script is still very clever and funny(and in distinctive Woody Allen style), Allen and Ian McShane have the best lines, and while the story is not completely successful the blend of comedy and mystery has enough moments where it works(it has been done far better before though, notably Crimes and Misdemeanours). Allen is hilarious and witty- knowing exactly how to say and time his lines- though with a character that had a danger of falling into the trap of mugging. Ian McShane is wonderfully mysterious and says his lines, and as said before he has the best of them alongside Allen, in a sardonically sly fashion, you just wish he had more screen time. And while Hugh Jackman is underused when you do see him he is dashing and charismatic. All in all, it is easy to see why people won't like Scoop, initially I didn't but on re-watch while problematic it was much better than expected considering the rep it has among a fair few people that consider it as one of Allen's worst. 7/10 Bethany Cox

OK, let's face it, we all watched it for Scarlett. However, I expected a lot more out of this film than what I got. Half of the time it was serious, and the other half it was trying not to look at the screen when Woody Allen opened his mouth. The plot was very promising, and could have made a classic if it was more similar to "Match Point". If I had written it, Woody's character would not have existed, instead Sondra's partner in crime would have been her friend.If you don't mind very cheesy Woody Allen comedy, then this movie is just fine. Scarlett's acting is wonderful as usual, and Hugh Jackman has never looked sexier (no homo). 4/10 for one of Woody Allen's worst films,+2 for Scarlett and Hugh.