adonis98-743-186503 An American journalism student in London scoops a big story, and begins an affair with an aristocrat as the incident unfurls. Despite my absolute disgust about Woody Allen 'Scoop' was a nicely done and nicely written 'Crime, Mystery, Comedy' that rehases lots of different genres and a plot of 'who done it' and elevates from great perfomances from Hugh Jackman (X-Men: The Last Stand) and Scarlett Johansson (Match Point) but also even Allen himself and Ian McShane. There are flaws with the film for sure but it's one of Allen's best works to date and with a talented cast of actors like Jackman and Johansson the end result is more than just watchable. (7.5/10)

jjrous 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.

carbuff Pretty awful. Probably the worst movie of Woody Allen's career. I fully accept that Woody Allen is a creep in real life, but I try to separate the art from the artist, and it's hard to deny that Woody Allen has made many excellent movies. This is not one of them. Scarlett Johansson is very pretty. That is all you can say about Scarlett Johansson. She is a terrible actress and always has been and probably always will be. Woody Allen as an actor, at this point in his career, is beyond annoying--let's hope he just stays off the screen from now on.The rest of the cast is pretty stilted too. The jokes are lame and lifeless. The story is OK. If you must see all of Allen's movies, you'll have to see this no doubt, but if you miss it, you're not missing much.

TheLittleSongbird Admittedly on first viewing I didn't care for Scoop, finding it weirdly plotted and not very funny. Seeing it again as part of a Woody Allen film marathon and being much more used to his style(that I wasn't at the time on first viewing must have a lot to do with not caring for it in the first place), Scoop was far better than initially remembered. It is a long way from Allen's best films, see Annie Hall, Manhattan, Crimes and Misdemeanours, Hannah and her Sisters and Husbands and Wives to see him at his best, but it is better than Cassandra's Dream and To Rome with Love. Scoop is not without imperfections, the story is very far-fetched at times with some convolutions and scenes that don't add to very much, Hugh Jackman is very underused and Scarlett Johansson looks uncomfortable, she's much better in Match Point. Scoop is photographed with style and atmosphere and there is great use of locations. The classical music score is a good fit and will be a delight for any classical music fan, while Allen's directing is as adroit as ever. Allen's writing has been much more insightful and thought-provoking, but the script is still very clever and funny(and in distinctive Woody Allen style), Allen and Ian McShane have the best lines, and while the story is not completely successful the blend of comedy and mystery has enough moments where it works(it has been done far better before though, notably Crimes and Misdemeanours). Allen is hilarious and witty- knowing exactly how to say and time his lines- though with a character that had a danger of falling into the trap of mugging. Ian McShane is wonderfully mysterious and says his lines, and as said before he has the best of them alongside Allen, in a sardonically sly fashion, you just wish he had more screen time. And while Hugh Jackman is underused when you do see him he is dashing and charismatic. All in all, it is easy to see why people won't like Scoop, initially I didn't but on re-watch while problematic it was much better than expected considering the rep it has among a fair few people that consider it as one of Allen's worst. 7/10 Bethany Cox