6.7 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
In 1928, Stanley, a cynical magician who performs under the stage name Wei Ling Soo, is recruited by an old friend to expose a purported mystic. A youthful and beautiful American girl, she has cast her spell over a wealthy family in the south of France. Stanley becomes conflicted when he falls for her himself.
Starring: Colin Firth, Marcia Gay Harden, Emma Stone, Jacki Weaver, Eileen AtkinsRomance | 100% |
Drama | 27% |
Period | 15% |
Comedy | Insignificant |
Mystery | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
French: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
English, English SDH, French, Spanish
50GB Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
UV digital copy
Slipcover in original pressing
Region A (C untested)
Movie | 4.5 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.5 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The well publicized off-set distractions that plagued acclaimed Filmmaker Woody Allen through much of 2014 aren't in any way apparent in his latest annual outing, the magnificently charming Magic in the Moonlight. This is another simple yet exceptional film from the master of the character-centered cinema experience. Allen's latest, a tale of Roaring Twenties romance in a world of make believe, mystery, and perhaps even the supernatural, is a charming affair that's breezy-light but also well-rounded and full, featuring strongly developed characters inhabiting a fairly unique story. The film is all Allen, whose mastery behind the camera and the keyboard alike, and reliance on character-driven drama and whimsy rather than high tech visual effects, allows him to produce more films than most while maintaining his signature quality and style that's so "Woody" that fans would even recognize his work even without his name on the marquee. Magic in the Moonlight is classic theater, for all intents and purposes, another brilliant stroke in one of the most storied bodies of work in Hollywood history.
How does she do it?
Magic in the Moonlight favors a light period-inspired sepia appearance while at the same time showcasing some slightly overcooked colors -- reds and greens in particular -- around the frame. At the same time, select scenes take on a noticeable paleness in comparison. Details are frequently pinpoint excellent. Center-frame and actor close-up shots reveal finer fabric textures and facial lines to positive film-quality accuracy, but there's an occasional softness around edges that doesn't allow much precision in medium and distance shots. Black levels are a little inconsistent, too, favoring a light paleness here and a hint of crush there. Skin tones, unsurprisingly, reflect that aforementioned sepia overlay. Otherwise, the image is technically flawless. Naturally occurring light grain inhabits the proceedings, but compression issues, wear, or other unwanted anomalies are absent. All that said, this appears to be a rather faithful transfer and a nice example of the power film -- not digital -- still holds within the medium as a legitimate, handsome canvas.
Magic in the Moonlight features a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack that, like most Allen films, favors music and dialogue as its primary ingredients but that, unlike some of his other films, does stretch a bit to include some more enveloping pieces. Those primary elements, however, are presented in fine working order. Music plays with a noticeable muddiness about it, which like the video's sepia appearance is designed to create a certain mood, not put a sound system through its paces. One exception comes early on during a magic show that presents a lively, welcomingly clear and articulate stringy musical accompaniment that represents the track's single most audibly enticing stretch. Musical spacing, otherwise and understandably, is rather limited, but the track does expand to feature some light background countryside ambience and explode into a drenching rain and thunderstorm in chapter eight. Dialogue, the staple piece in the sonic arrangement, is presented firmly and accurately through the center speaker.
Magic in the Moonlight contains three brief supplements.
Woody Allen has done it again. Magic in the Moonlight is another extraordinary little movie from one of the true legends in the film industry. Though embroiled in scandal and media scrutiny, he's churned out another gem that's classic Allen in every way, a movie that's whimsically inviting, effortlessly photographed and edited, and beautifully performed. Here's hoping for more magic in the future from a true master of the art form. Sony's Blu-ray release of Magic in the Moonlight features good video, high end audio, and a couple of extras. Highly recommended.
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