NOW YOU SEE ME

With Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Mélanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Michael Caine, Common

Written by Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt
Directed by Louis Leterrier

A diverse group of magicians / illusionists / mentalists / tricksters get assembled by an anonymous person with a very precise plan. The viewer is transported to where the group has risen to being a very popular illusion troupe known as The Four Horsemen. But what they do goes beyond mere tricks, as they end up robbing banks remotely via their illusions, and showers the audience with the money.

Besides magician debunker being on their case, a more desperate hunt to nab them is that of an FBI agent and a female Interpol agent (as their first 'heist' had money disappear from a vault in Europe). The race is on, but they seem to hit more dead-ends as they progress, the crafty mastermind toying with them (via The Four Horsemen) remaining illusive as the intent slowly unfolds.

The spectacle of a big David Copperfield / Chris Angel modern illusionist type Vegas show is replicated well with some cool tricks, wrapped in the package of an action-heist / cat & mouse movie. While a fast paced spectacle that also likes to fool the audience with misdirection, it is not perfect by any stretch, some of the characters quite annoying (just a bit too cool and arrogant - but often within reason), yet it is quite entertaining. Like many people cannot stand mimes, some despise magicians – those viewers may not get a kick out of this.

An extra feature looking at how some of these illusions are executed would've been cool.

3 / C
- Paul Blom

0 1 2 3 4 5 6
- A - B - C

A: Multiple Viewing Potential
B: Deserves Another Look
C: Once Should Suffice