Starring: Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Simon McBurnie
In addition to performing as a Chinese mystic named Wei Ling Soo, Stanley Crawford (Firth) devotes his time to exposing frauds, specifically those who claim to be psychics or mediums. At the request of his friend Berkin (McBurnie), Stanley travels to France to meet Sophie Baker (Stone) a young and pretty American believed to have psychic gifts. Stanley is, as always, skeptical but but skepticism is tested by her phenomenal talent. Could she be the real deal and is there more to his fascination with her than meets the eye?
Known to be an actor, director and writer, less known is Woody Allen's work as a jazz musician, but his fondness for jazz is evident through out his work. Here in Magic In The Moonlight, there's a regular refrain of Cole Porter's "You Do Something To Me" and, listening the lyrics, I could easily imagine that they inspired this film. At this stage in his long and prolific career, Allen is riding high off of the popularity of his last effort as director, Blue Jasmine, and for good reason. It was well-written and featured a memorable performance in the lead by Cate Blanchett. It was, whilst also a comedy, a rather acerbic and dark film that had its moments of severity. Magic In The Moonlight is a lighter affair and is really rather flippant. But then again, what's wrong with flippancy?
Magic In The Moonlight is a rather light and bouncy film. So light and bouncy that even the fairly mild 12a and PG-13 certificates it has been graced with seem rather harsh. In the leads, Colin Forth and Emma Stone give the film life as unlikely a pairing they are. There's nearing a thirty year age gap between the two actors and they physically seem totally at odds. Firth often seems massive and imposing in this role, his rather guttural tone and exasperated manner at times recalling John Cleese. Stone is slight a d bird-like, fitting with her 20's flapper character. That they have chemistry on screen is an impressive achievement, put down to their performances and Allen's witty screenplay.
The plot is really one of seduction and given the film's tone, there's an expectation towards subtlety and finesse that feels mishandled. Firth's character arc doesn't come through slow and steady changes, but rather sudden revelations that clash with the understatement you expect from this film. The whole idea of Firth playing on the one hand a magician and the other, an avid defrauder of psychics could be logically justified despite the initial feeling of contradiction, but his motives are never really built upon. There's also a lacking amount of exposure for some of the supporting characters, although Eileen Atkins stands out as Firth's agnostic and mediating aunt as well as Hamish Linklater as Stone's foppish aspiring beau.
As Woody Allen advances in years and has a vast amount of work behind him, it's amazing that he's as prolific as he is. The thing is, to me, Woody Allen doesn't seem like a director by profession. More just an enthusiastic and gifted hobbyist, who happens to have famous acting friends and is able to give his work major distribution. His work has an air of almost effortlessness to it, as if he's just having fun. Far from being a criticism, I find it refreshing and it's those who make their work seem easy that often work the hardest. This is a film that has Woody Allen's trademark style. It's urbane and far from broad (although Allen's early work was very broad) and isn't to everyone's taste. I like Woody Allen movies though, and this is a rather winning piece despite its lukewarm reception.
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