Thanks for the memories!

Good start, but then it gets ruined

Good movie but grossly overrated

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

I saw another Woody Allen film, "Wonder Wheel" just the other day. I was overwhelmed by Kate Winslet's performance even if the film is not one of Allen's best, Kate Winslet makes it a must so I started searching for other Woody Allen films that I may have missed. Magic in the Moonlight (2014) I didn't even know this movie existed and it has Colin Firth in the lead. Colin Firth has been a favorite actor of mine since Apartment Zero (1988) and Emma Stone won the Oscar last year. I organized my evening to enjoy every minute of this unexpected treat. Well. the film looks wonderful and it has Eileen Atkins in it but the romantic aspect of the tale left me completely cold. Emma Stone projects discomfort more than anything else and Colin Firth performs as if he was on a stage. Every line is recited and their chemistry is also acted. By not believing in them the entire film felt like a plodding attempt at something that never materializes. Maybe next time.

Although on the thin side, this romantic comedy set in 1928 turns out to be one of writer-director Woody Allen's better latter-day films. Colin Firth plays a British illusionist who performs successfully throughout the world under the guise of a Chinaman from the mystical Orient; he's, however, an unbeliever in the spiritual world, and is therefore curious to meet the houseguest of a wealthy American family vacationing on the Riviera, a surprisingly intuitive lass who claims to be an actual psychic. Firth's doubtful magician, an atheist who is amusingly brought to his knees in prayer after falling in love with telepathic Emma Stone, stands in for Woody Allen but doesn't do a Woody impersonation (a relief). Still, there's no magic between Firth and Stone as a movie-couple (they don't match up well), and the gaggle of comedic supporting characters bustling about the lush location haven't anything funny to do or say. Ultimately a benign film, but one that entertains in patches...and it's always enjoyable listening to Allen's dialogue, especially when his alter-ego continually weighs both sides of a situation without ever giving up his pessimistic nature. **1/2 from ****

In my lifetime, whenever I've watched a movie I felt was either exceptionally Good or exceptionally Horrible, I have NOT rated the movie, on any website, ever. This is not one of those times. I have followed Woody Allen's movie making career, and the entertainments which he has spawned, since the 1970's. I have watched him, oh, "mature" in the subject matter he has chosen, as well as his personal writing and directing abilities. Hence, it is from an educated and informed decision of which I speak, albeit my personal opinion:Magic In The Moonlight is - without question in my mind - one of the FINEST motion pictures I have seen in decades.I defer not to explain why I am of this opinion, and all the "fine points" about the film: Rather I write this Review as to explain - in my opinion - what makes this a truly exceptional motion picture is NOT what it HAS so much as what it HAS NOT:WHAT THIS MOVIE DOES **NOT** HAVE: 1. Overt sexual innuendo. 2. Sexuality of ANY kind that would offend MY GRANDPARENTS as well as my parents. 3. Any nudity of any kind. 4. Profanity that would offend MY GRANDPARENTS as well as my parents. 5. Vulgar words and deeds performed by the actors or extras. 6. Violence - the movie is practically DEVOID of any violence whatsoever except for, perhaps, a few verbal suggestions thereof. 7. Sophomoric writing: This motion picture is written at a cerebral level, possibly surpassing "Star Trek: The Next Generation" series, by way of example. 8. Slipshod directing: For those educated and/or mature and/or simply "old" enough to appreciate truly fine direction, this motion picture FAILS to rely upon "action / adventure" or other "industry trade secrets" to keep a viewer's attention.In my simple and humble opinion, it is no wonder that - in this day and age - thousands of IMDb individuals have, collectively, rated this masterwork so as to not even average a "7", let alone any more than that. Sorry, no offense is meant the younger generations. But it was a pleasure for a man my age to escape into a world of characters and writing that was positively spellbinding every minute of the entire presentation - without having to endure ANY of the pleasantries of 1. through 8., above. Again, if for no one else, it was a pleasure for me. Thank you reading my review. I hope you find this review helpful. Regardless whether you found this Review helpful (Yes or No), I hope you enjoy this film as much as I did.RLS

Woody Allen is certainly a phenomenon. Say what you want about him, no one is as prolific and no one is as expert in as many genres as he is."Magic in the Moonlight" from 2014 is a light comedy with a serious question underneath. Starring Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Eileen Atkins, and Hamish Linklater, Allen takes us to 1928 Paris. There, a famous magician, Wei Ling Soo, amazes audiences with his disappearing acts, sleight of hand, and sawing an assistant in half.Backstage, he's the arrogant, egomaniacal, dismissive Stanley, beautifully portrayed by Colin Firth. Stanley is approached by an old school friend to help him. He has been asked to debunk a medium, Sophie (Emma Stone) but finds he can't. He needs Stanley to watch and debunk her. Stanley is based on an actual magician, William Ellsworth Robinson who performed under the name of Chung Ling Soo. Soo also sought to debunk mediums. It must be a thing with magicians because Houdini did it as well.But just as Stanley dazzles us with his magic, Sophie dazzles Stanley with her beauty and ability.He suddenly starts to ask himself if the world as he sees it - leading nowhere and meaning nothing -- is truly all there is.The real magician here is Allen, who keeps us guessing in this delightful, lyrical film, and yet asks us - can we really know if what we believe is real? Or must we cling to our illusions in order to survive? Anyone familiar with Allen knows how the movie will come out, but possibly Allen himself, now 80, is no longer as sure as Nietzsche about the world - brutal, cruel, and so short. Once in a while, an egomaniac like Stanley is forced to admit he might not know everything.Emma Watson is lovely as Sophie, somewhat down to earth for a medium, though she can go into quite a fugue state; and Hamish Linklater again shows his comedic talent and demonstrates a great lack of singing ability as he serenades Sophie. Eileen Atkins, as Stanley's wise aunt, gives an excellent performance, showing us a woman who loves her nephew but has never quite understood where some of his pessimistic ideas come from.The rest of the cast is very good and rounds out the film - Simon McBurney as Howard, Marcia Gay Harden as Sophie's mother -- her role is surprisingly small. Beautifully photographed and costumed, "Magic in the Moonlight" is just that, and asks questions that -- despite what Woody Allen and Stanley may think -- have no definite answers: Is there a metaphysical world? Is there something after death? Is there a meaning to life?No one knows.