Instantly forgettable with a ridiculous end twist

Rating: 5/10 (31 July 2014)

Have you ever been to a magic show and been so amazed at the feats being performed that you absolutely must know how it was done? Remember the crushing feeling of disappointment as it is revealed that the trick is nothing more than smoke and mirrors? You will experience a very similar feeling after watching Now You See Me.
Louis Leterrier's 2013 thriller follows Jesse Eisenberg and his band of magicians known as The Four Horsemen, as they perform audacious crimes disguised as tricks, all whilst being followed by Mark Ruffalo's FBI agent. It all starts off very promising, as the horsemen rob a bank in Paris from their stage in Las Vegas leading to a cat and mouse chase in which we are not quite sure who is the cat and who is the mouse.
Leterrier adopts a fast paced, dynamic style throughout the movie, meaning we never really have a chance to get to know the characters or their motivations. There are a few action set pieces which, whilst impressive, feel slightly out of place. We are asked to suspend disbelief a little too much, as we see this band of magicians using fighting skills more commonly associated with Jason Bourne. But perhaps the biggest issue with Now You See Me is the lack of character development. Despite gathering a cast which includes Micheal Caine, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson and Mark Ruffalo, the movie never really explores these characters, they are merely tools used to enhance the story which isn't strong enough.
As the movie progresses, a feeling of disappointment begins to seep through. The running theme of misdirection often leaves the viewer unsure of anything that is happening and you find yourself second guessing every plot turn. This wouldn't be a problem if the movie had a satisfying resolution but, unfortunately, this does not prove to be the case. Answers often fall flat, plot twists feel predictable and by the time you reach the end, you realise that it is nowhere near as clever as it would have you believe. Much like a magic trick.