Tricks Are For 'Now You See Me'

It's a rough existence doing cheap tricks on the streets of New York, not being believed by the onlooker. At least it was for the illusionists in Now You See Me, until the four: Jesse Eisenberg (a cocky card conjurer), Woody Harrelson (a former TV mentalist who swindles people by keeping their dirty secrets for a price), Isla Fisher (who almost drowned filming her magic trick scene. What a trouper!), and Dave Franco (little bro peep of James Franco with a sleight of hand), all receive a mysterious tarot card to meet at an unknown building at the same time. The illusionists realize that they've all been handpicked by a master magician to perform an extravagant magic trick. They later land a gig at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas performing together in front of a large audience as "The Four Horsemen," which is invested by Michael Caine. The ultimate show is that the four pull off bank heists on stage and reward their audience with the money. Mark Ruffalo plays the FBI special agent who is determined to bring the tricksters down for the robbery along with Mélanie Laurent, the girl who killed Hitler (see: Inglourious Basterds). The only one who can help solve the case of The Four Horsemen is Morgan Freeman, who debunks magicians, very successfully, for a living.

I just want to say that if Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine narrated any movie together for the entire film, I would buy it all. Those two have the most trustworthy voices since Yoda. As for the rest of the cast - they're not strong enough to take the film to the level that it could have gone. Dave Franco hasn't got much to offer but great eyebrows. Isla Fisher is just decent, and Jesse Eisenberg always does his same schtick. The most amusing of the illusionists is of course Woody Harrelson, who is great - but he can't carry the cast. For the ultimate gripping illusionist movie, see The Prestige (Christopher Nolan, 2006). Now You See Me has a good script, keeping you engaged throughout most of the crime thriller. The magic is flashy and enjoyable, and I did have entertainment tonight. The Four Horsemen put on a show that anyone would want to see. Now you see?

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