SCOOP

UK, 2006, 96 minutes, Colour.
Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Woody Allen, Ian Mc Shane, Charles Dance, Romola Garai, Fenella Woolgar, Julian Glover, John Standing.
Directed by Woody Allen.

It was Evelyn Waugh who wrote the celebrated satire on journalism, Scoop. But, this is not a film version of Waugh’s novel, even though some of the characters here could well have populated it. This is a Woody Allen creation and it is said that he wrote it especially for Scarlett Johansson who had so impressed him when he made Match Point with her.

She is a student journalist over from the US and staying in London. She gets the chance to land a scoop – the trouble is that the information comes from the ghost of a dead journalist (Ian Mc Shane) who received some important information from one of his fellow dead (on what looks like a dark boat ride with the Grim Reaper on the Styx). He feels an affinity for Sondra (Johansson) and appears to her in the middle of a trick on a London stage performed by eccentric prestidigiteur, Sidney (Woody Allen). He keeps returning to urge on the investigation into a wealthy son of an aristocrat, Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman) who may have committed a series of killings, the Tarot Card Murders.

Sondra does a bit of amateur sleuthing, pretending that Sidney is her father – and Woody Allen has a high old time pretending to be nouveau riche American while still eager to show his card tricks to the nobs. Peter Lyman is charming. Sondra falls for him. Did he or didn’t he?

Woody Allen knows how to do comedy but his plotting for a serial killer mystery is not too expert. Nevertheless, it is a soufflé of a comedy drama with the cast enjoying their characterisations and the opportunity to enunciate some Allen one-liners.

This is Woody Allen’s second British film and, while there are some satirical moments, his screenplay seems to be in some awe and reverence for the ‘upper classes’ and their lifestyle. Only an American…

After less that memorable turns in The Prestige and The Black Dahlia, Scarlett Johansson reminds us that she can act. Hugh Jackman has no trouble in being debonair.

This is a moderate helping rather than a scoop.

1.This film in Woody Allen’s career? His making films in the UK? The UK atmosphere and style? Humour, insights into human nature? Situations, characters, farcical aspects, one-liners? The Woody Allen tradition?

2.The London locations, London society, the emphasis on class, British customs, an American in the UK? The musical score, Tchaikovsky and The Nutcracker Suite?

3.The title, Evelyn Waugh’s title, journalism, scoops? Motivations, eagerness? Investigative journalism? The role of editors? Law and libel? The truth?

4.How well did the film work as comedy: style and situations, the initial death, the Land of the Dead, the discussions of the dead, information, escape from the dead, appearances? The ghost appearing on stage? Information from the grave? The end, Woody Allen and his card? Talking to the dead?

5.How well did the film work as drama? The focus on Peter? On Sondra, on Sidney, on relationships, the romance, the comic, the sinister?

6.How well did the film work as illustrating investigative journalism? The clues, the alibis, the situations, believing people or not, the house, the cards, the lies, Peter’s absences, the final confession? Success?

7.The initial focus on Joe Strombel? People talking about his style, journalism, scoops, the funeral, the mourners? Beyond the grave? In the Boat of the Dead, his discussions with Jane Cook? Her revelation about her work as secretary, her suspicions of Peter Lyman? His appearances, on stage, finding Sondra congenial, his appearing to Sidney, urging the truth and the investigation? The fact that he was dead leading to doubt?

8.Sidney, a Woody Allen character, in the theatre, the kids and the tricks, getting Sondra to the stage, in the box, Joe’s appearance, bewilderment, audience response? Sondra’s return, the discussions with Sid, the searching of the box, the stage? Working together, her persuasiveness? His becoming a surrogate father? She a surrogate daughter? Staking out Peter, following the man, the wrong identity? Peter, the club, her going swimming, pretending to drown, his saving her, attraction, inviting her to the party, Sid coming as well, the beautiful house, Sid and his comments? Peter in love, the sexual encounter? Sid’s views on the relationships, his comments? Sondra and her infatuation with Peter? Sid and his gauche posing as the rich American, discussion about his wealth, oil, real estate? Showing his tricks to the society people? His success – and the shots at anti-Semitism? His getting the document, finding the code, the secret room, getting locked in? The Albert Hall, the environment, going to interview the people in the building, finding the key, going to the room, phoning, going to the rescue, driving fast, his death? A humorous Woody Allen character?

9.Sondra, Scarlett Johansson, her age, inexperience, meeting the director, his womanising, her drinking, the sex, his discarding her? Her friendship with Vivian, the discussions? Her background in America, family? Her talk, the connection with Vivian? The appearance on stage, her going back, getting Sidney’s help, following the man – the wrong man? At the club, the plan about the swimming, her being saved? Her visits to the house, the socials, pretending that Sid was her father? Inventive, winging the way? Her stories, Peter believing her? The birthday, the gift? His going away, her seeing him? Suspicions? The vault, the cards, the code? The weekend? Confronting him with the truth, his admitting the truth, his trying to drown her? His neglecting to see if she could actually swim? Her final appearance and his being arrested?

10.Peter, tall, dark and handsome, rich? His dead secretary and her stories? Audience disbelief? Joe’s appearance and urging Sondra to investigate? With Sid, looking at Peter through their eyes? The audience believing him or not? Style, rich, saving Sondra in the pool, the party, his father, the gracious host, the tour of the house, the sexual advances, the socials, her birthday, his lies, the absence? Her seeing him? The Albert Hall? The truth, his trying to drown Sondra? His being deceived? His type?

11.The presentation of British types – American or the British class system? The presentation of the aristocracy, social events, parties, Peter’s father?

12.Going to the editor, the discussions about the investigation, the fact that the serial killer confessed? Going back to the editor, the end, Sondra and her success?

13.The different types, the film director and his womanising, Peter’s family, the audience at the theatre, the editor and his disbelief?

14.An entertaining film, not particularly well plotted as investigation – Woody Allen light?