Scoop

Sondra Pransky, an American journalism student visiting London, volunteers as an assistant during a stage act by a magician called Splendini. Inside his vanishing cabinet she is contacted by the ghost of Joe Strombel, a reporter who has just died and who passes on a tip about a serial killer known as the Tarot Killer. The trail points toward Peter Lyman, a wealthy aristocrat and politician. Sondra pursues the story with Sid Waterman, the magician behind the Splendini persona, while growing romantically involved with the very man she is investigating.

Woody Allen directed and wrote the film, his thirty-fourth as director in chronological order, following Match Point and preceding Cassandra's Dream. Scarlett Johansson plays Sondra, Allen plays Sid, Hugh Jackman plays Peter Lyman, and Ian McShane plays the deceased journalist. Charles Dance and Romola Garai appear in supporting roles. The production involved Ingenious Media, Focus Features, BBC Film and HanWay Films.

Made for about four million dollars, the film took roughly thirty-nine million worldwide, a strong return on its budget. On IMDb it holds 6.6 out of 10 from around ninety thousand votes, and on TMDB 6.6 out of 10 from a much smaller number of votes. A critics' rating of 5.6 out of 10 from 146 reviews places it below the audience scores. At ninety-six minutes, it mixes comedy with a mystery plot.