Magic in the Moonlight (2014)

A romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Colin Firth, Emma Stone, Marcia Gay Harden

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Firth	...	Stanley
Antonia Clarke	...	Wei Ling Soo's Assistant
Natasha Andrews	...	Wei Ling Soo's Assistant
Valérie Beaulieu	...	Wei Ling Soo's Assistant
Peter Wollasch	...	Stage Manager
Jürgen Zwingel	...	Backstage Fan
Wolfgang Pissors	...	Backstage Fan
Sébastien Siroux	...	Backstage Fan
Simon McBurney	...	Howard Burkan
Ute Lemper	...	Cabaret Singer
Catherine McCormack	...	Olivia
Eileen Atkins	...	Aunt Vanessa
Erica Leerhsen	...	Caroline
Jeremy Shamos	...	George
Hamish Linklater	...	Brice Catledge

Storyline

Stanley is a magician who has dedicated his life to revealing fraudulent spiritualists. He plans to quickly uncover the truth behind celebrated spiritualist Sophie and her scheming mother. However, the more time he spends with her, he starts thinking that she might actually be able to communicate with the other world, but even worse, he might be falling in love with her.

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Plot Keywords:

magician | press conference | south of france | medium | clairvoyant | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a brief suggestive comment, and smoking throughout

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [France]

Country:

USA UK France

Language:

English French

Release Date:

15 August 2014 (USA)

Also Known As:

Magia a la luz de la luna

Filming Locations:

Côte d'Azur, France

Box Office

Budget:

$16,800,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$412,095, 25 July 2014, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$10,506,939, 7 November 2014

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gravier Productions,Dippermouth Productions,Perdido Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Cole Porter's "You Do Something To Me" is featured prominently throughout the film. The song was also featured in Easy Virtue, which also starred Colin Firth.

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Goofs

On several occasions, Stanley makes derisive references to how well or how badly Sophie can predict the future. She never claimed she could predict the future. Her demonstrated skills involve the past, like knowing impossible-to-know facts about people she has barely met and contacting deceased relatives. Before Stanley met Sophie, Brice said "She can predict the future."

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Quotes

[first lines]
Stanley: I don't understand. Is the conductor a blithering idiot? He went over the tempo six times. It's Adagio, Adagio, Adagio! It's not racehorse tempo.

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Connections

References Manhattan (1979)

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Soundtracks

I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
Composed by Harry Carroll
Lyrics by Joseph McCarthy
Performed by Cynthia Sayer and Hamish Linklater
Courtesy of Cynthia Sayer

User Reviews

Pleasant and witty romantic comedy centered around illusion

How can you not like Woody Allen's witty script? In Magic in the Moonlight it is brilliantly acted out by the beautiful Emma Stone and stubborn and cynical Colin Firth. Similar to Woody's Allen's other comedies, it is full of fast–paced witty and bitter dialogue, fixation on death and absurdity of life. But this time there is an additional element of illusion involved which ironically sets and overthrows the stage. As the story unfolds, we are as surprised as some of the characters and yet still feel life is good.

The movie opens with successful and famous magician Stanley (Colin Firth) being invited by his childhood friend Howard (Simon McBurney) to debunk the swindle of renowned spiritualist Sophie Baker (Emma Stone) from the US staying in a client's villa in the French Rivera. The client Grace (Jacki Weaver) and her son Bryce (Hemish Linklater) are so impressed with Sophie that he is going to marry her.

The airy and condescending Stanley arrives and is immediately taken aback by the seemingly magical power of Sophie. As their interaction intensifies, his rational and analytical ability begin to be shaken by her effortless, spontaneous and unexplainable reading and communication power.

Sophie, on the other hand, challenges his rationality while bringing out the romantic side of him without his own awareness. The twists and turns are extremely logical and pleasant to watch as designed by Woody Allen's script and unbelievably delivered by these two great actors. It is almost like a suspense story and we are sucked in right from the beginning to follow the cast and explore together. Emma Stone shines with her charming eyes and smiles while Colin Firth reminds us of a young and babbling Woody Allen.

As Sophie, Stanley and even Woody Allen make a living creating illusions, perhaps we are all living in a self-inflicted reality to help us get through life. But what's wrong with it if it enhances our senses, making us appreciate life and be happy?

Maybe we do not really need to be so rational all the time. Let our body tell us what is happening (Stanley's tossing around at night). Just go with the flow and enjoy the ride that life throws at us.