Scoop (2006)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (Iceland)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Mystery

Tagline:

The perfect man. The perfect story. The perfect murder.

Plot:

An American journalism student in London scoops a big story, and begins an affair with an aristocrat as the incident unfurls.

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Party | Melodrama | American In The Uk | Murder Mystery

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Sid Waterman
Scarlett Johansson	...	Sondra Pransky
Hugh Jackman	...	Peter Lyman
Ian McShane	...	Joe Strombel
Jim Dunk	...	Funeral Speaker
Nigel Lindsay	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Robert Bathurst	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Fenella Woolgar	...	Jane Cook
Pete Mastin	...	Death (as Peter Mastin)
Doreen Mantle	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
David Schneider	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
Meera Syal	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
Kevin McNally	...	Mike Tinsley (as Kevin R. McNally)
Robyn Kerr	...	Tinsley’s Fan #1
Richard Stirling	...	Tinsley's Fan

Also Known As:

Untitled Woody Allen Fall Project 2006 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Canada:G (British Columbia) | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Spain:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:12 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

Woody Allen specifically wrote the script for Scarlett Johansson after working with her on Match Point (2005).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Vivian tells Sondra that she is in love with a millionaire, Sondra replies by saying "he is actually attracted to Jade Spence, a beautiful news writer who fell in love with her objective", yet this is wrong, because Jade Spence is no more than an actress who came from Palm Beach with her father.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Funeral Speaker: Don't mourn Joe Strumble.

Movie Connections:

References Porky's Romance (1937)

Soundtrack:

Recado

Delightful summer comedy

I thought this was a wonderful way to spend time on a too hot summer weekend, sitting in the air conditioned theater and watching a light-hearted comedy. The plot is simplistic, but the dialogue is witty and the characters are likable (even the well bread suspected serial killer). While some may be disappointed when they realize this is not Match Point 2: Risk Addiction, I thought it was proof that Woody Allen is still fully in control of the style many of us have grown to love.

This was the most I'd laughed at one of Woody's comedies in years (dare I say a decade?). While I've never been impressed with Scarlet Johanson, in this she managed to tone down her "sexy" image and jumped right into a average, but spirited young woman.

This may not be the crown jewel of his career, but it was wittier than "Devil Wears Prada" and more interesting than "Superman" a great comedy to go see with friends.