The news came down from Variety today that Scarlett Johansson has agreed to star in another Woody Allen film.

When she signed on to be in Match Point I think all of us movie folk said, "Ok, she wants to get Woody Allen that elusive Best Picture Oscar." It didn't pan out that way, and although Match Point was received well critically, it made next to nothing at the box office (this was probably okay, though, as the budget had to have been 30 cents).

Next she figured Scoop was the role for her, and I was officially worried. Why take this role? It made even less than Match Point and wasn't as well received (though I sort of liked it). After Scoop we all breathed a sigh of relief because we knew she'd move on to better work. The Prestige cemented the notion that not only was she the "Sexiest Woman Alive" (according to Esquire), she was a talented actress too. And now this, a third project destined not to be charming.

I won't debate the economics of Woody; as shown in this excerpt he's doing just dandy:

Mediapro, the Barcelona-based production and sports rights company, committed last December to fund Allen's film. Execs didn't need to see a script.

I have no doubt that he's making profitable movies. What he's not doing is making films of value; this is why he hasn't taken home the little gold man in 20 years. I don't think directors hit a wall at a certain age (look at Scorsese), but I do think Woody has. He's too interested in being Woody Allen and not interested enough in making good films. Look at the self-aggrandizing Scoop in which he starred. Is there another director out there who successfully puts himself in movies anymore? Even Shyamalan is toeing the line with his silly premise that he's an actor.

So I'd say Scarlett is headed down the wrong path. Instead of working with past-their-prime directors, I'd suggest going with fresh and innovative voices. She was great in the Coen Brothers' The Man Who Wasn't There -- if you've got to go quirky, at least go with modern quirky, eh? She also made the right choice in trusting Christopher Nolan for The Prestige. Heck, she'd probably even be better off starring in another horrific Michael Bay film (The Island); at least then she'd be seen by an audience.

I think she's capable of good decisions; trying out Woody once was probably a smart resume builder. But three times? C'mon, that's kooky talk. She may be J-Tim's right-hand gal when it comes to bringing sexy back, but it's her career that will need resuscitation should she continue down the Woody path to irrelevance.

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