And Now You Go See It

Rating: 8/10 (15 July 2013)

I just returned with a family visit to watch the much anticipated film for a clan of us magic- adorers. With the classics such as Prestige backlogged and the disappointing Burt Wonderstone washed away from our minds, we ventured to view this.
Jesse Eisenburg is as great as always. Similar to a Mark Zuckerberg, he plays a quick-witted, fast-talking ace who lives in a very controlling mindframe. The beautiful Isla Fisher, his glamorous past assistant determined to prove her excellence. The great Woody Harrelson as the mentalist, often the two phrases for the word flickering between his character. And the young Dave Franco as the young, loyal member of the troop.
The film is overall very clever. Upon four magicians discovering an array of blueprints for magical machinery, they set out for stardom following the rules and paths of this plan devised by the almost fictitious card-requester. Morgan Freeman plays a very condescending guy towards the FBI, impersonating the role and the persona of a magician, whilst at the same time being a failure of one.
The actual magic shows are very little, disappointing, though it fits with the plot. Mark Ruffalo is a detective, constantly overshadowed and a few steps behind these Magicians.
Thats why the film excels. The acting is very strong and the character development is little though the point is clearly made. The film stresses several main themes of 'everything is not as you see' and 'viewing the big picture'.
An understandable 8/10