Review: Allen keeps edge in return to screen

The most notable change in Allen’s modus operandi was his choice of location. Allen had seldom strayed from the confines of Manhattan to even one of the other New York City boroughs, much less to another country.

“Match Point” was filmed in London and the overall look of the movie was somewhat more modern than much of Allen’s work.

Until the very end of the previews, when the announcer proclaimed, “A new film from Woody Allen,” no one suspected it was such.

“Match Point,” leaned toward Allen’s serious side and won accolades from fans and critics alike who had been worried by the writer/actor/director’s string of – at best – lukewarm comedies.

There was much hope for Allen’s second London-based production, “Scoop.” Scarlett Johansson, already well respected for her work in “Lost in Translation,” was returning after her great role in “Match Point.” After sitting out from acting, Allen was to be back in front of the camera again in “Scoop.”

Thankfully, and allaying many fears, his relationship with the stunning 21-year-old Johansson is decidedly fatherly rather than romantic.

“Scoop” opens aboard a ship of the dead, meandering along the river Styx (one presumes). A young, recently deceased secretary tells a fellow traveler she believes her boss, the wealthy British socialite Peter Lyman, killed her. The other passenger was ace newspaper reporter Joe Strombel. When the young lady further reveals she has reason to believe Mr. Lyman is the serial murderer known as “The Tarot Card Killer,” Strombel knows he has to contact someone still living. He can’t resist the thought of one final big scoop.

Ms. Johansson is Sondra Pransky, a journalism student on holiday in London. While attending a performance by old school illusionist The Great Splendini (Sidney Waterman), the spirit of Strombel appears to her with his information. This sends her off on what she realizes might be a career-making scoop. Since he was the orchestrator of the strange encounter, Pransky enlists the help of the reluctant Splendini.

Allen’s portrayal of the anachronistic New York Jewish entertainer is a familiar one. Sidney Waterman is equal parts Broadway Danny Rose and a member of Danny Rose’s stable of performers. Allen plays Sidney as the aging, somewhat world-weary soul that many fans believe Allen to be of late. Sidney is not as acerbic as most of Allen’s earlier characters, and one wonders if that’s a conscious attempt at being “kinder and gentler” or if Allen – as a writer – is simply losing some of his edge.

While watching “Scoop,” I was leaning toward the latter, but in retrospect, the film is growing on me.

Pransky, with Sidney in tow, manages to meet Lyman at a London gym. He is immediately smitten. The sight of Ms. Johansson in a stunning red swimsuit is something a young, wealthy uppercrust Brit cannot resist.

Lyman invites Sondra – and Sidney, who is now posing as her wealthy father – to a party thrown at his estate. With more clues from the re-appearing Strombel, Sondra accepts the invitation and hopes to gather damning evidence.

Over the ensuing days, Sondra and Sidney manage to gather several pieces of suspicious evidence. Unfortunately, as the editor of a prestigious London paper tells them, it is circumstantial and would be of little use in court.

Sondra is falling for the dashing Lyman and begins to doubt her suspicions.

In the final act, a twist that owes a nod to Hitchcock takes the plot in a slightly different direction.

Loose ends are tied up and Sidney has the final word, albeit in the form of yet another hackneyed card trick.

Fans who hoped Allen would score a one-two punch on the heels of “Match Point” are likely to be somewhat disappointed with “Scoop.” But die-hard aficionados – and, I will admit, that includes me – will be happy just to have another annual dose of Allen.

Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.[[In-content Ad]]