Transparent and Disappointing

Rating: 4/10 (28 December 2013)

Quite a nice looking premise set up in the trailer regarding a bank robbery elsewhere done by a group of magicians. However, I found a lot of the tricks, and actions taken in the heist very foreseeable - the others were unbelievable (Meaning not realistically possible) The ending was similarly disappointing. I found the acting fine but no one seemed particularly pushed as actors. The four main magicians were pretty unlikeable, and I didn't particularly care about anyone. I don't particularly need a good guy and a bad guy defined for me - but I'd like someone I could empathise with a little. What we have are the usual heist stalwarts: cocky thieves, frustrated detectives, stupid shouty cop's bosses, and a token love interest. This film is as smug as Eisenberg's character. It thinks its a lot cleverer than it is. It can only be compared in the same sentence to The Prestige or Oceans 11 by using the phrase "much worse than.."
As for a planned sequel: Now you saw me...but then you won't