Spectacular! How can you NOT love it.

Rating: 8/10 (11 September 2013)

No one can deny Louis Leterrier's knack for exciting audiences and his flair for blending smart screenplay with dialogue to fit, but it's his way of delivering spectacular images onto the big screen that has made me a fan. He did it again here and is even about to follow through with a sequel currently in development. With the cast that includes Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, the lesser known Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and, one who is not less known to me certainly, Mélanie Laurent whose two performances in 2009 movies 'The Concert' and 'Inglorious Basterds' have made me pay attention, the film 'Now You See Me' was bound to deliver top notch performances for the characters they played, and it does.
I was happily surprised that both Freeman and Caine were made the victims of the group of illusionists calling themselves 'The Four Horsmen'; I bet the audience did not expect them both to have such a fate. Eisenberg, Harrelson, Franco and Fisher play the members of that group, characters who are all very good performers in their own right, they are selected by an unknown master wizard to join the elite membership of 'The EYE' and complete a mission, neither of which, wizard or mission are divulged before it's time; so you will enjoy plenty of twists and turns.
Not since the two 2006 magic motif movies, Chris Nolan's 'The Prestige', which also featured Michael Caine and Neil Burger's 'The Illusionist', had I relished watching the spectacle of illusion on the big screen. I loved the lines/quotes delivered by Eisenberg and Harrelson the most. For example, when Woody says to Isla Fisher, "...if I stay out of your head, I'm never gonna get into your pants.". Harrelson's role is that of a mentalist/hypnotist. Ruffalo and Laurent, who has a subtle allure, are likely going to be featured prominently in the sequel, given the romance seed planted in this movie.
The movie has plenty of fast paced action, slower scenes that highlight terrific dialogue and of course a mystery that will leave you pondering until the end. This movie is the most fun you'll have in a dark room with all your clothes on. Have I convinced you?