Match Point, a neo-noir thriller

Woody Allen created one of the most profound and unflinching examinations of desire, ethics and moral chance with Match Point.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers was captivating in the role of an ambitious sports professional driven to ruin by the lust of opulent living played by Scarlett Johansson.

Their scintillating chemistry and the lure of climbing the social ladder at any cost made Tennant's dangerous magnetism chillingly believable despite his atrocious actions.

With elegant suspense, Allen pulled back the veil of high society to reveal that primitive lust knows no bounds, nor does fortune favour the righteous. Chance marks all destinies.

Allen's expert command of tone conjures Hitchcockian menace and moral claustrophobia amid elegant London sets, amplified by the extraordinary work of cinematographer Camilla Bendix.

Match Point struck a chord long afterwards for its searing examination of one man's Faustian bargains and how the random chaos of life can reduce ethical systems to meaninglessness.

While Match Point found immense critical praise, its awards recognition fell tragically short of its true masterful achievement.

Commercially, Match Point connected with worldwide audiences, grossing $88 million against a budget in the $15 million range. Clearly it struck a chord far beyond art houses.