Match Point Explained: What’s Up With the Ending?

What does the final scene of the movie mean: a detailed analysis of the thriller. Match Point (2005) plot summary, meaning of the film, explanation of the ending, analysis, similar films.

Country: USA, UK

Genre: thriller, drama

Year of production: 2005

Directed by: Woody Allen

Actors: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer

tagline: “Passion. Seduction. Obsession”

Awards and nominations: In 2006, the film received several Golden Globe nominations.

Western directors are very fond of “Dostoevism”, because the plots of the novels of the Russian classic always remain relevant. At the beginning of the 2000s, one of the most famous domestic novels of the 19th century was also addressed by the main intellectual of Hollywood. Of course, in his own way.

The plot of the film “Match Point» (Match Point) tells the story of an ambitious young tennis player who dreams of getting into the highest circles of English society. He achieves this by not very clean methods.

What is the movie about

A brief description of the content of the picture. England, today. Chris Winton is a former rising tennis star. Deciding to leave the sport, he gets a job at an exclusive English sports club as a coach.

Jonathan Rhys MeyersJonathan Rhys Meyers played the role of Chris Wilton. Frame from the film.

Having moved to London, Chris meets Tom Hewitt, a young man from a fairly wealthy family. Sincerely passionate about opera and the works of Dostoevsky, Chris understands that it will not be easy for him to find friends of the same interests in his circle and is desperately eager for the elite. Gradually, he becomes close to Tom’s sister Chloe and becomes a member of the Hewitt house. There he meets a beautiful American actress. Nola is Tom’s fiancee. Like Chris, she is literally obsessed with breaking into the aristocratic world.

Once, having a strong fight with the mother of the groom, Nola decides to leave the Hewitts forever. Chris, who by this time has managed to fall in love with her, catches up with her and confesses his feelings. The girl gives in to sudden passion, but still refuses to continue the affair with Winton.

Chris eventually marries Chloe and gets a job at her father’s firm. Tom and Nola break up, and the girl does leave the Hewitt house. However, Chris becomes literally obsessed with her. Nola does not plan to meet with married Chris and, in order to get rid of his harassment, she changes her phone number and moves to another apartment, hiding the address. Suffering Chris thinks that now his life is meaningless, but after some time he accidentally meets his beloved at the exhibition. Under his pressure, Nola surrenders, and they begin a stormy, passionate romance.

His wife is less interested in him. The unfortunate Chloe is sure that the key to her husband’s coldness lies in the fact that she cannot get pregnant, but this is not so – it’s just that Chris is mentally always next to Nola. Meanwhile, Winton finds out about the pregnancy of his mistress. The girl does not want to have an abortion, because the child, in her opinion, can fill her life with new meaning. Chris promises her that he will tell Chloe everything and divorce her. At the same time, he is well aware that this will turn out to be an inglorious ending for him – the kind, naive and loving Chloe will surely forgive him, but the offended Hewitt Sr. will definitely kick him out of work. The hero does not want to lose a career that is slowly going uphill, and therefore pulls with an explanation.

Scarlett JohanssonScarlett Johansson as Nola Rice, Matthew Goode as Tom Hewitt. Frame from the film.

Gradually, Chris begins to regret contacting Nola. The mistress puts pressure on him and in the end says that she herself will tell Chloe about everything. Chris, confused, confused, realizing that absolutely everything is at stake, makes a desperate choice.

Armed with the gun of Hewitt Sr., Winton enters Nola’s neighbor’s apartment. After killing the old woman, he presents everything in such a way that the crime was committed for the purpose of robbery. After waiting for the appearance of Nola, he kills her too – in theory, as a bystander. After the double murder, he goes to the theater as if nothing had happened, where Chloe is already waiting for him.

The next day, Mrs. Winton finds out about her pregnancy and informs her husband and parents about it. Almost simultaneously, Chris receives a call from a detective who is investigating the death of Nola and her neighbor. He is asked to come to the station, and he hurries to get rid of the evidence as soon as possible. He throws the stolen things into the river. However, the murdered old woman’s engagement ring bounces off the railing and falls not into the water, but onto the sidewalk…

Winton believes that he has nothing to fear – after all, he presented everything in such a way that the only interpretation of the criminal’s actions can only be a robbery. So it is, but the detective who is in charge of the case finds Nola’s diary, in which she describes events from her life, talks about her feelings and experiences. Thus, Chris falls under suspicion.

Match Point Ending explanation

Winton is saved by chance. A few days after Nola’s murder, police discover a dead junkie in the same area. Nola’s engagement ring is found in his pocket. The main version of the murder is confirmed, and all charges are dropped from Chris.

At the very end of the film, happy Chloe brings home a newborn. The family is celebrating, and a detached Winton stands and looks out the window. The meaning of the ending of the movie “Match Point” is that there was a “crime without punishment”: Chris pulled out a lucky ticket and did not answer according to the law for what he had done. However, some viewers in their analysis of the picture talk about the ambiguity of the finale. In their opinion, it is not in vain that Dostoevsky’s novels appear in the film, and the local “Porfiry Petrovich” does not really look like a naive young man. They offer a different explanation for the ending: we are dealing with an open ending. That is, there is a possibility that Winton, like Raskolnikov, will eventually be tormented by conscience and he will confess to the crime. But it is not exactly.

The meaning of the film Match Point

The plot of “Match Point” is a “mix” of the story of Clyde Griffiths and “Crime and Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. The protagonist of the tape, Chris Winton, dreams of becoming part of the London elite. To do this, he marries the sister of his new friend, but has a passion for another girl who herself plans to become part of the elite. The piquancy of the situation is added by the fact that Nola is the bride of a friend of Chris.

Woody Allen is known for his shocking yet intelligent films with hidden meanings. His “Match Point” skillfully plays with morality, giving the viewer some interesting ideas. Perhaps the essence of the film lies in the fact that our lives are controlled by His Majesty the case. No matter what we do and no matter how hard we try, luck will decide for us …

Emily MortimerEmily Mortimer played the role of Chloe Hewitt Wilton. Frame from the film.

However, Woody Allen talks about more than just that. Here he aptly and quite accurately portrays the modern London elite. He needs this to outline the complex problem of inequality: the universe unevenly and unfairly distributes its gifts among people. Someone is handsome and successful, while someone does not have a spectacular appearance and is forced to count every penny. Some are born into wealthy families, others live in poverty. Some do everything easily, as if effortlessly, for others everything always goes awry.

How does the lottery work? What is the point? Why is it that someone is destined to suffer and die, while others are destined to live happily, being sure that everything goes according to plan? Woody Allen offers to think about these and many other questions.

And in “Match Point” the problem of romantic relationships is raised. Allen is trying to understand what is love, and what is passion, bordering on obsession. Is it the same or are they different things? The director expresses his opinion and gives arguments. But it is up to the viewer to draw the conclusion.

With Woody Allen, the funny and sarcastic are often replaced by the dramatic and even tragic. The nature of his characters is also revealed ambiguously. In this film, the name itself declares this – “Match Point”. According to the director, during the match it happens that the ball touches the top of the net and can end up on either side. If luck smiles, he will fall forward and then the player will win. If you’re not lucky – well, you lost …

burning passionFrame from the film.

Similar films

Here are a few films similar in meaning to Match Point:

  • “The Talented Mr. Ripley” (USA, 1999). Tom Ripley from a young age dreamed of great success. One day, one of the richest people in the United States gives him such a chance.
  • “Obsession” (USA, 204). Matthew is a successful businessman. Having accidentally met his ex-lover in a restaurant, he decides to return her at all costs.
  • “Cassandra’s Dream” (USA, UK, France, 2007). Brothers Terry and Ian dream of making big money. They soon realize that they will not be able to do this honestly.
Add a comment