A Hora Mágica

"A hora mágica" is a mix between a noir movie and a fantastic, surreal movie, dealing with the contrasts between reality as it is and reality as we want it to be. Life imitates art, but what life? What art? Is any of it worth it? The acting, the scenario, the timing, all promote an air of falsehood, and for a good reason: this is the land of fantasy, of desire, a place to try (and fail) to escape the roughness of real life and join the paradisiac land of the movies (or, as it is, of radio soap-operas). And this is why it also explicitly resembles a noir movie, the kind of movie that epitomizes the glamour of Hollywood. This game between reality and fantasy is paralleled to the shock originated with the arrival of TV in Brazil, rivaling radio, as TV virtually destroyed the radio soap-operas (the main character is a radio soap-opera actor). All in all, a delicate film, beautiful to the eyes and the soul, well-done technically, and with a good soundtrack. In particular, the final sequence is simply perfect, maybe among the most beautiful in the history of cinema; that sequence alone justifies recommending this film.

"A Hora Mágica" is based in one of the works of the great Argentinian writer Julio Cortázar, but it does little to add anything to its literary source.

The acting is stilted, unnatural, always distant and sloppy. The Director is often pretentious, displaying an incomprehensible screenplay that alienates the audience every change it gets.

The annoying repetition of the dubbing of the actors was maddening at times, and it's hard to believe they actually thought anyone would like that.

The neo-noir style, while effective, does little to save the shipwreck of a screenplay this film has. Watch it for the cinematography and production values alone.

5/10

This movie is a faithful, and very colorful reproduction of the show business scene in Brazil in the late thirties and early forties. It is basically a romantic comedy about a good looking movie star with a horrible voice, competing with his average looking radio counterpart with a great voice and who dubs the other's lines. They compete for the affection of the radio star's female colleague. A few contemporary themes are thrown in also, but are of little importance. The highlight of the film for many may be the colorful art direction and sound track this movie boasts. Worth watching.