 | |
List Price: $9.99 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 17515
Released: November 21, 2006 |
| Our Price: $2.86 |
| Used Price: $0.97 |
|
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
|
Editorial Review:
Scarlett Johansson and Hugh Jackman star in this hilariously twisted tale of murder and mystery. When an inquisitive college journalist (Johansson) stumbles upon new clues to a string of murders, her investigation leads directly to a handsome businessman (Jackman), who draws her in with his mysterious charm. Could a whirlwind romance with the subject of her search also become the most dangerous scoop of a lifetime? Experience the laughs in this witty new comedy that will have you guessing until the very end.
Description of Scoop:
Light and charming, Scoop blends murder, ghosts, and falling in love. While inside of a magician's magic cabinet, aspiring journalist Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson, Lost in Translation) is visiting by the ghost of a dead reporter (Ian McShane, Deadwood) who has gotten a hot tip in the afterlife: A rising young politician named Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman, X-Men) may be the notorious serial killer who leaves tarot cards by his victims. With the magician (writer-director Woody Allen) in tow, Sondra sneaks her way into Lyman's life--and, despite increasing evidence that the tip is true, finds herself falling in love with him. Scoop is stronger than Allen's last film, the overrated Match Point; moment to moment, scene to scene, it's his most zippy and entertaining movie in years. It still suffers from laziness--Allen seems unwilling to look at the plot's holes and find a way to sew them up--and Allen's own persona, with his now-rote comic stutterings and hesitations, drags on the film's momentum. Despite this, Scoop has flashes of suspense and wit that, in an unknown filmmaker, would be cause for celebration. Also featuring Charles Dance (White Mischief) and Romola Garai (I Capture the Castle), one of the few actresses who can compete with Johansson in lusciousness. --Bret Fetzer
Scoop Reviews:
Enjoyable mystery/comedy with Scarlett Johansson 
2009-11-02 - "Scoop" is a mystery/comedy/romance written and directed by Woody Allen and released in 2006. Scarlett Johansson stars as Sondra Pransky, a geeky college journalist vacationing in England. She gets a tip from the ghost of a dead newsman (Ian McShane) on the identity of a local serial killer and proceeds to team up with bumbling magician Sid Waterman (Woody Allen); the tip leads them to the rich son of a prominent lord, Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), with whom Sondra unintentionally starts to fall in love. Is Lyman the murderer or isn't he?
Although fantastical and somewhat goofy, "Scoop" is first and foremost a mystery and I did enjoy trying to figure out if Peter Lyman is the "Tarot Card killer." In the story we perceive Peter Lyman largely through the lens of Sondra, who is falling in love with the guy; hence, the viewer warms up to him and doesn't want him to be a notorious killer.
"Scoop" is a comedy but not in the laugh-out-loud sense of, say, "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"; it's mildly amusing, witty and fun but not laugh-out-loud funny, so if you're looking for the latter don't bother.
The three stars and their chemistry are a highlight. I enjoyed the team-up of Woody (Sid) & Scarlett (Sondra) and their surrogate father/daughter relationship. I knew when I saw "The Horse Whisperer" that Scarlett would grow up to be one of cinema's leading beauties, and so she is! Scarlett was 21 while filming "Scoop" and plays against type; and she does it quite well. The film is worth catching solely for her, just don't expect any raunch or t&a exploitation (although she does have a one-piece bathing suit scene and a nightie scene, which are both rather modest).
Hugh Jackman is a great modern masculine actor, of course, and he does fine here, although I couldn't help wondering if long metal claws would suddenly shoot out of his knuckles!
The London and English countryside locations are nice eyecandy.
The runtime is 96 minutes.
BOTTOM LINE: This is my first Woody Allen film so I'm not familiar with his répertoire and therefore can't compare "Scoop" with his other movies. With this in mind, "Scoop" may not be great or even really good, it is an enjoyable mystery/comedy highlighted by a good cast and locations. "Scoop" doesn't aspire or claim to be anything more and, on that level, I liked it. I enjoyed the characters, their story, the creative zany elements (e.g. crossing the River Styx with the Grim Reaper) and the mounting mystery.
Very entertaing and interesting 
2009-09-13 - This was the movie that made me realize that I was a fan of Scarlet Johansson. Though, I suppose one could and should dedicate the greatness of this film to Woody Allen and he has indeed written and starred in yet another good film.
I happened upon this by chance, not sure why it hasn't received more press but it is an excellent mystery, romance, comedy film that is really interesting.
amazing
2009-08-14 - this has got to be the best woody film. i love it. it's funny and intruging, and scarlett is absolutely wonderful in it- jackman looks as good as ever. a must-see, it's probably a 10+ age limit only for plot complexity and some sensualityScoop.
Perfectly Executed Comedic Gem
2009-06-23 - Charming, quirky, macabre, dark, mood lightening, well directed, hilarious... These are just the beginning of a much longer list of adjectives I could use to describe this wonderful film. If you are a fan of Woody Allen, Hugh Jackman, or Scarlett Johansson you simply MUST see this film. The chemistry between the actors is delicious as are the wonderfully scripted lines and gags.
vERY FUNNY
2009-06-05 - i LOVED THIS FIRST OFF AS I LOVE BRITISH COMEDIES, AND THIS ONE WAS GREAT! IT IS A SUSPENSE MURDER MYSTERY COMEDY, I WATCH IT ALOT AND I LAUGH EACH AND EVERY TIME!
