In "Crime's" conclusion, set at Ben's daughter's wedding, Ben, who is the film's true just and loving man, copes with inevitable blindness, dancing sightless with his daughter the bride, as self-important Judah justifies the "crime" he has committed -- albeit told to Stern at the wedding, in a folkloric way). Judah has literally gotten away with murder. It is bleak, grim and evil triumphs. It is Allen at his darkest and yet, as a film, "Crimes" succeeds. It is entertaining and thought-provoking, yet the audience ultimately identifies with a killer.
And here is where the aforementioned "mis-step" has relevance. Where he so clearly was successful in telling the "Crimes & Misdemeanors'" tale, Allen is less so in "Match." "Match's" Jonathan Rys-Myers' Chris, a social-climbing tennis instructor, is, right from the start, less sympathetic than Landau's Judah. Judah is a healer, he has saved sight, he has done some good; in no way does it justify what he inevitably demonstrates what he is capable of, but Chris, in his youth and beauty, has given little to the world.
Chris' infinitely trusting wife, Chloe, is played by the luminous Emily Mortimer, who today's film-going audiences...
And Chris' moral vacancy, unlike self-justifying Judah, is clear.
This comparison takes nothing away from "Crimes." Indeed, it brings to light how effective that film was, and still, is. "Crimes" balances Allen's most shocking plot revelation to date (a murder is committed and the perpetrator gets away with it), with his own character Stern's storyline.
As annoying as Stern is, the audience feels his pain, and as Alda's Lester is as pompous as Stern spouts, you root for Stern, too. The audience feels Stern's profound disappointment when Halley and Lester become engaged. (Stern's closest character ally in Allen films is his unlucky in love Joe Berlin from "Everyone Says I Love You.")
Match Point" is a good film, but it is less effective as "Crimes." Although the more recent film is a drama, and "Crimes" a comedy, there are more nuances to "Crimes."
There is a strong element of the thoughtful in "Crimes & Misdemeanors" and each scene and line works in tandem to present this complicated and moving film.
