He matches up well

“I’d be insane to turn down a Woody Allen film, because it’s a Woody Allen film!” said Jonathan Rhys-Meyers (Bend it Like Beckham) of his decision to work with the acclaimed director, in a recent interview with The Muse. His co-star Emily Mortimer (Dear Frankie) agreed and said, “You try harder for certain roles.”

Rhys-Meyers and Mortimer co-star in Allen’s latest cinematic work, the suspense film Match Point. The story revolves around Chris (Rhys-Meyers), a former tennis star who is introduced to a life of luxury and a wife (Mortimer) by friend and tennis student Tom (Matthew Goode). Tom also introduces Chris to his beautiful fiancée Nola (Scarlett Johansson) – and the two are instantly attracted to one another. Chris becomes obsessed with Nola, and his life becomes a desperate game of chance.

The film which is set in London – across the pond from his usual New York – is a departure for Allen. Match Point also diverges from Allen’s usual comedic style – the film is pure tension and sensuality.

Although Rhys-Meyers viewed the character of Chris as complex, he chose rather to take a simplistic approach to his portrayal.

“If you overanalyze them, you get confused and don’t know what to do,” Rhys-Meyers said. “I try and keep my interpretations really simple, and let everyone else do the analyzing.”

Whereas Mortimer, who found her role containing “not much subtext,” delved into the role wholeheartedly, trying “to find the difference between what you’re feeling and what you’re saying.”

Both actors marveled about working with Allen, who both wrote and directed the film. They appreciated his ability to “quickly process change” and his “great hold on the characters.” And what was an example of his flexibility?

Said Mortimer laughingly, “The one bit of real direct direction he gave us was, ‘You know, I don’t really know how British people talk, so I’m leaving it up to you.'”

– Match Point opens in Boston January 6