Scoop (2006)

Good concept, poorly executed.

Brilliant and touching

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Wow, Scarlett Johansson is so beautiful. I love her attempt at Woody-type shtick, even though she may be too young to totally understand the gimmick, or the art I should say, Scarlett really goes for it and she's so cute doing it. So, so cute...I love Scarlett Johansson. I hardly notice Woody when I watch Scoop. I hear him. Hugh Jackman's very nice and he gives a convincing portrayal as the killer. Scoop has the right idea, with its...God, I love Scarlett in glasses! When she removes her glasses, then disrobes into her red swimsuit and dips in the pool with Hugh then pretends to drown then Hugh rescues her pulling her to the poolside then Scarlett thanks Hugh and apologizes then she EMERGES OUT OF THE POOL LIKE A GLISTENING VOLUPTUOUSLY BOSOMED AND BODIED AQUATIC GODDESS!! then Scarlett stretches out her crampy leg and introduces herself to Hugh, she's...uhhhhhh...what...Scarlett.........incredibly sensually pleasurable on a level that I did not understand until I watched it so closely just now. This is like Scarlett's hottest scene, omgoodness. Scarlett is the dream girl. Nice work, Woody, I totally love Miss Johansson and care about her character in this delightfully energetic whimsical tale with its twist and wonderful familiar score. Trust me, this is a really good film. Scarlett's lovely in Scoop really.

The plotting was clever and effective, but the lame attempts at humor should put to rest--finally--Allen's reputation as a comic master.The joke about Rubens painting/Reuben sandwiches was inexcusably childish, and one could see it coming a mile away.Allen seems to have a base of fans who are ready to love anything he does, and this has made him lazy.

To stick with the journalistic theme of Woody Allen's 2006 film, Scoop, it seems pretty clear that Woody Allen was going for a fluff piece here, seemingly having fun with the material. Scoop works, for what it is and is a nice fun outing with the writer/director. With Scoop, we're in London again, with Scarlett Johansson, again, with a character communicating with the dead, again. Maybe I'm not doing a great job of selling it to you yet. Woody Allen can get by with repeating tropes because he does them so well. One doesn't care how believable it is that Scar Jo is getting leads for a story from a dead journalist because it is told in such an engaging way. With an opening reminiscent of Broadway Danny Rose, we see a table of journalists lamenting over a fellow reporter who recently passed away. The table discusses the means he would take to find a story and how desperately he would chase leads. The audience is also blessed with Woody Allen in a supporting role as a magician which was autobiographically fun considering Woody been interested in magic since he was a child. Scoop was a fantastically written film that followed Scarlett Johansson's character as she embroiled herself into a murder investigation all the while getting clues from her deceased side kick.People will talk about the surprise ending of Scoop, and rightly so, it's fantastic. Vengeance is achieved and the character you actually want to succeed does, and that's not common in a Woody Allen film. What stunned me the most, however, is that Woody Allen actually kills himself off in a film. Like Woody, I would like to achieve immortality, which is why no matter how fictional the circumstance I would never "kill myself off". I was stunned that Scoop actually led to Woody facing the grim reaper. That surprising aspect of Scoop ensured that I'd never forget it, the image still burned into my brain days later.

'Scoop' is a Woody Allen film set in London. Despite this, most of its lead actors are not British. But that's by the way. The fact is that it's supposed to be a comedy. Only it's not really that funny. Sure, there are a few lines here and there (largely delivered by Woody Allen himself) which may raise a smile, but overall it's hardly a 'laugh out loud' affair.Scarlett Johansson plays a student journalist in London who, while on stage during one of (magician) Woody Allen's tricks, happens to be contacted by a ghost (Ian McShane) who tells her who a serial killer really is. She, in turn, decides to enlist Woody's help and track down the alleged culprit. Only the man in question is Hugh Jackson and she falls in love with him. So you're left with a kind of mish-mash of genres, encompassing supernatural, murder/mystery and romantic comedy. Sadly, it never really focuses on one area enough.Scarlett and Woody are likable enough leads, but they breeze through the story (which is about a serial killer murdering women and leaving tarot cards at the scene of the crime) like they're going on a picnic. It's actually quite a dark affair, but you never really feel it, even in the climax at the end.I read online that Woody Allen picked Scarlett Johansson because he thought she had untapped comedic value. She may well have, but she doesn't really get much of a chance to shine here. Woody takes all the best lines for himself, leaving little else for her to do apart from fall in love and act a bit kooky.Overall, 'Scoop' isn't a bad film, it's just not focused enough to be that memorable.Bonus point (for men!) – Scarlett in a swimsuit (still doesn't really save the entire movie though).