It's Match Point for DreamWorks and Woody Allen  6/1/05

It's 'Match Point' for DreamWorks and Woody Allen

GLENDALE, Calif., June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- DreamWorks has acquired the North American distribution rights to Woody Allen's acclaimed new film "Match Point," which premiered to strong critical and audience acclaim at this year's Cannes Film Festival. The announcement was made today by DreamWorks head of distribution Jim Tharp.

The deal for DreamWorks to distribute Allen's latest film reunites the studio with the Oscar(R)-winning director, who stated, "I was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm for the picture, and I know from past experience the film is in wonderful hands."

Rick Sands, DreamWorks President and COO, offered, "DreamWorks releases a broad array of quality films each year, and Woody Allen's filmmaking brings with it a vision that is a wonderful complement to ours. 'Match Point' has been embraced by the company as well as by critics, and we look forward to its release in the fourth quarter of this year."

Jim Tharp added, "We are very pleased and excited to be working again with Woody Allen on his new film, which is already generating very positive buzz out of its premiere at Cannes. We look forward to bringing this film to North American audiences, who we believe will welcome it as enthusiastically as the audiences at Cannes did."

"Match Point" stars Scarlett Johansson ("Lost in Translation," upcoming "The Island"), Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ("Vanity Fair," upcoming "Mission: Impossible III"), Emily Mortimer ("Lovely & Amazing"), Matthew Goode ("Chasing Liberty"), Brian Cox ("The Bourne Identity," "The Bourne Supremacy") and Penelope Wilton ("Iris," "Calendar Girls").

"Match Point" represents a departure for native New Yorker Woody Allen, the majority of whose films lovingly depict New York and -- not always so lovingly -- New Yorkers. Crossing the Atlantic for the first time in his film career, Allen set "Match Point" in London, where it was also filmed. The film is described as a melodrama about many things -- ambition, the seduction of wealth, love, sexual passion and, most importantly, the huge part luck plays in events as opposed to the comforting misconception that more of life is under our control than it really is.

Written and directed by Academy Award(R) winner Woody Allen ("Annie Hall," "Hannah and Her Sisters"), "Match Point" was produced by Letty Aronson, Gareth Wiley and Lucy Darwin. Stephen Tenenbaum served as the executive producer, with Helen Robin and Nicky Kentish Barnes co-producing, and Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe co-executive producing.

DreamWorks SKG was formed in October 1994 by its three principal partners -- Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen. The studio is actively involved in the production of live-action motion pictures and network and cable television programs, and the distribution of live-action and animated feature films, as well as home video entertainment. SOURCE DreamWorks Pictures

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