This lush, possibly Hours’ inspired, drama works even if you’re not ordinarily interested in historic based movies. Because the contemporary story is infused with visual nostalgia, initially it can be hard to determine when the scene occurs now or in the past. I was concerned because W.E. was directed by Madonna & normally movies & Madonna equals disaster unless she is playing Madonna (Truth or Dare, Desperately Seeking Susan), but she does not appear in the movie & at times, it feels like Madonna’s view of the story actually enhances the narrative because she is really writing an autobiography about her relationships–the disasters, the successes, the image, the reality. There are purposely anachronistic moments that seem more Madonna than part of the story (cue Wallis dancing with random Black woman to the Sex Pistols). In the end, the spirit of Midnight in Paris resides in W.E. with a bit of a feminist kick–nothing is ever as perfect as it seems, stop living in the past & worrying about what other people think & live your life. Best scenes are when the past & the present meet.