MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT – The Review

It seems every new Woody Allen film brings out in force the writer/director’s detractors, who kvetch that it’s “not one of his best” and that it’s “just another Woody Allen movie.” The first statement is certainly undeniable since he’s made so many masterpieces and the second observation is more or less true but so what? MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT is currently sitting on a measly 52% over at Rotten Tomatoes with the 78-year old Allen being attacked for making the kind of movie he’s most known for — and most liked for — so long as he does it well. And with MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT, Woody Allen has done it very well indeed. It’s not on the level of his great films – it’s not ANNIE HALL, MANHATTAN, or BLUE JASMINE, but MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHTis a kind of movie you rarely see in late summer —intelligent entertainment that pretends to be nothing more. It may not among his best work, but any true fan of Woody Allen’s will still find things to enjoy here and even second tier Woody is better than just about anything else in town.

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHTcenters on Chinese illusionist Wei Ling Soo, the most celebrated magician of his age, but he’s actually the stage persona of Stanley Crawford (Colin Firth), a prickly, arrogant Brit with a most high opinion of himself and an aversion to phony spiritualists’ claims. Persuaded by his friend, Howard Burkan (Simon McBurney), Stanley goes on a mission to the Côte d’Azur mansion of the high-living Catledge family: mother Grace (Jacki Weaver), her son Brice (Hamish Linklater), and daughter Caroline (Erica Leerhsen). He presents himself as a businessman named Stanley Taplinger in order to debunk the alluring young clairvoyant Sophie Baker (Emma Stone) who is staying there with her mother (Marcia Gay Harden). Sophie arrived at the Catledge villa at the invitation of Grace, who is convinced that Sophie can help her contact her late husband, and once there, attracted the attention of Brice, who has fallen for her head over heels. What follows is a series of events that are magical in every sense of the word and send these characters reeling as they ponder the existence of an afterlife and the possibility of true love

As is usually the case in the Allen’s films, the plot is less important than the dialog and performances. The jokes are light in MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT – Woody’s focused on the romance more than laughs this time. Firth gets some in – “Another fake psychic? What a pestilence they are!” he sputters. The actor is fantastic here and has fun spoofing the pompous deadpan Brit he’s known for, showing contempt for those who’d let themselves have faith in superstition or religion. Unfortunately, Emma Stone is unable to match him (had Allen made this 5 years ago, Scarlett Johansson would have had this role). Stone is confident and charming enough but Sophie is an underwritten character lacking depth and her scenes with Hamish Linklater as a ukulele-strumming, love-sick puppy are the film’s weakest. Despite some flaws MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT is a gorgeous, sumptuous film with wonderful cinematography and great, Jazz Age music. For those who pass up this little gem of a movie based on the naysayers, you’re cheating yourself out of one of the few adult pleasures of the summer.

4 of 5 Stars

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT opens Friday August 8th at Landmark’s Tivoli Theater and Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Theater