"Match Point" marks the first time Allen has directed a movie set in London. Americans Allen and Johansson grew close on the set, in part because they were two of the only Americans working on the film. In fact the two connected so well that it prompted Johannson to joke that if she was a 70-year-old man, she'd be Woody Allen. "Match Point" star Jonathan Rhys-Meyers believes the reverse would also hold true. If Allen was transported back in time into the body of a 21-year-old woman, he'd be just like Scarlett Johansson. That's how deep the admiration runs between actress and director. The two have even teamed up again since completing "Match Point" for the romantic comedy, "Scoop."
Scarlett Johansson on Filming in London: Johansson and Allen didn’t compare notes on the differences between London and New York, however they did share one common longing. They both wanted a good slice of pizza. Other than their quest for a tasty pizza, Allen and Johansson didn’t really compare the two cities. “We’ve spoken about it a lot because we’re both from there and he’s familiar with the school I went to, so we talked about New York a lot, but not really comparing. They’re both comparable cities, both cosmopolitan, kind of quick paced, they have a fantastic nightlife there. It was great.”
Scarlett Johansson’s Working Relationship with Woody Allen: “He is communicative, but he does not need to spend a lot of time with you before a take. You could do a five page scene in one shot - two, three takes of it - and if he likes it, then you’re done for the day.”
Johansson says that Allen’s extremely relaxed on the set, to the point of being able to nap just about anywhere. “I have a lot of Polaroid pictures of him sleeping on the couch with a giant grip in the background and some huge piece of equipment.”
Scarlett Johansson Kiss and Tells: When Johansson shares a passionate kiss in the rain with “Match Point” co-star Jonathan Rhys Meyers, it changes the tone of Allen’s movie. So how was making out in the cold rain? Johansson says, “That scene was pretty miserable. We were so wet. Getting fully wet, drenched, when you’re wearing jeans is the most unpleasant thing of all time. Especially when you’re all nice and toasty and then they’re like, ‘Okay, we’re going to dump buckets of water on you now.’ ‘Noooo!’
At first I was like, ‘I can just get wet in the rain.’ They were like, ‘We have to make you drenched.’ I really hated my costumer that day. I really hated Woody that day, too. I was like, ‘Why rain? It wasn’t written. Can’t we just do it in a barn?’”
Scarlett Johansson’s Not a Screamer: Johansson has to scream at Rhys Meyers in a scene in front of her apartment. In reality, Johansson doesn’t consider herself a screamer. However Allen didn’t have to give her much in the way of direction. “We only did it a couple times; it was pretty easy. It’s pretty apparent on the page and I could only do it a number of times before my voice was shot. Yeah, it was easy-peasy.
It was upsetting, but it didn’t take many takes to get. There’s only so many times you can do those scenes before you go crazy. Afterwards you feel so weird at the end of the day. It’s pretty weird that people get that way. I’m a pretty relaxed person and I don’t consider myself a screamer so when you’re elevated to that, it brings up all this crazy energy that you didn’t realize you were bottling up.”
Scarlett Johansson Explains Her Character’s Take on Pregnancy: Nola makes an interesting observation about why her lover, Chris (Rhys Meyers), can’t get his wife pregnant and yet is able to have a baby with her. Nola believes it’s because Chris doesn’t love his wife but does indeed love her. “And that’s a very kind of romantic idea. Who knows if that’s true, obviously? Physically there’s something going on between them but obviously some people have a harder time getting pregnant than others. But it’s a very romantic idea, I think. That it would be more difficult for him to get her pregnant because he’s not in love with her or whatever.”
Up Next: “The Black Dahlia:” “It’s based on the James Ellroy novel and it’s true to the novel. I play a character named Kay Lake [with] Aaron Eckhart, Josh Hartnett and Hilary Swank. It’s true to the book so if you know the story, you know who I play.
Brian De Palma’s directing and he’s wonderful. I think the film is an absolutely true film noir in every sense of the word, as retro as the word might be. Hopefully, it’ll be interesting to see how audiences respond to not just a version of a film noir piece, but an actual film noir piece. We’ll see how.”
