BACK COVER SYNOPSIS: American journalism student, Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson), who is visiting friends in London, gets 'volunteered' during a stage performance by touring American magician, Sid Waterman, aka 'Splendini' (Woody Allen). In the magic casket, Sondra is shocked to see deceased UK journalist, Joe Strombel (Ian McShane). From beyond, he gives her the scoop of a lifetime which leads to the identity of the 'Tarot Card Killer' stalking London prostitutes. Sondra starts chasing the big story, enlisting the help of the reluctant Splendini. The chase leads to handsome British aristocrat, Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), and Sondra finds that the romance of her life may well be the scoop she's looking for.

FILM REVIEW: "Scoop" is a something of an odd film; 'odd' is good if done well but in this case, the opposite is true. Not that it doesn't have some good things going for it. You've got the always great Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson. There's a really good murder mystery/romance angle going through the film. However, since I just don't find Woody Allen all that interesting (I know fans, you can start casting stones at me right now), and you'll understand that I couldn't really get in to this film. Despite all the good things it has, it's just dwarfed by Woody Allen and his idiosynchracies. I know that's worked well for him in his films (hence the standing he has in the film industry), but for me, it makes for a film that doesn't really gauge.

The film starts off in a strange way when respected journalist Joe Strombel dies... and then we see him on a boat being steered by the Grim Reaper towards the land of death. While on the boat, Joe receives the scoop of his life: that millionaire aristocrat Peter Lyman is in fact the Tarot Card serial killer. But there's a problem; how does he communicate his scoop to the land of the living? Concentrating all his psychic energies on to locating a journalist, he stumbles across journalism student Sondra during a magic act performed by the amazing Splendini. He tells her what he knows and so begins her quest for the ultimate 'scoop'. Sondra manages to get in to the life of Peter Lyman and starts a romance. As she gets to know him, she doesn't see him as a killer, nor is there any evidence. But the amazing Splendini finds out otherwise and together, they search to get to the bottom of the mystery.

It's an intriguing premise but it's execution is just too odd-ball, and not really all that funny. When the best joke concerns Woody Allen saying that his way of losing weight is by being anxious and nervous 24/7, it's funny, but you know... he's made fun out of his own phobias on screen for years and I know it works for some people, but, I just didn't find it that endearing and felt it detracted from the film.

On the plus side, Hugh Jackman is excellent as the playboy English aristocrat who sweeps Johansson off her feet on a whirlwind romance only to reveal a darker side that Johansson thought was the 'tarot card' killer but is actually something else entirely. Johansson herself also commands the screen and with Jackman make quite a good pairing. If anything, watching Johansson try to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the serial killer and what Jackman's real activities are is the only reason to watch this film. And once it's over, you don't need to see the film ever again.

It's a good idea but it's dogged by Woody Allen's phobias. If you like them then this film is worth watching. If not, steer clear.

TECHNICAL REVIEW: The transfer for this film is fairly good, with only the occasional artefact or film scratch. The audio is also of comparable quality. Overall, the technical aspects to this disc are reasonable.

EXTRAS REVIEW: Nothing except scene selection so there's nothing to review.

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it only if you have to, or you're a Woody Allen fan.