"Now You See Me" - directed by Louis Leterrier
I've been excited for this one for some time.
The trailer looked intriguing and there is not one damned little thing wrong with the casting.
Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Jesse Eisenberg and Melanie Laurent.
That is some great individual talent there but as a group very, very interesting.
The director has turned out some entertaining, if not amazing movies with the likes of "Transporter 2", "The Incredible Hulk" and "Clash of the Titans".
I like all of them... a fair bit at least.
Leterrier can shoot a fun flick that's for sure.
But more than the director or even that great cast it is the concept that really sells this one for me.
A group of stage magicians named the Four Horseman pull of incredible feats of magic.
They pull of a bank heist as part of the act and distribute the money to the crowd.
Of course the authorities are immediately onto them and it becomes a big old chase movie.
And I like big old chase movies.
Plus this one comes with some mystery to it.
How are they pulling off these amazing tricks and what do they want?
So... ticket sold then.
The problem with movies based entirely around concepts such as this is that they had better deliver on the promise.
I would put movies such as "The Prestige", "The Illusionist" and even "The Matrix" in the same category but above all - the TV show "Lost".
Many people including myself complained that "Lost" drifted along seemingly stalling for season after season without really revealing any answers.
And there was the fear that the dreaded 'And it was all a dream' nonsense would be the ultimate answer.
It was none other than Morgan Freeman in "Se7en" who delivered the line...
That is the fear.
All the time spent invested in the mystery will be negated by a weak ending.
"Now You See Me" largely avoids this by moving at such a blistering pace and with such a vertiginous, ever moving camera that there isn't a lot of time to worry too much.
There is constantly something happening and more often than not it is pretty intriguing.
The dialogue is often silky smooth with some witty banter between the four leads.
An early scene in which the four first meet features nicely constructed four way dialogue with genuine comedic punch to it.
Sadly there is also an equal share of weak chatter in there too.
For every great scene such as those that make up the great interrogation sequence there is one that induces groans- pretty much any scene between Ruffalo and Laurent.
I am a huge fan of both actors but they are given a terrible romantic subplot here that has absolutely no time to develop believably or even sparkle with chemistry.
The lines that they are asked to deliver are no picnic either.
I'll watch Ruffalo in pretty much anything and the talented Laurent sounds every bit as good as she looks but this aspect of the plot is dire.
The lack of time given to it then is as much a blessing as a problem though and that breakneck pace once again disguises a weakness.
At least the Ruffalo/Laurent romance subplot provides a little more of what the films exels at.
Namely - it keeps you guessing.
Always I was trying to figure out who was in on the scheme and who the real bad guy, guys or girls were.
Not everything or everyone is given a full conclusion and a certain high profile member of the cast is left with very vague motivations or purpose.
It doesn't all add up and there are plot holes for Africa but it is goofy fun.
The interrogation sequence is a highlight and any time the Four Horsemen take the stage you are guaranteed to be glued to the screen.
The magic feats that they present are well shot and always entertaining.
There is a pretty good car chase using all of those "Transporter 2" skills that Leterrier has honed.
It is the balletic fight and subsequent foot chase that truly thrills in the action stakes however.
Humour is well served too with some great work from Woody Harrelson.
He has really cemented his position as the go to guy for roles requiring a lovable rogue quality and yet is equally adept at heavier stuff as with "Rampart" or "Defendor".
Here he re-teams with his "Zombieland" co-star Jesse Eisenberg.
Both are a little underused but not so much as poor Isla Fisher whose comedic talents so brilliantly on display in "Wedding Crashers" are totally wasted here.
She is there to look pretty and to provide half of yet another romantic subplot that goes nowhere.
In truth I didn't care too much as I happily got swept up in the tale being told.
The movie always has a laugh and a trick up its sleeve and most of the cast at least seem to be having a lot of fun delivering them.
With a nice balance of young blood and old pros it also appeals to a wide spectrum of ages.
No doubt this helped it return more than three times its $75,000,000 budget already.
There is no graphic violence, limited profanity and no nudity or sex and it doesn't need them.
Without giving a thing away the ending is by equal measure satisfying and disappointing.
It would be a truly great film indeed that delivered fully on such an intriguing premise and "Now You See Me" is far from great.
It is however, very good and an immense amount of fun.
You may be able to pick at least a fair bit of the ending if you throw enough theories at this one while you watch it unfold but even so it doesn't put a dent in what is a slick and shiny ride.
Whatever weaknesses it has - being entertaining is not amongst them.
Yes, it is silly.
No, it doesn't have an ending completely worthy of the preceding 100 or so minutes.
And no, it likely won't stay with you too long after you leave the cinema.
But while you are in there it will hold your attention, make you laugh a little, exhilarate you with some action here and there and best of all keep you guessing.
Good, silly old fashioned fun.
The trailer looked intriguing and there is not one damned little thing wrong with the casting.
Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Jesse Eisenberg and Melanie Laurent.
That is some great individual talent there but as a group very, very interesting.
The director has turned out some entertaining, if not amazing movies with the likes of "Transporter 2", "The Incredible Hulk" and "Clash of the Titans".
I like all of them... a fair bit at least.
Leterrier can shoot a fun flick that's for sure.
But more than the director or even that great cast it is the concept that really sells this one for me.
A group of stage magicians named the Four Horseman pull of incredible feats of magic.
They pull of a bank heist as part of the act and distribute the money to the crowd.
Of course the authorities are immediately onto them and it becomes a big old chase movie.
And I like big old chase movies.
Plus this one comes with some mystery to it.
How are they pulling off these amazing tricks and what do they want?
So... ticket sold then.
 |
| Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco are The Four Horsemen |
The problem with movies based entirely around concepts such as this is that they had better deliver on the promise.
I would put movies such as "The Prestige", "The Illusionist" and even "The Matrix" in the same category but above all - the TV show "Lost".
Many people including myself complained that "Lost" drifted along seemingly stalling for season after season without really revealing any answers.
And there was the fear that the dreaded 'And it was all a dream' nonsense would be the ultimate answer.
It was none other than Morgan Freeman in "Se7en" who delivered the line...
'If we caught John Doe tomorrow, and it turned out he was the devil... if it turned out that he was literally Satan, then that might live up to our expectations.'
That is the fear.
All the time spent invested in the mystery will be negated by a weak ending.
There is constantly something happening and more often than not it is pretty intriguing.
The dialogue is often silky smooth with some witty banter between the four leads.
An early scene in which the four first meet features nicely constructed four way dialogue with genuine comedic punch to it.
Sadly there is also an equal share of weak chatter in there too.
For every great scene such as those that make up the great interrogation sequence there is one that induces groans- pretty much any scene between Ruffalo and Laurent.
I am a huge fan of both actors but they are given a terrible romantic subplot here that has absolutely no time to develop believably or even sparkle with chemistry.
The lines that they are asked to deliver are no picnic either.
I'll watch Ruffalo in pretty much anything and the talented Laurent sounds every bit as good as she looks but this aspect of the plot is dire.
The lack of time given to it then is as much a blessing as a problem though and that breakneck pace once again disguises a weakness.
At least the Ruffalo/Laurent romance subplot provides a little more of what the films exels at.
Namely - it keeps you guessing.
Always I was trying to figure out who was in on the scheme and who the real bad guy, guys or girls were.
 |
| The romantic subplot is a complete misfire |
It doesn't all add up and there are plot holes for Africa but it is goofy fun.
The interrogation sequence is a highlight and any time the Four Horsemen take the stage you are guaranteed to be glued to the screen.
The magic feats that they present are well shot and always entertaining.
There is a pretty good car chase using all of those "Transporter 2" skills that Leterrier has honed.
It is the balletic fight and subsequent foot chase that truly thrills in the action stakes however.
Humour is well served too with some great work from Woody Harrelson.
He has really cemented his position as the go to guy for roles requiring a lovable rogue quality and yet is equally adept at heavier stuff as with "Rampart" or "Defendor".
Here he re-teams with his "Zombieland" co-star Jesse Eisenberg.
Both are a little underused but not so much as poor Isla Fisher whose comedic talents so brilliantly on display in "Wedding Crashers" are totally wasted here.
She is there to look pretty and to provide half of yet another romantic subplot that goes nowhere.
In truth I didn't care too much as I happily got swept up in the tale being told.
The movie always has a laugh and a trick up its sleeve and most of the cast at least seem to be having a lot of fun delivering them.
With a nice balance of young blood and old pros it also appeals to a wide spectrum of ages.
No doubt this helped it return more than three times its $75,000,000 budget already.
There is no graphic violence, limited profanity and no nudity or sex and it doesn't need them.
 |
| Dark Knight veterans Caine and Freeman re-team |
It would be a truly great film indeed that delivered fully on such an intriguing premise and "Now You See Me" is far from great.
It is however, very good and an immense amount of fun.
You may be able to pick at least a fair bit of the ending if you throw enough theories at this one while you watch it unfold but even so it doesn't put a dent in what is a slick and shiny ride.
Whatever weaknesses it has - being entertaining is not amongst them.
Yes, it is silly.
No, it doesn't have an ending completely worthy of the preceding 100 or so minutes.
And no, it likely won't stay with you too long after you leave the cinema.
But while you are in there it will hold your attention, make you laugh a little, exhilarate you with some action here and there and best of all keep you guessing.
Good, silly old fashioned fun.
| Rated | M for violence and language |
| Running Time: | 115 minutes (1hr 45mins without end credits) |
| Starring: |
| Jesse Eisenberg | --- J. Daniel Atlas |
| Isla Fisher | --- Henley Reeves |
| Mark Ruffalo | --- Dylan Rhodes |
| Woody Harrelson | --- Merritt McKinney |
| Dave Franco | --- Jack Wilder |
| Melanie Laurent | --- Alma Dray |
| Michael Caine | --- Arthur Tressler |
| Morgan Freeman | --- Thaddeus Bradley |
| Michael Kelly | --- Agent Fuller |
| Common | --- Evans |
| Jose Garcia | --- Etienne Forcier |
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