Here's the Scoop

Scoop (Woody Allen, 2006)

I recently watched Woody Allen's 2006 release Scoop. I had heard horrendous things about this film, and I must begin my quick review by saying it's not as bad as I had heard. Mind you, this is coming from a huge Woody Allen fan, who appreciates even his lesser films. 

The story is a cooky tale about a recently deceased journalist, played sparingly by Ian McShane (a favorite of mine, and I'm sure anyone who has ever witnessed the poetic verbal assaults of McShane's Al Swearenger in HBO's Deadwood). Shortly after his death, McShane's Joe Strombel stumbles across the scoop of his afterlife while en route to the other side. Is Peter Lyman the Tarot Card Killer? That's the question. Strombel brings his lead to journalism student Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson), as she is being "demolecularized" by Woody Allen's Sid Waterman as part of his magic act. The two (Sondra and Sid) set out to perform the investigation and write the article that Strombel can't. 

What ensues is a Allen-esk series of awkward situations, a clashing of social classes, and the egotism that always accompanies the filmmaker's self-assigned roles. The biggest weak link in this film is undoubtedly Johansson. It is unclear whether she is playing her character as a cliche--and thus uninspiring--nerd or if she is debuting her Woody Allen impersonation. Regardless, what comes out is a rather flat performance, with any entertainment wholy dependent on either Allen's dialog or Johansson's natural beauty, not her acting. There was none of the charm of Cristina in Vicki, Cristina, Barcelona or the wit of Rebecca in Ghost World. Suffices to say, Johansson's Sondra Pransky is deader than her macabre mentor. The film on the other hand, is better than that, and is well worth a viewing--especially for any of you Allen-addicts out there. 

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Scoop