By all accounts Magic In The Moonlight really belongs in that heavily populated category known as Allen's Mediocre's which comprises probably 65-70% of his catalog. But it's from this exact category that I pick films I think deserve a little more praise - they're not hits like Midnight In Paris, Sleeper or Annie Hall but they're not crap like Curse Of The Jade Scorpion, You'll Meet A Tall Starnger or Rainy Day In New York.
"Magic" elevates for two reasons especially the first. The man is a genius writer. This is where the true Woody Allen talent lies. Keep in mind this guy was making a living writing for some very reputable publications when he was still in high school! This script is marketed like a romance but it's really a story about the metaphysical, a common reoccurring theme in Allen's work. As Colin Firth's character struggles back and forth with whether to believe in real mediumship or not, Allen presents some very interesting ideas on life and death concepts that we all deal with.
The simple bare-bones cast in this one all fit real nice too, I particularly like Hamish Linklater as the son of a rich family that is smitten with Stone and serenades her nonstop with ukelele. Also, as usual the photography, I believe he uses his same cinematographer here, is beautiful capturing the south of France. A simple 90-min comedy, worth at least one watch for Allen fans. 3.0 stars/5
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