At a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro falls for an actress who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law.
From a humble background and with traditional values, Irish Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is still struggling financially despite being a recently retired high ranked tennis pro. He has taken a job as a tennis instructor at an upscale London tennis club, although he knows there is a better life for him somewhere down the road. He is befriended by one of his students, wealthy Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode). Chris starts to date Tom's sister, Chloe Hewett (Emily Mortimer), a girl-next-door type who is immediately attracted to Chris. Chloe quickly knows she wants to marry Chris, and through her businessman father, Alec Hewett (Brian Cox), tries to help Chris and their future by getting him an executive job in Alec's company. In his life with the Hewetts, Chris begins to enjoy the finer things in life. Through it all however, Chris cannot help thinking about Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a struggling American actress who he meets at the Hewett estate and who is Tom's unofficial fiancée. Nola is vivacious, and she knows the effect she has on men, including Chris. Unlike Chris, Nola is not accepted by Tom and Chloe's mother, the outspoken Eleanor Hewett (Dame Penelope Wilton). Chris has to decide if he can give up what he has been able to achieve with Chloe and the Hewetts, or if the passion he feels for Nola is stronger than the finer things in life to which he is now accustomed. He may go to any length to have his cake and eat it too.—Huggo
In this dramatic thriller, at a turning point in his life, a former tennis pro (Rhys-Meyers) falls for a femme-fatal type (Johansson) who happens to be dating his friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law (Goode). The two embark on an illicit affair which ultimately leads to dire consequences for them and their partners.
Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) is a former tennis pro, looking to find work as an instructor. He meets Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), a well-off pretty boy. Tom's sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer) falls in love with Chris, but Chris has his eyes on Tom's fiancée, the luscious Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson). Chris and Nola know it's wrong, but what could be more right than love? Chris tries to juggle both women, but at some point, he must choose between them.
Tennis pro Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) takes a job as a tennis instructor and hits it off immediately with one of his students, wealthy young Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode). Tom introduces Chris to his family, and Chris falls quickly into a romance with Tom's sister Chloe (Emily Mortimer). But despite the growing certainty that Chris and Chloe will marry, and the enormous professional and financial advantages that come Chris' way through his relationship with the delighted Hewett family, Chris becomes increasingly intrigued and eventually romantically involved with Tom's fiancée, Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), a struggling American actress. Their passionate trysts leave Chris in danger of losing the wealth and position he has now come to enjoy. The only solution to the dilemma seems unthinkable.—Jim Beaver <[email protected]>
Man underestimates the role of luck in life. There is a lot in life which is outside one's control and is only governed by the laws of luck which can either favor or go against you.
Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), a recently retired tennis professional, is taken on as an instructor at an upmarket club in London. Chris rents a small little apartment with a sofa bed, and that too costing 225 pounds per week. Chris settles into a routine, spending time reading at the apartment and teaching club members the basics of tennis. It is an easy life. Chris is from a poor Irish family and has come to England to earn money for his family back home.
He strikes up a friendship with a wealthy pupil, Tom Hewett (Matthew Goode), after discovering their common affinity for opera. Tom and Chris start going to the Opera together.
Tom's older sister, Chloe (Emily Mortimer), is smitten with Chris. Chloe starts joining Tom during his tennis lessons with Chris. Gradually Chris and Chloe begin dating. Chris' schedule allows him a lot of time off and he is able to spend much of it with Chloe. They end up kissing and then having sex on Chris's sofa bed in his tiny apartment.Chloe invites Chris to her family's country house for a family gathering. At the gathering, Chris meets Tom's fiance, Nola Rice (Scarlett Johansson), and they are instantly attracted to each other. Tom and Nola have been together for 6 months. Nola came to England to study acting and they met at a party.
Tom's father Alec (Brian Cox) is a rich aristocrat and businessman. Tom's mother, Eleanor (Penelope Wilton), does not approve of her son's relationship with the struggling American actress, a source of tension in the family. Chloe encourages her father to give Chris a job as an executive in one of his companies. Eleanor doesn't want Chloe to rush into anything with Chris, especially because she is not totally on terms with Nola yet.
Chris and Chloe start going on double dates with Nola and Tom. Things gradually become more and more comfortable between Chris and Chloe. Although, it is clear that the class chasm between Chris and Chloe is vast and unlikely to be bridged. Chris is a middle-class person from an austere family, while Chloe is from a privileged class. Chris is a big believer in the part luck plays in one's success.Chris begins to be accepted into the family and marriage is discussed.
Chris insists on the double dates, so he can meet Nola. He even accompanies Nola to her auditions in the city for moral support. Chris goes to a drink with Nola afterwards and learns that her father left their family and never supported them, while her mother could never hold down a job. Nola is divorced and that is another reason why Eleanor hates her. Eleanor wants Tom to marry a girl named Olivia, who is his distant cousin.Nola says that Chris is being groomed by the family and he will do well in life, unless he blows it by making a pass at her.
Alec is impressed with Chris' work at the company and says that soon a significant position will open up at the company, which will pay accordingly and will have a number of perks associated to it. He also offers Chris an MBA education on the company's expense.One afternoon, Tom's mother, Eleanor, questions Nola's choice of profession. During a storm, Chris follows Nola outside and confesses his feelings for her, and they passionately kiss in a wheat-field. Feeling guilty, Nola treats this as an accident; Chris, however, wants an ongoing clandestine relationship. Chris and Chloe marry, while Tom ends his relationship with Nola.
Chloe, to her distress, does not become pregnant immediately. Chris vainly tries to track down Nola but meets her by chance sometime later at Tate Modern. He discreetly asks for her number, and they begin an affair.Whilst Chris is spending time with his wife's family, Nola calls to inform him that she is pregnant. Panicked, Chris asks her to get an abortion, but she refuses, saying that she wants to raise the child with him.Chris's strange behavior makes Chloe suspect he is having an affair, which he denies. Nola urges Chris to divorce his wife, and he feels trapped and finds himself lying to Chloe as well as Nola. Nola confronts him at his office, and he just escapes public detection.
Soon after, Chris takes a shotgun from his father-in-law's home and carries it to his office in a tennis bag. On leaving, he calls Nola on her mobile to tell her he has good news for her. He goes to Nola's building and gains entry the apartment of her neighbor, Mrs. Eastby (Margaret Tyzack).Chris shoots and kills Mrs Eastby, then stages a burglary by ransacking the room and stealing some jewelry and drugs. As Nola returns, he shoots her in the stairwell. He then takes a taxi to the theatre to watch a musical with Chloe. Scotland Yard investigates the crime and concludes it was committed by a drug addict stealing money. The following day, the murder is in the news. Chris returns the shotgun and he and Chloe announce her pregnancy.
Detective Mike Banner (James Nesbitt) invites Chris for an interview in relation to the murder. Beforehand, Chris throws Mrs. Eastby's jewelry and drugs into the river, but by chance her ring bounces on the railing and falls to the pavement. At the police station, Chris denies knowing Nola, but Banner surprises him with her diary, in which he features extensively. He confesses his affair to Banner but denies any link to the murder and appeals to the detectives not to involve him any more in their investigation, as news of the affair may well end his marriage just as he and his wife are expecting a baby.
Late one night Chris sees apparitions of Nola and Mrs. Eastby, who tell him to be ready for the consequences of his actions; he replies that his crimes, though wrong, had been "necessary", and that he is able to suppress his guilt. At the same time, Banner dreams that Chris committed the murders. His theory is discredited by his partner Inspector Dowd (Ewen Bremner), who informs him that a drug peddler found murdered on the streets had Mrs. Eastby's ring in his pocket. The film ends with Chloe giving birth to a baby boy named Terrence, and his uncle blessing him not with goodness but luck.
