Magical Illusions

Rating: 7/10 (9 July 2013)

Now You See Me
***1/2 (out of 4)
115 mins/ 12
Cast: Jessie Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Michael Kelly, Lonnie 'Common' Lynn, David Warshofsky
Director: Louis Leterrier
Plot: The FBI chase a group of magicians who steal money as part of their tricks and then give it to the audience.
JJ's Verdict: Now You See Me is not only about magic; but uses magical distractions and false clues to lead you to believe something is going to happen when almost the opposite does. It creates brilliant illusions through both the camera-work and the acting. Now You See Me is the coolest, smartest, slickest and probably best acted film you'll see all summer.
Now You See Me focuses on a group of arrogant, over-confident magicians, called 'The Four Horsemen', who perform amazing tricks involving robbing banks and giving all the money to their audience. But when the FBI finds out about their magnificent heist, the two groups begin a cat-and-mouse chase across the U.S as the FBI agents try to find out how the illusionists are pulling the tricks off – with the help of Morgan Freeman's trick-spoiler, Thaddeus Bradley. The group of magicians, (played by Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) although pretty cool, are completely arrogant and laid-back and the FBI agents (played by Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Laurent, Michael Kelly, Lonnie Lynn and David Warshofsky), although more down-to-Earth, are completely stupid and slow-minded. From here we get two groups of characters who both have strong points and both have bad points, so its full marks to the makers of the film that they are given an equal share of the screen time, and the film lets you decide who to root for.
'The Four Horsemen' all have brilliant chemistry and all work extremely well as a unit– you believe they are actually in a group together. Mark Ruffalo, who plays reluctant agent, Dylan Rhodes, puts in the standout performance and his interplay with Interpol agent, Alma Dray (played by Melanie Laurent) is superb.
Anyone would forgive Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, both in supporting roles, for almost sleepwalking through this film given their ages and past appearances in films like this. Freeman plays an ex-magician who gives away trade secrets to the highest bidder, and Caine portrays Arthur Tressler, the group's financier. But both give truly strong and emotional performances in roles that would have seemed under-written with a lot of other actors. Each cast member has put their full effort into this and produced an amazing achievement in the process.
The film is highly suspenseful and keeps you interested and guessing the final outcome. Each trick is made with visual excellency and are surprisingly given a simple explanation. Although the multitude of tricks and illusions can be hard to get past, once you do get past them you are rewarded with a brilliant, initiative, exciting and original thriller. Those expecting a typical summer blockbuster need to push up their expectations. Now You See Me is full of mysterious turns and includes the finest twist ending I've seen in a long time. It uses brilliant visual and camera trickery not too dissimilar to how the tricks themselves are played out on-screen.
Look closely, because the closer you think you are, the less you will actually see.