The 2025 film Magic Hour is pure magic. A tale of an underdog so buried under mediocrity that digging out is not assured. Jacqueline Christy writes and directs this sublime look at dreams unfulfilled and chasing said dreams to a conclusion.
Satisfactory or not.
The story
In Magic Hour Harriet lives a pretty mediocre life. Her husband Bob is fooling around and her daughter Emma disregards her mother on all fronts. A chance moment rekindles a long ago dream of Harriet’s. She decides to try filmmaking once more.
the Main cast
Miriam Shor is Harriet.
Josh Stamberg is Bob.
Cameron Morton is Emma.
Sendhil Ramamurthy is Hank.
The Rest
Austin Pendleton is Joseph.
Patrick Breen is Michael.
John Harrington Bland is Bill.
Delissa Reynolds is Felicity.
Michael Panes is Ted.
Anna Suzuki is Beatrice.
Morgan Wolk is Anna.
Cameo Moment
Renée Taylor as Mom Mom.
Behind the camera
Christy’s Magic Hour is about someone who gave up their life’s dream to be a wife and a mother. Her team, as filmmaker, is spot on here. The music, by Carla Patullo moves things along brilliantly. She give us a musical treat.
Cinematographer Lasse Ulvedal Tolbøll allows a bit of magic; where needed, and a bit of fun. The editing credits are shared between three: Edward Chin, John Rafanelli, and Alan Wu. This is no “too many cooks scenario.” The three work well together.
Filmmaking 101
Magic Hour is not necessarily “Filmmaking 101.” It is, however, an amusing look at student filmmaking and the “behind the scenes” nuts and bolts of the business. This is fun. We enjoy the journeys of all involved. The blended family that Harriet is absorbed into and her new film family.
Hank, played brilliantly by Ramamurthy, makes for a great romantic leading man.
Cast is everything
Casting by Adrienne Stern was brilliant. This was a film filled with a stirling cast. Actors with familiar faces who impressed on other projects did the same here.
You cannot help but fall in love with everyone in this film. *With the exception of Ted. Still, Panes gives a man we immediately loathe. Kudos indeed for this actor’s performance.*
Apart from Ted, Magic Hour allows us to get the “feels” for all the characters. We cheer Harriet on in her journey of discovery. In fact we care about all the folks in this “the worm turns” film.
All the actors knock this one out of the metaphorical park and Christy’s script allows all the players to shine here.
The Verdict
Magic Hour is a nigh on perfect 5 stars out of 5. It all fits like a story we can believe in. I know that this, to me, was a great feel good film. It now ranks as one of my 2025 favorites.
The film gets its world premiere on February 5, 2025 at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2025 .
The trailer
Sadly, there is no trailer available for this one as it starts its Festival Run. Keep an eye out and we will add one when it comes available.
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