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Woody Allen follows up 2005’s Match Point with a clever, quirky, whodunit that is narcotically humorous and easily enjoyable.

When a college newspaper writer (Scarlett Johansson) on vacation in London gets the scoop of the year from a dead journalist (Ian McShane) she teams up with a traveling magician (Woody Allen) to try and catch the Tarot Card killer who may or may not be a prominent aristocrat (Hugh Jackman). When her scooping turns into romance she has a tough time determining truth.

This is classic Woody Allen who strayed slightly in his last film (though it was brilliant) and is back in full anxiety overdrive. Even at 70 years old he is still as quick and witty as ever. Most of this film is Allen’s verbal antics and he doesn't miss a beat. What this means of course is that if you are not a fan of Woody Allen this will be 96 minutes of torture. He plays the role  almost as a standup routine. With each scene becoming a chance to spew streams of concern and commentary. Most of which is laugh out loud funny.

If Allen is the standup, Johansson is the straight girl. Gone is the dark brooding character in Allen's last film Match Point, here Scarlet plays a bubbly if not sometimes dorky college student who is on the verge of a huge story if she can keep her heart and head in gear. This was a fun side of Johansson that rarely gets seen. The young, wide eyed, almost goofy side. She played it convincingly and was in perfect rhythm with Allen. They acted as if they have been doing movies together for years.

I loved the way they kept the mystery simple. It played like a '50’s British caper. They didn't try and twist plots and confuse you with characters. They simply let the three main leads carry you through. And when it ended, it was over. Very stylish, very classy, very enjoyable.

Scoop is Rated PG-13 for some sexual content. The language is mild and the violence they talk about is never seen. Even the sexual content is suggested and obvious without the act playing out. Easily a film for anyone 12 and up. Granted most younger film goers may tire of Woody's words and may find it a bit older generation-ish. I give it 3.75 out of 5 cards. A truly fine film. With a look at Scoop, I’m Matt Mungle

The Mungle 7/28/2006

Matt hosts the weekly syndicated Indie Rock Radio Show Spin 180. Plus with his wife Cindy they do a weekly radio feature, The Mungles on Movies. For additional reviews and interview clips visit the website www.mungleshow.com

Woody Allen has written a script that pays homage to his town, London, England. Scoop is well photographed with set pieces like something from a museum. The story concerns solving a series of murders with two unlikely allies, Woody Allen as a babbling magician and Scarlett Johansson (“Match Point”) as a beginning journalist. Sherlock Holmes and Watson, they aren’t, but do well enough to get things done. 

The story has a serial killer called “The Tarot Killer” murdering women in London. Scarlett is visiting a friend in London when they attend one of Woody’s magic shows. Scarlett is selected to “disappear” in a box, but instead, sees the apparition of Ian McShane, a newly dead crack reporter who died after getting a major clue as to the identity of the killer. In a hilarious bit, McShane falls off the boat of the Grim Reaper and comes to London to pass information on to first Scarlett and then Woody. There are suspects, but the main one is Hugh Jackman, the son of a British lord. Of course, Scarlett and Hugh fall for each other. She and Woody are posing as father and daughter (another hilarious bit) among the titled rich to get information. Scarlett can’t see without her glasses and Woody practices his magic tricks on anything not in motion. In the meantime, the murders continue. 

Scoop is a light-hearted romp and Allen has the best lines. Also, he seems to rather like being a father figure to Scarlett, who looks at him like a clinging pest. Scarlett and Woody have to get inventive about where they get their information. After all, who would believe it comes from a ghost?

I thought last year’s Woody Allen film, Match Point was an under-rated film in that the story took turns you didn’t expect and all set in the beautiful British Isles. In Scoop, Woody Allen places himself in the middle of the film and does what he does best, toss off one-liners, act with a pretty girl, and entertain the audience. You can pretty well figure out where it is going, but the fun is in getting there. This includes the car Woody drives, which looks like a magnified baby carriage. Hugh Jackman (without Wolverine’s claws) collects antiques and gives wonderful parties. He seems to be in relief after wearing so much make-up in previous films. The guy can actually wear a suit and tie. No glamorous wardrobe for Scarlett, though, she is a working reporter here with Charles Dance as a single-minded editor. In the land of Holmes and Watson, though, there still is no competition. but Woody and Scarlett would make a good television series.

Copyright 2006 Marie Asner
Submitted 7/29/06