MovieChat Forums > Scoop (2006) Discussion > Utter Garbage

Utter Garbage

posted 16 years ago by neilprivate
71 replies | jump to latest

This movie has no single redeeming feature, believe me I tried hard to find one. The direction is abysmal, the acting atrocious, the script infantile and the plot is straight out of the Scooby Doo reject pile.

I can't recommend avoiding this too strongly. Woody is seriously past his sell by date and this film will leave a foul and very permanent stain on the careers of all involved.

There can be no excuses for crappola like this, not even the Police Academy series found rock bottom with such aplomb. Little wonder then that Woody stuggles to raise money to shoot in his beloved hometown... on this performance he'll be very lucky if they let him back in at all.

6.8/10 this currently stands at, I can't believe that's the genuine average from 18,000 real viewers. Methinks perhaps most who have voted highly haven't actually seen the film, or worse, they're just 14 year old fans of Scarlett applauding blindly.

[–] black_stilettos 16 years ago

I thought it was entertaining.

[–] sampson_with_a_p 16 years ago

Ditto.

__________
"Money is better than poverty, if only for financial reasons."
-- Woody Allen

[–] filmmekker 16 years ago

It's not Woody at his best but it's not bad at all.

Action Is everything!

[–] aes330 16 years ago

Totally agree.

[–] ichocolat 15 years ago

Ditto !

----
Make Love, Not War .

[–] josephnatescott 9 years ago

Funniest acting from Woody Allen I've ever seen is this character. I watched Sleeper and Take The Money And Run again recently -- Sidney Waterman wins.

[–] tflynn-7 11 years ago

I thought it was a cute movie. I loved Scarlett in this. For the life of me, I can not see how anyone could think that Woody Allen is funny. He is very annoying in this movie and every other one that I have seen him in. The movie would have been much better if Woody Allen had never gone near it.

[–] jojo-acapulco 10 years ago

Agree with Black Stilettos that it was shallow, entertaining and fun. I only wish that Scarlet Johanson, who is a great actress, were a bit prettier.

[–] ronniehrubin 8 years ago

jojo-acapulco; You say; "I only wish that Scarlet Johanson, who is a great actress, were a bit prettier." This is very funny! Thanx for the laugh!

[–] stootz 16 years ago

Being a big Woody Allen fan, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this film on the TMN schedule the other night. Scarlett Johannsen again, eh? A new muse and I did like that "Match Point" film.

But neilprivate has it right by my vote. What an amateurish film! Woody's acting was brutal. Woody's usually endearing schtick just didn't work like the old Woody of even the fairly-recent "Curse of the Jade Scorpion" which I did like. Same for Scarlett. It was a shame to see her so wooden (no pun intended) and phoney. I haven't seen her in any other comedies but perhaps that is not her forte. Also, did the story at any time go in any direction other than that which you expected?

This film doesn't work as a caper movie or as a comedy. Watch Allen's "Mannhattan Murder Mystery" for a much better example of this genre.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107507/

3.5/10

just my $0.02

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] foleybehere 16 years ago

This isn't vintage 1970s Woody Allen. But SCOOP was a good film. SCOOP and SMALL TIME CROOKS are the best Allen films in the last 20 years.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jack-upland 15 years ago

I agree: garbage. The problem was the script. It was truly like a kids' telemovie and a bad one at that. There was no mystery. The supernatural element was pathetic. The comedy was weak. But even if the writing was improved (the wake scene struck me as particularly wooden), the plot is simply too basic. What possessed Allen to think that was a promising idea for a movie???

[–] Yves-15 16 years ago

I can't back it up, but I think Woody made this film just so he could act with Scarlett Johansson. The trailer looks funny too. I haven't seen it yet, but I knew when it came out that this popcorn caper was marked for DVD.

[–] tackss 16 years ago

Ugh, I agree. I only watched it for Hguh Jackman, but it was sh!t! It was so bad, I wasn't sure if the parts I laughed at was supposed to be funny, or if was crap.

[–] softenthesilence 16 years ago

I thought that Woody Allen was simply hilarious in this film, just as he is in most of his roles. The ending scene on the Grim Reaper's boat to the afterlife was one of the best endings to his films. The thing about Allen is that recently he tends to make either really light comedies or intensely dark dramas. I could definitely understand how someone that just watched Match Point could be disappointed with Scoop, but if you go into it knowing that it's a light comedy, it's sure to get a few laughs out of you.

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] chechrissie 16 years ago

I have to go with utter garbage I'm afraid. Really enjoyed Match Point but this is Woody Allen at his worst. A film for him to enjoy rather than others. 6.8 is a ridiculous average for such an unentertaining film with really no redemable features. I was kind in giving it a 4 I think. My girlfriend suggested a 3 and she loves Woody Allen films.

[–] sliptdisk 16 years ago

Funny. I can't find one redeeming comment in your entire diatribe, neil.

By the way, "Methinks"? Um, nobody ever tells you that you take yourself a little too seriously, by any chance, do they? Your total lack of respect for everyone else's opinion but your own convinces me of one thing - I need to check this movie out. If someone this full of himself hated it this much, it can't be all that bad.

You know who else took himself really, really seriously? Hitler. Hitler took himself very seriously. He couldn't stand even the slightest hint of being made fun of without exploding into a rage. He'd start beating dogs, small children, anything. Took himself very seriously, he did.

[–] bruce73 15 years ago

Hitler? You make a comparison with a guy saying "Methinks" to Hitler? Good god, are you kidding me?

Incidentally, Neil is dead on target with his analysis. This film is truly awful for all of the reasons he mentions. But what do I know? Probably take myself too seriously too. But listen. I'm having dinner later with Stalin, and I'll ask him what he thinks.

Gotta go, sorry. I'm laughing so hard I'm coughing up a lung...

[–] djsnafu23 16 years ago

Fully agree with the OP. This had nothing on C&D or Matchpoint, just a real throwaway Woody film. Neither the humour nor the mystery where noteworthy.

myspace.com/bankrupteuropeans

Coz lifes too short to listen to Madlib

[–] jones-todd 16 years ago

At 6.8/10 massively underrated
It was entertaining, funny and the plot was clever
Better than 99% of the garbage coming out recently
Woody is a genius a living treasure do we have to wait till he dies before he gets the credit he deserves

[–] hottiejerd 16 years ago

I agree I can't understand how this got such a high rating...I fell asleep during viewing and it was so bad i didn't even care how it ended - my friend told me later. I couldn't even remember the title of this movie and i had to look it up. I can't believe ian mcshane and hugh jackman are in this. I also don't understand why these directors don't keep people around to tell them that their scripts are awful (hint hint m. night shaymalan.) Plus scarlet johanssen isn't that great either

[–] rakij 16 years ago

Right on buddy... i agree 100%.

Sometimes i just start watching a movie and when i see at the very beginning : "directed by Woody Allen", i always say to myself : "I know what kind of pseudo-intellectual garbage this poor soul is all about, but come on, let's give him another chance."
And every time it's a bad, bad mistake...

And by the way, the guy is humping his own adoptive daughter so...

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] sliptdisk 16 years ago

Actually, you're wrong. Woody never adopted her, and had only met her a few times before they eventually got together. She's Mia's adopted daughter.

Pseudo-intellectual? You're grasping at straws, trying to express yourself beyond your ability. What does that make you? Pseudo-superior? Pseudo-above-it-all, perhaps?

[–] In-a-Haze 16 years ago

This movie was very entertaining. Not perfect, not one of Woody's best, but VEERY entertaining and it furnishes a good amount of suspense and comedy.

Last movie seen: Scoop, 8/10

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] crane-internet 16 years ago

There are good, bad and indifferent movies. This one was soooo bad that it has moved me to to join IMDB and comment. Not only does this film owe me two hours of my life back, but first thing tomorrow I'm off to the pharmacy to purchase St Johns Wort to try and cheer my self up...

There are too many good movie ideas to throw money away on this tripe. It has been a long time since I have watched a movie with such a start studded cast fail on all counts.

Woody is a talented man and I am sure till possess the skills to redeem himself from this uninspired attempt. I hope the next instalment is not so painful and experience.

[–] sliptdisk 15 years ago

How can a movie be indifferent? Oh, wait! I know. When the poster is illiterate!

Action is the enemy of thought.

[–] zoe-butler51 13 years ago

Check with a dictionary before you call other people illiterate. "Indifferent" in this context means, "mediocre". I think that it is fair comment, by the way. Not one of his best, not his worst; indifferent.

[–] TheSummer2012 13 years ago

Watching Woody Allen (who used to be my neighour so it hurts writing this) in this is like watching an ageing sports star attempting his last comeback. You want him to do well so badly but you realise he's just past his best.

Woody's one-liner-littered screenplay may have been funny in the 80s but the whole film has such a dated feel to it now.

It's not utter garbage though - it's just, well, plain average.

[–] tim-mugshot 9 years ago

"This one was soooo bad that it has moved me to to join IMDB and comment."

This joke always makes me laugh Having already joined IMDb... I just had to reply. When I see people using the old "I had to join IMDb..." I often wonder if they feel the need to be accepted.

Anyway back on topic - Just watched Scoop for the first time and no it is not one of WA's best but it is far from his worst.