Now You See Me: A Unique Thriller Worth Seeing

Director Louis Leterrier (The Transporter, Clash of the Titans) has produced one of the more enjoyable films of the early summer, using magic in this thriller to entice audiences.  While the film is far from perfect and has a few notable misses, it is fun, interesting and exhilarating from start to finish.

Premise: Four independent magicians unite to form The Four Horsemen, a new magic act that appears to have some seriously criminal implications. Result: A fun crime thriller with a unique magical spin that is sure to delight all the way through.

The fundamental premise of Now You See Me is that magic, if nothing else, is entertainment.  But hidden in this entertainment, this joy brought to observers, is a certain power, as magic is also, at its heart, the art of trickery and audience manipulation.

It is these two concepts that pervade this story, introducing four magicians, each at a different stage in their lives and careers: J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), an acclaimed magician on the world scene; Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), Atlas’ former love interest and assistant who terrifies audiences with death-defying stunts; Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), a former hypnotism juggernaut who has somewhat fallen from grace in recent years; and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco), a novice who is still too unaccomplished to use his skill for more than petty theft.

But all four are brought together by some mysterious agent who introduces them to a plan that was “designed long ago.”  Quickly audiences are transported to a year later, where the motley crew has transformed into The Four Horsemen, an astounding magic act financed by insurance czar Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine) and stalked by notorious magic-debunker Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman). It is here that they begin their true magical journey, robbing a bank in Paris as one of their great illusions.

Instantly, the “crime” goes Federal, bringing in FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and InterPol agent Alma Dray (Mélanie Laurent) to figure out just how these Horsemen robbed the bank. And yet even as they interrogate the suspects and attempt the same with Bradley, there is never the sense that they or other high profile agents like Fuller (Michael Kelly) and Evans (Common) are ever any closer than many steps behind.

Instead, the four magicians simply become more powerful, leveling several more fascinating targets through some really intriguing acts.  This all amidst a hapless Rhodes and company who appear genuinely out matched throughout; but rather than detract from the film, it simply elevates the excitement of these characters and their amazing feats.

It should also be noted that audiences will also take extreme delight from Bradley’s explanations of the truth behind the magic, transforming the film from a series of unexplained events into a crime thriller with delightful twists and turns, some which importantly, even Bradley cannot explain. Audiences inadvertently play the contradictory roles of wide-awed children and incredulous adults as they are both thrilled by the magic but wish to uncover the mystery it in its own right.

Add in some entertaining car chases and an extremely memorable “magic” fight scene between Rhodes and Wilder and the film successfully lands the punches needed to keep audiences invested.

Of course, the film does have a few weaknesses.  First, Rhodes comes off more as a moronic cop than a genuine FBI agent – while this ultimately is explained, it could have been delivered with a bit less scenery chewing.

Additionally, the introduction of The Eye, doubts about Dray, and several other plot lines are only partially explained, leaving a certain sense of unfinished business.  This is particularly evident in the film’s resolution: while it is an extremely enjoyable twist overall, it is delivered poorly, lingering a bit too long in the realm of over-dramatization.

Fortunately, the performances in the film hit their respective marks.  Harrelson’s performance is most consistently the funniest and most memorable, but Fisher, Franco and Eisenberg all hold their own (this is a film where Eisenberg’s one character works again).

Ruffalo is fairy consistent throughout although there are a few too many valleys that shadow the performance. Laurent is good as always although her mysterious demeanor never really pays off in this film; she is almost too mysterious for the eventual outcome. Freeman and Caine are each quite effective, as would be expected, and their back-and-forth is delightful.

Ultimately, Now You See Me is a pleasure for fans of magic, crime thrillers, or exciting mysteries.  While the result somehow seems a bit rushed and possibly too light for the build-up, it still leaves a strong impression.

Rating: 7- A refreshing Champagne that a cute bartender comp’d you