Scoop
by Woody Allen
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Alexander Armstrong, Hugh Jackman, Ian McShane, Scarlett Johansson, Woody AllenDirector: Woody Allen
Brand: NBC Universal
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 96 minutes
Published: 2006-11-01
DVD Release Date: 2006-11-21
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Universal Studios
Movie Reviews of Scoop
Movie Review: Again, London and Johansson are Allen's muses; his best comedy since Manhattan Murder Mystery
Summary: 5 Stars
I have not anticipated a film so excitedly all this year, and you are just going to have to forgive and forget when it comes to the gushing I'm about to do over Woody Allen's newest film. For reasons I hope to clearly explain in a brilliant (wink) master's thesis next year, I firmly believe he is one of American cinema's greatest directors. Among my personal favorites, he's always right near the top. I think his films can be divided into roughly three categories: comedies, dramas, and comedy/dramas. The vast majority of his films fall into the comedy/drama genre: Annie Hall, Manhattan, Deconstructing Harry, Alice. Several are great dramas: Match Point, Another Woman, Interiors. And then there are the flat-out comedies such as Love and Death, Take the Money and Run, Curse of the Jade Scorpion, Manhattan Murder Mystery. Scoop falls perfectly into the comedy genre and is Allen's best comedic work since 1993's Manhattan Murder Mystery.
Joe Strombel (Ian McShane) is a recently deceased reporter who was famous for always getting the hottest stories and getting them first at any cost. But from a coronary thrombosis, Strombel now finds himself riding on a boat guided by Death. During the ride, he meets a young woman who was the personal secretary to a young aristocrat named Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), whom she suspected to be the notorious Tarot Card Killer who has murdered nearly a dozen short-haired brunette prostitutes in London. Her death came about, she believes, when Lyman caught on to her knowledge and poisoned her drink. Soon a light goes off in Strombel's head: An aristocrat is the Tarot Card Killer- this is the best scoop he's ever gotten! If only he were still alive...
Next, we're introduced to Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson), a somewhat nerdy (yet desperately gorgeous underneath) reporter for a college newspaper who's in London visiting a friend. They attend a variety show one night where they and we meet Splendini, aka Sid Waterman (Woody Allen), a second, no, make it third-rate magician whose card and hat tricks could not be more blatantly obvious. And for his next trick, he needs a volunteer to step into his dematerializer box, and Sondra is selected. Once inside, however, Joe Strombel appears to a very frightened Sondra and tells her all about Peter Lyman and how, should she pursue his tip, it would be the scoop of the decade.
When she comes back the next day to tell this to Splendini, he thinks she's a mental case- that is, until Strombel materializes again; Sid and Sondra are soon on the case, taking on fake identities in order to infiltrate upper-class British society: Sondra through her feminine wiles and Sid through pitiful card tricks and excessive schmoozing. Sid and Sondra discover a club at which Peter swims, to which they go in order to accidentally run into him. Pretending to drown, Peter saves Sondra, who now gives her name as Jade Spense; Peter is immediately smitten, and thus the path is clear into the private life of perhaps a highly dangerous serial killer. But will falling in love threaten her scoop?
I don't want to reveal the guise that Sid and Sondra take as they work undercover- not that it's that big a surprise- but I think the humor will work better if you were to see it yourself. Needless to say, misadventures abound. Allen's role as Splendini is absolutely perfect for him and much more comfortable than his last starring role in Anything Else three years ago. The very idea of casting himself as an unskilled magician is a highly autobiographical statement, which he does indeed see himself as. Of course, I have to differ on his mediocre assessment of his own work.
Here, his interactions with Johansson's character make for a great comic duo, even if Scarlett is not at the level of Diane Keaton or Mia Farrow. But if she's his new muse, then he's doing quite fine by her. Much of the humor from Sid's character comes from his stereotypical assumptions about the activities of the British upper class- thinking that if there's a party, there must a foxhunt, or at least tea and crumpets. And Johansson herself at times seems more like Woody Allen than Allen himself does; I think she does it quite well, even if it doesn't seem altogether natural. But she has such energy that no doubt brings vitality not just to her performance, but also provided Allen with inspiration for the script.
This is the second of Allen's "London" films, and it's every bit as fresh as Match Point. His last two comedies in particular (Anything Else and the comedy drama Melinda and Melinda) appeared primarily composed of other Woody Allen films. At least you felt like you had heard or seen the same lines and themes before; but here, it really seems you are watching something new, and it could not be more entertaining. Allen more than proves himself the master comedic director with his astounding wit and long takes that allow comedy to develop rather than just having a string of gags and one-liners. In a summer where hundreds of millions have been spent to bring about all kinds of special effects, it's immensely refreshing to have a simple film where, for the most part, the characters are merely talking. The writing, direction, and performances are so strong as to never allow for a misstep; it's a wholly satisfying motion picture.
Summary of Scoop
Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman star in this hilariously twisted tale of murder and mystery! When an inquisitive college journalist (Johansson) stumbles upon new clues to a string of murders, her investigation leads directly to a handsome businessman (Jackman), who draws her in with his mysterious charm. Could a whirlwind romance with the subject of her search also become the most dangerous scoop of a lifetime? Experience the laughs in this witty new comedy that will have you guessing until the very end! Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen, Ian McShane, Peter Mastin, Anthony Stewart Head Directed by: Woody AllenSimilar DVD Movies
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