The money scene in writer-director Woody Allen's "Magic In The Moonlight" is when Colin Firth bows his head and prays.

Prayer? In a Woody Allen film?"Magic In The Moonlight" not only challenges preconceived notions about a Woody Allen film, it makes us think about our own concepts of prayer, faith, death and the hereafter.Of course, this being a Woody Allen film, "Magic In The Moonlight" gives us a lot of laughs in between the philosophical musings.In "Magic In The Moonlight," which takes place in 1928 in Berlin and on the French Riviera, Colin Firth plays Stanley, an Englishman who masquerades as Wei Ling Soo, a successful and celebrated "Asian" magician whose bag of tricks includes the illusion of sawing a woman in half, making an elephant disappear and teleporting himself across the theater stage.Stanley doesn't believe in magic. After all, he knows the tricks to the tricks. Indeed, Stanley is a debunker of mentalists, prognosticators and psychics who claim to contact the spirits of the dead.Stanley is brought in to discredit a popular medium, Sophie (Emma Stone), who seems to have the uncanny ability to know a person's past and future and is suspected of being in a position to defraud a prominent family.Stanley is engaged to Olivia (Catherine McCormack). Sophie is engaged to the ardent Brice (Hamish Linklater). No matter. When Stanley and Olivia meet, the magic happens in a Bogie and Bacall May-December romance (Stone will be 26 in November. Firth will be 46 in September.)."Magic In The Moonlight" is a frothy romantic comedy, as bubbly as a glass of French champagne, slight in its sleigh-of-hand subject.The film entertains even as it brings to the fore some weighty issues. Just what role does faith play and how much does our faith, if we have faith in a higher power, influence our lives?Firth (Oscar winner, "The King's Speech," 2010) gives a delightful performance as Stanley. Perhaps because of his British accent, or because of his ramrod straight screen presence, Firth avoids many "Woody-isms" (the fluttery hands, the halting speech) that shadow-puppet many actors performing Allen's screenplay dialogue. Firth has a depth and resonance that makes Stanley an intriguing, believable and winning character.Stone (Gwen, "The Amazing Spider-Man," 2014) is transfiguring as Sophie. Her luminous eyes are held longingly in close-ups. Stone's slight lisp gives a winsome quality to her line delivery. She is a bright, happy presence that you grow to like despite the questionable ethics of the character she plays.In supporting roles are Simon McBurney as Howard, a fellow magician; Eileen Atkins as Stanley's Aunt Vanessa; Marcia Gay Harden as Sophie's mother; and Jacki Weaver as a family friend."Magic In The Moonlight" is beautifully lensed by director of photography Darius Khondji ("To Rome With Love," 2012; "Midnight In Paris," 2011; "Panic Room," 2002; "The Beach," 2000; "Evita," 1996; "Se7en," 1995), with many wonderful scenes taking place in the golden hour of the late afternoon-early evening sunlight, with gorgeous French coast landscapes and magnificent country estates as a backdrop in the production design by Anne Seibel ("Midnight In Paris," 2011).Stanley's wardrobe is tailored tweedy and Sophie's gowns are diaphanous in the costume design by Sonia Grande ("Midnight In Paris," 2011; "Vicky Cristina Barcelona," 2008).Topping it off are lovely Tin Pan Alley songs of the era on a soundtrack of some 22 music pieces or excerpts.Bask in "Magic In The Moonlight." It is one of the some 50 films Allen has directed (with his "Untitled Woody Allen Project" announced for 2015).Don't leave summer without seeing it."Magic In The Moonlight," MPAA rated PG -13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned. Some Material May Be Inappropriate For Children Under 13.) for a brief suggestive comment, and smoking throughout; Genre: Comedy, Romance; Run time: 1 hr.; 37 min. Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics.Credit Readers Anonymous: Ute Lemper sings "It's All a Swindle" ("Alles Schwindel") by Mischa Spoliansky and Marcellos Schiffer in a scene at a cabaret in "Magic In The Moonlight."This column is dedicated to Lauren Bacall (1924 - 2014).Box Office, Aug. 22: "Guardians Of The Galaxy" ruled the summer movie box office universe (ahead of "Transformers: Age Of Extinction," $243,825,000, nine weeks), reclaiming No. 1 after four weeks and two weeks at No. 2, $17.6 million, $251.8 million, four weeks, pushing "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" to No. 2 after its two-week-straight run at No. 1, with $16.8 million, $145.6 million, three weeks, with "If I Stay" staying at No. 3, with $16.3 million, opening;4. Let's Be Cops," $11 million, $45.2 million, two weeks; 5. "When The Game Stands Tall," $9 million, opening; 6. "The Giver," $6.7 million, $24.1 million, two weeks; 7. "The Expendables 3," $6.6 million, $27.5 million, two weeks; 8. "Sin City: A Dame To Kill For," $6.4 million, opening; 9." The Hundred-Foot Journey," $5.5 million, $32.7 million, three weeks; 10. "Into The Storm," $3.8 million, $38.3 million, three weeksUnreel, Aug. 29:"Jessabelle," PG-13: A woman returns to her Louisiana childhood home where she's haunted, and hunted, by a deadly spirit. Sarah Snook, Mark Webber, Joelle Carter and David Andrews star in the horror film."As Above, So Below," R: A team explores the catacombs beneath Paris. Ben Feldman, Edwin Hodge and Perdita Weeks star in the horror film."The November Man," R: Roger Donaldson directs Pierce Brosnan as an ex-CIA operative on a high-level mission in Russia in the action film. Olga Kurylenko, Eliza Taylor and Luke Bracey co-star."The Congress," No MPAA rating: An actress finds her latest role isn't what she expected. Robin Wright, Harvey Keitel, Jon Hamm and Paul Giamatti star in the sci-fi animation drama."One Change," PG-13: The biopic tells the story of Paul Potts, who won "Britain's Got Talent" TV show. James Corden, Alexandra Roach, Julie Walters and Colin Meaney star in the musical drama."Life Of Crime," R: Jennifer Aniston, Mark Boone Junior, Kevin Cannon and Julie E. Davis star in the comedy crime caper about a kidnapping ransom gone awry.Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes