Brayden Swathwood
Star Struck

“Now You See Me”
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Crime, thriller

Director of the Transporter films, Louis Leterrier is back with an original classy film, “Now You See Me.” If you have seen either of the Transporter movies, you understand there is a major deficit in plot and is full of hot style. The film offers a stunning set of crazy slick illusions, and, like any magic trick, there is always a surprise twist that leaves you in awe.
The film starts by getting to know each person’s style of illusions by the members of “The Four Horsemen,” including a master street magician (Jessie Eisenberg); his former assistant who offers a gory illusion (Isla Fisher); a hypnosis mentalist master who struggles money out of people (Woody Harrelson); and a newcomer magician (Dave Franco).
An unknown stranger puts a tarot card to where they are able to view it, inscribed with a date, time and place.
Speeding up to a year later, they are all in Vegas for a three-part act. They put together a show in which they give back money to meaningful people. Along the way, trying to avoid the FBI, and using major illusions and robbery skills to rob banks.
The first half of the film is straight up, questioning between FBI and the Horsemen, and getting to the first two acts. The second half, however, is a very long FBI chase.
With two directors of photography, it’s simple to understand how big cinematography is in the film. With directors doing such films as “300” and “Super 8,” you can expect big things and visually stunning scenes.
With a heavy affects film, it is difficult it incorporate a good story plot. No difference here, even with a decent overall story, there is zero background information on the characters. This movie gives you a basic understanding of magic and the characters’ lives; other than that, it’s a straight up gallery of illusions.
If you make the trip to see this, play along with the very first illusion, it will blow your mind. They explain many of the tricks and the secrets behind them; then they use those tricks later in the film.
In a film where nothing is truly real, it’s difficult to understand.
But is this film a true piece of art and a grade A Vegas act? The movie is a great movie to get out of the house and just enjoy a nice spring day.
Other than that, it’s your average magical experience with nothing that dazzles.