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Although primarily known for documenting the angst of the upper middle class, Woody Allen occasionally likes to go for a little crime. In fact, a quick trip to the Internet shows about a quarter out of his 36 feature films circle around the theme of committing a crime or are set in that milieu.
Some are pretty heavy, like last year’s "Match Point" and his near-great "Crimes and Misdemeanors"(1989). Others are frothy, like "Broadway Danny Rose" and "Bullets over Broadway." "Scoop" belongs in the latter category, possessing plenty of froth while still displaying Allen’s skill as a filmmaker.
Scarlett Johansson plays Sondra Pransky, an American journalism student visiting friends in London. When she volunteers for a magic trick, she is accosted by the spirit of a recently de-ceased journalist (Ian McShane), who reveals to her the identity of the "Tarot Card Killer," who is terrorizing the city. With the help of the magician, Sid Waterman (Allen), Pransky tracks down the suspect and begins an affair with him.
The film doesn’t belong with the great or almost-great noble failures. Once in a while, Allen makes a movie that is simply fun, and "Scoop" is just that. Although the action centers on a possible serial killer, Allen skillfully keeps the proceedings light both as director and writer. The murders aren’t shown onscreen, which would have made the movie more of a dark comedy.
With "Scoop," Allen returns to familiar territory of schtick for schtick’s sake and, for the most part, it works. One running gag has Waterman break out into card tricks wherever he goes, even when he is posing as Pransky’s wealthy industrialist father.
Far from seeming arbitrary, the scenes artfully portray Waterman as endearing and inject a much-needed levity to the movie. It’s nice to see Allen playing a paternal type for once, as him being romantic with Johansson would have been creepy.
Johansson does nicely with this comic part, although succumbs, just a tad, to the usual malady of Allen leading ladies, often looking like she’s doing a Woody Allen impression. McShane is funny as the journalist and Hugh Jackman keeps a straight face as Peter Lyman, the aristocrat who may or may not be the killer. There’s a reasonably good chance Allen will not receive his 22nd Oscar nomination for writing or directing "Scoop," and that’s OK. Sometimes it’s enough to just entertain.
Scoop
PG-13
Three reels out of four
At a Ritz Theater tomorrow
Recommended Rental
V for Vendetta
R
Available tomorrow
Set in London’s near future, "V for Vendetta" is based on a popular graphic novel by Alan Moore. Evey (Natalie Portman) is a young woman who is captured by the secret police, but is rescued by a mysterious character known only to the public as "V."
"V" (Hugo Weaving) wears a mask and uses terrorist tactics to fight the totalitarian regime. Evey becomes his greatest ally. Also co-starring John Hurt, Stephen Rea and Stephen Fry.
