Scoop (2006)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (Iceland)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

The perfect man. The perfect story. The perfect murder.

Plot:

An American journalism student in London scoops a big story, and begins an affair with an aristocrat as the incident unfurls.

Plot Keywords:

Scoop | Journalist | Student | Magic | Card

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jim Dunk	...	Funeral Speaker
Robert Bathurst	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Geoff Bell	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Christopher Fulford	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Nigel Lindsay	...	Strombel's Co-Worker
Ian McShane	...	Joe Strombel
Fenella Woolgar	...	Jane Cook
Pete Mastin	...	Death (as Peter Mastin)
Doreen Mantle	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
David Schneider	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
Meera Syal	...	Joe's Co-Passenger
Kevin McNally	...	Mike Tinsley (as Kevin R. McNally)
Robyn Kerr	...	Tinsley’s Fan #1
Richard Stirling	...	Tinsley's Fan
Scarlett Johansson	...	Sondra Pransky
Romola Garai	...	Vivian
Carolyn Backhouse	...	Vivian's Mother
Guo Toa	...	Jar Spinner
Sam Friend	...	Vivian's Brother
Mark Heap	...	MC
Woody Allen	...	Sid Waterman
Suzy Kewer	...	Splendini's Assistant
Jody Halse	...	Stagehand
Matt Day	...	Jerry Burke
Elizabeth Berrington	...	Antique Shop Woman
Rupert Frazer	...	Antique Shop Man
Christopher Godwin	...	Desk Clerk
Hugh Jackman	...	Peter Lyman
Julian Glover	...	Lord Lyman
Paula Wilcox	...	Garden Party Guest
John Standing	...	Garden Party Guest
Sanjeev Bhaskar	...	Poker Player (as Sanjeev Bhasker)
John Light	...	Poker Player
Tina Rath	...	Wendy Beamish
Caroline Blakiston	...	Mrs. Quincy
Richard Johnson	...	Mr. Quincy
William Hoyland	...	Butler
Moya Brady	...	Screamer
Rosie Cavaliero	...	Pedestrian
Anthony O'Donnell	...	Pedestrian
Charles Dance	...	Mr. Malcolm
Lynda Baron	...	Tenant
Phil Cornwell	...	Tenant
Victoria Hamilton	...	Jan
Meg Wynn Owen	...	Housekeeper
Alexander Armstrong	...	Cop
Anthony Head	...	Detective
Julia Deakin	...	Sid's Co-Passenger
Margaret Tyzack	...	Sid's Co-Passenger
Jeffrey Wickham	...	Sid's Co-Passenger (as Jeffry Wickham)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Alex Argenti	...	Resident meeting Ghost (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	producer
Nicky Kentish Barnes	....	co-producer
Charles H. Joffe	....	co-executive producer
Duncan Reid	....	executive producer: Ingenious Film Partners
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer
Stephen Tenenbaum	....	executive producer
David M. Thompson	....	executive producer: BBC Films
Peter Touche	....	executive producer: Ingenious Film Partners
Gareth Wiley	....	producer

Cinematography by
Remi Adefarasin

Film Editing by
Alisa Lepselter

Casting by
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto
Gail Stevens
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Maria Djurkovic

Art Direction by
Nick Palmer

Set Decoration by
Philippa Hart

Costume Design by
Jill Taylor

Makeup Department
Polly Earnshaw	....	makeup artist
Charlotte Hayward	....	makeup trainee
Sallie Jaye	....	hair designer
Sallie Jaye	....	makeup designer
Tracy Smith	....	hairdresser (as Tracey Smith)
Lisa Tomblin	....	hairdresser

Production Management
Tori Parry	....	unit production manager
Finlay Pile	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Tamana Bleasdale	....	second assistant director
Dan Channing-Williams	....	crowd assistant director
Chris Croucher	....	crowd assistant director
Michael Elliott	....	first assistant director (as Mike Elliott)
Samar Pollitt	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Louise Begbie	....	art department assistant
Mat Bergel	....	stand-by props
Hannah Capron	....	graphic artist: newspapers
David Creed	....	construction manager
Chris Cull	....	property master
Gill Farr	....	production buyer
Martin Kane	....	props
Simon Riley	....	stand-by props
Sarah Stuart	....	stand-by art director
Ian Taylor	....	set carpenter
Stephen Thomson	....	dressing propman
Billy Wilson	....	dressing prophand

Sound Department
Coll Anderson	....	foley editor
Esther Asiedu-Ofei	....	sound trainee
Carlos M. Cano	....	apprentice sound editor
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Glossop	....	sound mixer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor
Stephane Malenfant	....	sound assistant
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Shaun Mills	....	boom operator
Eytan Mirsky	....	assistant sound editor
Glenfield Payne	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
David Wahnon	....	foley editor
David Wahnon	....	sound editor

Visual Effects by
Paul Alexiou	....	visual effects film editorial: MPC
Matthew Bristowe	....	digital lab producer: MPC
Michelle Corney	....	visual effects producer
Adam Gascoyne	....	digital compositor: MPC
Tim Hey	....	digital compositor: MPC
Martin Hobbs	....	executive producer: MPC
Gemma James	....	visual effects coordinator
Tom Kimberley	....	digital compositor: MPC
Begoña Lopez	....	digital lab producer: MPC
Jennifer Loughnan	....	visual effects coordinator (as Jen Loughnan)
Alasdair McNeill	....	roto/prep supervisor: MPC
Andy Middleton	....	texture artist: MPC
Adrian Pinder	....	3D artist: MPC
Scott Pritchard	....	digital compositor: MPC
John Roberts-Cox	....	3D artist: MPC (as John Roberts Cox)
John Roberts-Cox	....	lead lighting technical director: MPC
Aled Robinson	....	visual effects editor: MPC
Richard Stammers	....	visual effects supervisor
Miquel Ubeda	....	digtial compositor: MPC London
Sheila Wickens	....	digital compositor: MPC (as Sheila Gorman)
Martyn Drake	....	systems: MPC (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ben Adefarasin	....	camera trainee
John Adefarasin	....	clapper loader
John Arnold	....	key grip
Chris Bain	....	daily focus puller
Chris Clarke	....	clapper loader: dailies
Clive Coote	....	still photographer
David Cozens	....	focus puller
Ian Franklin	....	rigging gaffer
Mark Funnell	....	best boy
Chris Hammond	....	electrician
Tobias Marshall	....	camera trainee
Paul Molloy	....	electrician
Llewellyn Thomas	....	camera car
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
David Wall	....	chief rigging electrician
Ben Wilson	....	additional camera operator
Jimmy Wilson	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Peter Bevan	....	casting assistant
William Davies	....	casting associate
Julie Dunne	....	additional casting
Julie Schubert	....	casting assistant
David Wheal	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Karen Beale	....	wardrobe assistant
Tracey Millar	....	costume assistant
Charlotte Sewell	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Lisa Clifford-Owen	....	assistant editor
Kate Rose Itzkowitz	....	apprentice editor
Scott Kordish	....	post-production coordinator
Morgan Neville	....	first assistant editor
James Nichols Jr.	....	assistant editor
Tina Pacheco	....	assistant editor
Lawrence Howard Williams	....	post digital media operator
Phil Ashton	....	color grader (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Lawrence Duncan	....	facilities captain
Richard Eksteen	....	facilities driver
Lee Isgar	....	driver: Scarlett Johansson
Gary Mavor	....	facilities driver

Other crew
Sarah Allentuch	....	assistant: Mr. Allen
Kim Armitage	....	script supervisor
Carrie-Ann Banner	....	assistant production coordinator
Menna Bevan	....	floor runner: dailies
Matthew Bristowe	....	title producer
Bruno Cassoni	....	location assistant
Leah Chalk	....	health and safety
Francesca Dowd	....	production coordinator
Jake Edmonds	....	health and safety advisor
Richard Etchells	....	title designer (as Dickie Etchells)
Lucy Foulds	....	location coordinator
Flax Glor	....	publicist
Max Greenhalgh	....	production runner
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative
Michael Harm	....	location manager
Lisa Heathcote	....	food stylist
Natalie Kavanagh	....	floor runner: dailies
Begoña Lopez	....	title producer
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	post-production accountant
Reel Meals	....	caterer
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant
Scott Penrose	....	magic consultant
Dave Shaw	....	diving advisor
Cassandra Sigsgaard	....	clearances coordinator
Kerry Smith	....	assistant accountant
Aurelia Thomas	....	assistant location manager
David Wilcock	....	cashier
David Joy	....	location runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• BBC Films (present)
• Ingenious Film Partners (present)
• Phoenix Wiley (produced in association with)
• Jelly Roll Productions

Distributors

• BBC Films (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• A-Film Distribution (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Cinestar (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Distribution Company (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2006) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2006) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• MG Film (2006) (Croatia) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2006) (Greece) (theatrical)
• TFM Distribution (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Wise Policy (2007) (Japan) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2007) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Concorde Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2007) (Spain) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Ledafilms (2007) (Mexico) (TV)
• Movie Bank (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)

Special Effects

• Moving Picture Company (MPC) (visual effects)
• Effects Associates (special effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting supplied by
• ARRI Media  camera equipment provided by
• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Decca Records  soundtrack
• Deep Blue  facilities and trucks
• Deluxe Digital Studios  transfer
• Diving Services UK  diving services
• Ealing Studios  thanks
• Media Safety  health & safety
• Midnight Transfer  cutting rooms
• Midnight Transfer  telecine
• Motorhouse  action vehicles
• Moving Picture Company (MPC)  titles
• Mr. Youngs Preview Theatre  rushes screening
• Orbit Digital  avid equipment
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative matching
• Reel Meals  catering
• Sound One Corporation  sound re-recording (as Sound One Corp.)
• Translux  facilities and trucks
• Wavevend Communications  mobiles and walkie talkies

Also Known As:

Untitled Woody Allen Fall Project 2006 (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Canada:G (British Columbia) | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Singapore:PG | Malaysia:U | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Sweden:7 | France:U | Germany:6 | Spain:13 | Hong Kong:IIA | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-11 | South Korea:12 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Brazil:12

Filming Locations:

Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, Mayfair, London, England, UK

Company:

BBC Films

Trivia:

Woody Allen specifically wrote the script for Scarlett Johansson after working with her on Match Point (2005).

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: There were several scenes where Johansson's lapel mike radio frequency transmitter strapped on her waist behind her is visible.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Funeral Speaker: Don't mourn Joe Strumble.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2006-08-12)" (2006)

Soundtrack:

The Nutcracker Ballet

Worthy addition to Woody Allen's filmography

I was lucky enough to get a free pass to an advance screening of 'Scoop' last night. Full house at the theatre and when the movie ended there was spontaneous applause. I didn't speak to anyone who disliked 'Scoop' although two teenagers sitting next to me sighed and fidgeted uncomfortably for most of the film. They were the exception though because everyone else including myself really enjoyed themselves.

'Scoop' is a quickly paced murder mystery. A young female journalism student is unwittingly maneuvered by forces beyond her control into trying to catch a serial killer on the loose. Plenty of hijinks ensue as she partners up with a traveling illusionist and falls in love with a frisky and charming young nobleman.

'Scoop' isn't a bad addition to the Woody Allen filmography. It isn't his best work but it is a very enjoyable and light hearted romp. I'd say it fits quite comfortably into being an average Woody Allen film, right in the middle of the pack. If you're a Woody Allen fan you'll probably enjoy yourself. If you're indifferent to his work then 'Scoop' might be enough to get you interested in seeing more. I don't think that anyone who dislikes his style of film-making and acting are going to change their mind. Woody plays the same kind of neurotic character we've grown so accustomed to although it borders dangerously close to forced and over the top in this film. While potentially aggravating for some who might find themselves wishing he'd hurry up and just spit out the words, Woody Allen fans know what to expect.

Very good performances all around in my opinion although I found myself missing Ian McShane who is excellent and not on camera nearly enough. Hugh Jackman is great as the charming nobleman and I think Woody Allen has found a new regular star to work with in Scarlett Johansson. I think that with 'Match Point' this is their second pairing and she's just magic with the material that Woody gives her. Could be the beginning of a beautiful relationship! I'm glad I saw the movie and definitely recommend it. More sophisticated comedy than movies like 'Scary Movie 4' so if your brand of comedy is the latter rather than the former, 'Scoop' probably isn't for you. If, on the other hand, you like a touch of class, sophistication and fun, 'Scoop' is for you. Probably not the Woody Allen film I'd introduce to a newcomer but all others should give it a try.