The tag line for
Now You See Me is “The closer you look, the less you’ll see.” This is a line
repeated several times throughout the film, and it is a very accurate
description of the film itself. The ability to slow down and playback sequences
on home video may satisfy a certain amount of curiosity, but it is the same
result as discovering a magicians tricks. The magic is gone and all that is
left are a couple of boxes and mirrors.
On the other hand, Now You See Me remembered something that
nearly all of the heavy-handed comic book blockbusters of the summer forgot;
how to have fun. It is a fast-paced film full of energy and spectacle, without
any of the weight of morality or turmoil that seemed to make every other
blockbuster this summer sink like a bag of rocks. Now You See Me is the kind of film which provides less the more you
look at it, but it provides the kind of escapist entertainment that summer
films are meant to provide.
The powerhouse
cast attached to Now You See Me along
with the heist-like elements of the narrative, beg for comparison to Ocean’s 11 with the unique element of
magic added in. The audience is given hints as to what is going on, but we are
never on the inside. In the opening sequence we watch as four extremely different
magicians are joined by a mysterious anonymous figure, recruited to be a part
of one magic routine with a specific goal of revenge.
J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) is the most
traditional stage magician, doing card tricks and a variety of the usual staged
shows of his ability. His former assistant, Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), adds
an element of danger and blood to her edgier routine and the group. Merritt
McKinney (Woody Harrelson) is a former star mentalist, down on his luck, and
the fourth member of the group is a gifted escape artist and thief named Jack
Wilder (Dave Franco). When the first show of this group named “The Four
Horsemen” results in a bank being robbed across the country, F.B.I. and
Interpol (led by Mark Ruffalo, Common and Mélanie Laurent) agents make it a
priority to find out what is behind the curtain. The film also co-stars Michael
Caine and Morgan Freeman.
The DVD release
includes an audio commentary by producer Bobby Cohen and director Louis
Leterrier. There is also a behind-the-scenes featurette, which shows a few
filmmaking tricks. The DVD package also comes with an ultraviolet copy of the
film.
Entertainment Value:
9/10
Quality of
Filmmaking: 7.5/10
Historical
Significance: 7/10
Disc Features: 6.5/10
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