Coldplay’s New Video Is Like a Fellini Film but With Coldplay

A month after Coldplay announced the release of their new album with a no-frills video of the first single, the song now has an official video.

And with its artsy black-and-white footage, circus setting and self-referential nods to the cinema, 'Magic' looks a little like a Fellini film. But with Chris Martin instead of Marcello Mastroianni.

The clip stars Ziyi Zhang, who was in the excellent 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,' as a magician. Martin, in a totally Felliniesque turn, plays a couple of different characters: her husband and assistant.

With its old-fashioned title cards and romantic plot, 'Magic''s video is probably a good sign where Coldplay's upcoming album 'Ghost Stories,' which comes out on May 19, is heading. And it's a probably a clearer sign than the one marked by the record's other released song, the Bon Iver-swiping 'Midnight.'