TOO LUCKY?

MATCH POINT

(2005)

Director: Woody Allen

The man who said "I'd rather be lucky than good" saw deeply into life. People are afraid to face how great a part of life is dependent on luck. It's scary to think so much is out of one's control. There are moments in a match when the ball hits the top of the net, and for a split second, it can either go forward or fall back. With a little luck, it goes forward, and you win. Or maybe it doesn't, and you lose.

These are the opening lines of Allen's movie of luck and guilt, movie of passion, temptation and  obsession as the movie poster says itself. Lines spoken by the protagonist Chris, a character who changes from a self-confident but likable person to a cold opportunist. These lines illustrate the main topic of the movie. Being lucky rather than being good. The motif of the ball hitting the top of the net becomes the key motif in the movie giving an intriguing twist towards the end of the movie. 

Being lucky instead of being good is how the protagonist, or the antagonist, perceives life. "You have to learn to push the guilt under the rug and move on, otherwise it overwhelms you." These words illustrate how he works, he manages to push the guilt under the rug with luck on his side. When the ball/ring falls on his side the viewer must ask Isn't he a bit too lucky?