Are You Watching Closely: Review of Now You See Me

Now You See Me

Director: Louis Letterier

By Alex Watson

 

Films about magic always aim to show us the dazzling effects of a great magic trick and at the same time reveal to us the secrets the lurk behind the curtain. But sometimes the art of creating a truly great magic trick can come at the ultimate cost as we have learned in film such as Christopher Nolan’s The Prestige but as we watch the tricks being played out, we are always impressed! This week we a unique set up as The Incredible Hulk director Louis Letterier shows us four magicians about to take on the show of a lifetime in Now You See Me.

Illusionists J.Daniel (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt (Woody Harrelson), Henley (Isla Fisher) and Jack (Dave Franco) are selected by an unseen trickster to pull off a particular risky stunt and one year later in Las Vegas they succeed in robbing a Paris bank while live on stage! Soon FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) is hot on their trail with the aid of trick exposé Thaddeus (Morgan Freeman) but the gang has a number of tricks up their sleeves and bring them in will be no easy task.

For the most part, Now You See Me is an enjoyable ride and it makes the most of its set up, many will sneer that this is simply Oceans 11 with magicians and this may well be the case, but it still entertains nonetheless. The first act is done with relish by Letterier and as the four come together under eyes of their watchful creator it provides some great comedic moments such as when Merritt hypnotises a man’s wife then reveals to her hubby’s darkest secrets and then promptly blackmails the guy into paying for him wipe her memory!

Then in a dazzling magic show they pull off the ultimate magic trick leaving the cops utterly baffled, but no matter how hard Rhodes and co seem to give chase, they always seem to be one step ahead! Plus even if they do bring them in, there is no guarantee any charges will be brought! The sheer astonishment of each clever trick they conjure up holds our attention early on and there are some clever moments to be had such as entertaining fight scene between Jack and Rhodes were the young magician literally uses all the tricks in the book to keep the lawman at bay.

Shame really that the second half of Now You See Me doesn’t have the same energy up its sleeves and it is let down by a series of barely believable twists and after a time this begins to wear on the film. But mainly people will come out shaking their head in disappointment of a rather flat finale where the big reveal is one that is frankly… rather ridiculous and will leave people a little bewildered.

The main four pairing of Eisenberg, Franco, Harrelson and Fisher is one that works remarkably well as each one is able to bring something unique to the group and as the centre piece they shine brightly! Mark Ruffalo however is stuck with a rather joyless character and Rhodes just seems determined to ruin everyone’s fun, though his character does become more interesting later on!

Morgan Freeman is as usual saddled with a very Morgan Freeman character and Thaddeus is a wise cunning old sod, but the his use runs out quite quickly and after a time we being to grow weary of his exposing tricks with simple explanations. But he is given more to do than Michael Caine who isn’t given anything near worthwhile to do and his character is one that could have really bolstered the villain stakes, but he seems to be nudged aside before things get all interesting!

Now You See Me is a very stylish experience and the glittering effects divert our attention for the creaking story beneath it, this film will impress us in patches but in due course this feels like an opportunity that wasn’t expanded on because in the rights this could have been one of the coolest heist thrillers of the year. The tricks impress us but sometimes the greatest magic trick can leave you feeling slightly cheated!

Off To See The Wizard: Review of Oz: The Great and Powerful

Oz: The Great and Powerful

Director: Sam Raimi

By Alex Watson

 

Victor Fleming’s The Wizard of Oz is among many people’s favourite films and even today in the wake of its slightly aged effects, the magic has still yet to die. But everyone asks how did the aforementioned wizard come to be? This year Sam Raimi will provide us with all the answers we need as we return to the Land of Oz and we learn just how the man behind the curtain ended up crossing paths with three witches in Oz: The Great and Powerful. Just don’t expect Dorothy to appear in this version.

In 1905, Oscar Diggs (James Franco) is arrogant but struggling circus magician who while escaping a potential beating from a circus strongman, is transported to the Land of Oz. Upon his arrival he comes across witches Theodora (Mila Kunis) and her sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz) who believe him to be a wizard whose return to save them was predicted by their father. To prove him worthy the sisters send him on a dangerous quest to kill a wicked witch. But along the way he will meet Glinda the Good (Michelle Williams) and her band of lovable folks and he will learn how to become a true wizard to save the realm!

Oz: The Great and Powerful is a film which thankfully doesn’t try to match its predecessor and instead Raimi gives us another view of the Emerald city which has a darker touch to it. The beginning sequence has a nod to Fleming’s original as it is shot in black and white and as we enter Oz, the colour flourishes on screen and the moment where Diggs discovers this strange land provides some lush imagery on screen. There is also a technical impressive finale as Oz uses his special effect knowledge to good use to attempt to reclaim emerald city from the witches. There are also other subtle nods to the past such as a cowardly lion, scarecrows and of course the infamous flying monkeys.

But what of the man himself- as we first meet Oscar Diggs he isn’t easy to warm because he is very self centred and a self confessed con man. When he first arrives in Oz, his nickname just happens to share the same name as the land he has stumbled into and his eyes go as wide as flying saucers as he see the riches that come with being a wizard! At this moment he happily plays along and pretends to be their saviour- but the moment he learns of the dangers involved he almost legs it immediately! But his transition from being a callous imposter to finally using his trickery to become ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is one of the films smoother aspects and a winning character is born as a result.

The witches’ story in Oz: The Great and Powerful is one that doesn’t quite grab at us like it should and although the origins of the Wicked Witch of the West are there for all to see, it lacks the bite that would expect to come with it. Because of this we are left without a truly memorable villain for the people of Oz to square off against, hopefully this minor issue will be resolved in any potential sequels that may follow.

James Franco’s easy charm helps push Oz: The Great and Powerful along and he is able to turn around what is a potentially loathsome fraudster to being a character who becomes a true leader and genuinely wins the trust he’s conned people into having. Franco ascent in the acting world continues to interest and he is fast becoming a reliable star actor.

As the witches, only Mila Kunis scores highly with her delightful portrayal of wickedness and the transition of Theodora from being a pretty lady to something a hell of a lot scarier is a moment that will stick firmly in our minds.  Rachel Weisz looks the part of evil green gowned Evanora but she lacks the frosty chill that comes with this kind of role and surprisingly for her she falls rather flat and lets down what could have been a marvellous villainess. Michelle Williams glows on screen as white witch Glinda the Good, but although she is lovely she doesn’t quite have the sparkle to stand out on screen.

Although it hasn’t quite turned out to be the memorable film we hoped it would, Oz: The Great and Powerful is still an enjoyable couple of hours and will no doubt satisfy many Oz fanatics. It is great to see Raimi back again on screen as we are reminded what a technical master he can be and even more thankfully- there was no web slinger in sight!

Might & Magic: Excalibur Review

Classic from the Vault

Excalibur (1981)

Director: John Boorman

By Alex Watson

The legend of King Arthur and the knights of the roundtable have already been shown to us in a variety of different forms, with extremely varied results. For instance we have had laughs aplenty in Monty Python’s The Holy Grail (including some very rude Frenchmen), had Clive Owen and Keira Knightley’s bland offering of the tale in Antoine Fuqua’s King Arthur and more recently the disappointing TV adaptation Camelot starring Eva Green. But none of them have been more weird and wonderful than director John Boorman’s lavish adaptation, Excalibur. A film which took the legend to the next level and left many shocked.

Boorman’s version begins showing the reign of the brutish King Uther (Gabriel Byrne) who is at war with his rival Gorlois (Corin Redgrave). After Uther is given the magic sword Excalibur by sorcerer Merlin (Nicol Williamson) and war is briefly halted. But soon Uther is murdered by his enemies- before death he impales his magic into a rock and proclaims who ever pull’s it out will become king! Years later his son Arthur (Nigel Terry) becomes that man and reigns over Britain with Guinevere (Cherie Lunghi), but very soon his sorceress sister, Morgana (Helen Mirren) will bring his kingdom to ruins!

Excalibur is a very different kind of Arthurian legend because even though the usual reference such as the sword in the stone and The Lady of the Lake are present, it has a very mystic and supernatural air that surrounds it. This effect gives the film a dream like quality which is captured in a series of lush cinematography by Alex Thomson. Also unlike its predecessor’s Boorman’s film chooses to focus more on the blood spilt and the effects of sorcerery in this classic tale. In doing so it gets rid of any sentiment attached to the tale and shows how even the tightest bonds are tested.

Within the walls of Camelot is where the film really begins to fire because we show Arthur’s love for Guinevere tested by her budding attraction to handsome knight Lancelot (Nicholas Clay) which shall lead to an affair with devastating consequences. It is also within this walls were Morgana weaves her magic and quickly makes mincemeat of Merlin’s plan to destroy her in an epic and chest tightening showdown (I guarantee you will speaking the charm of making for days after).

Beyond the glorious sets and the fabulous photography there lays a dark cloud hanging over head and in Excalibur’s final act the feel of the film descends into a very different place. Under the influence of Morgana we see a kingdom decimated and from there things become a bit confusing in terms of story. But things are re-deemed with a thrilling and energetic final battle between Arthur and his bastard son Mordred where it will literally be the last man standing!

But the real stand out of Boorman’s film is the presence of Merlin, played with relish by Nicol Williamson (who died earlier this year). From the very beginning Merlin’s presence has an effect and his magic causes as many problems as it solves. Merlin played as both clairvoyant and con man and although nurturing to Arthur, his deeds will come to haunt him when he meet Morgana!

Nigel Terry gives a solid performance as the brave yet naive Arthur, whose heroics and trust in faith will shape the fortunes of all. He is matched by Nicholas Clay who gives a sexual charged performance as Lancelot, a man whose allegiance to Arthur will soon come under great strain. But its Helen Mirren who has the most presences as the serpent like Morgana! Her lusts of power lingers heavily her eyes as she lurks in the background watching her brother. Through Mirren she is given an ice cold feel and this carried across well in Excalibur’s latter stages.

Although this version may split viewers as the whether it is really a good telling of a true legend, this really is worth a view. Boorman’s Excalibur is one of the most visual stunning and surreal films you are ever likely to watch and with its great cast (watch from early performances from Patrick Stewart and Liam Neeson) it makes it an exhilarating drama. But be warned there will no one farting in the knights general direction in this movie!