I watched three more movies over the weekend. Going from best to worse, these were:
Whale Rider
This film wasn’t what I expected. I dunno, I thought it would be about some lass riding a whale alla-Free Willy. So, imagine my surprise to find it was all about Maori history and culture. I loved this film. Pai (played by Oscar-nominated, and deservedly so, Keisha Castle-Hughes) must overcome her grandfather and a thousand years of Whangara history to win the respect of her community and the love of her family. This film is wonderfully acted, beautifully-shot and may have you reaching for a tissue. The story here is one of love and acceptance and how our own cultural history often blinds us. Absolutely worth a rent. My rating 9 out of 10.
Match Point
This film was directed, of course, by the one and only Woody Allen and, I thought, was quite a departure for him. Sure, we have all the familiar Woodism in full array: love, betrayal, classical music, beautiful framing and characters not shy to speak their minds. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays a thoroughly-detestable Chris, an ex-tennis star going nowhere fast until he lands a tennis pro job and meets up with floppish upperclass Brit, Tom Hewitt. Tom, has a sister, Chloe who Chris is soon bedding and marrying, and hence begins his climb up the corporate ladder of Chloe/Tom’s papa’s company.
The thing is, Chris also has the hots for Tom’s fiance, Nola Rice (played by Scarlett Yawn-hanssen: this girl is lucky she’s pretty cause she sure can’t act). What results in the end, when (*spoiler alert*) Chris gets Nola pregnant is a deep, dark slide into murder and mayhew that ends, again I thought, brilliantly in a non-Hollywood ending. My rating 7 out of 10.
Open Water
Well, where to begin with this sad and sorry piece of work? How about with how so very embarrassed anyone involved in this project must feel. The premise, based on “true story”, has our husband and wife duo left behind in the middle of the ocean after detouring from a scuba tour in shark infested waters. Cut to scenes of shark fins; and scenes of thunder; and scenes of utter darkness; and a blame-game section; and then finally (blissfully) scenes of our couple being chowed down on by the sharks. The End. Being kind, my rating 2 out of 10.
The actors’ looks say it all: “What am I doing in this awful movie?”
AppsScraps 
only 7 for match point? i’ve thought of watching it and now…i think jonathan is charming
I have hesitated from watching Open Water, such a sad story, as is the movie. Your book could be better though. I would love to meet you and G the next time I am in Toronto. Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
I have not seen the first two movies but was forced to sit through the 3rd. I think you ranked it too high even being kind it is a -2.