Release date: 31st May 2013
Director: Louis Leterrier
Rating: 3.5/5
Movies about magic are nothing new- some a work of art, others so ridiculous that watching them is worse than being under the Cruciatus curse. ‘Now you see me’ is somewhere there in the middle, slightly bobbing its head towards the former.
The plot is intriguing and fresh. The movie boasts of a more than remarkable ensemble, and none of the actors disappoint. Morgan Freeman, in a less flamboyant than usual character, unsurprisingly, impresses. The four magicians deliver well in a roles that demand showmanship flair – Eisenberg redoing a Zuckerberg – genius, and a certified a*hole. Fischer balances her demure looks and strong character well – her never ending legs do the rest! However, it’s Woody Harrelson as a mean mind-reader, with a caustic sense of humor, who steals the show. Most of the movie’s sequences are well-shot and dazzle one just the right amount for a movie about ‘magic’. Mark Ruffalo too leaves a mark with his portrayal of a harried cop.
That brings us to what keeps this one from inching close to the likes of ‘The Prestige’. Firstly, the plot leaves little scope for any of the characters to jump out and connect with the audience. There are a lot of occasions when you an anxious to know more about a certain guy, and are left clamouring. More so, the plot, the premise of which is so engaging, kills most of the good work when it tries desperately to contort itself into a flurry of twists towards the end. Most things in the movie point to an exciting and surprising climax. However, the element of surprise is taken too far leaving the viewer wondering if all of it even made sense.
All said and done, the movie is an honest attempt at a novel story, with the constant undertone of the age-old debate between the ‘believers’ and the nay-sayers. Creates the magic, but perhaps falls short of the finishing flourish.
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