Scoop (2006)

Scoop is a light, playful murder-mystery with a supernatural twist: an American journalism student, Sondra Pransky (Scarlett Johansson), is told by the recently deceased investigative reporter Joe Strombel (Ian McShane) — who briefly returns from the afterlife — that a charming aristocrat, Peter Lyman (Hugh Jackman), may be London’s elusive “Tarot Card Killer.” Enlisting a hapless American magician, Sidney Waterman (Woody Allen), Sondra plunges into a bungled but determined investigation that mixes disguise, sleight-of-hand, and a slowly blooming romance that makes her doubt the dead man’s scoop. Watching Scoop you’ll get a breezy blend of screwball comedy and cozy crime intrigue rather than a grim thriller: witty banter, awkward romantic chemistry, and comic set pieces sit alongside the mystery’s tensions. The film leans into whimsical fantasy (ghostly interventions), social satire (aristocracy and tabloid journalism), and charming performances — Johansson’s curiosity and vulnerability, Jackman’s suave ambiguity, Allen’s neurotic humor, and McShane’s gruff presence. Expect modest suspense, a few surprises, and a tone that keeps things more playful than chilling — ideal if you want a quirky, character-driven caper with romantic and supernatural flourishes.

Actors: Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman, Jim Dunk

Director: Woody Allen

Runtime: 96 min

Genres: Comedy, Crime, Fantasy

6.8 /10 48 /100 6.6 /10 6.1 /10