Now You See Me

Mph Moloele

A Box Office success, the Crime Action, Thriller, Now You See Me, is great entertainment that not only gives magicians the spotlight but unfortunately might trigger aspiring magical minds into criminal minds. The film was released on May 31, 2013 and is directed by Louis Leterrier who has made a name for himself with movies like the first two transporter movies to name a few. With 13 being the age restriction parental guidance is advised during the 115 minutes of the movie.

Four Incredible Magicians from the streets become infamous “Robin Hood” magicians in the city of New York, Las Vegas and New Orleans. Having being head hunted by a man not identified until the end of the movie they are each given cards with details of a date and address.  

A year later The Four Housemen consisting of street magician (Jesse Eisenberg), an escape artist (Isla Fisher), a mentalist who hypnotises and reads people to get money (Woody Harrelson) and a sleight of hand artist who pickpockets (Dave Franco) start on their magical mission. Throughout the movie they have three public performances where they rob a bank and a person. They make money rain to their audience, giving back what has been said to have been wrongfully taken away from them.

While they are loved by the public, an FBI agent (Mark Ruffalo), an Interpol detective (Melanie Laurent) and a former magician who now exposes tricks of well known magicians (Morgan Freeman) are behind their backs while the Four Horsemen seem to be ahead of them.

While the FBI pays close attention to the investigation, the Four Horsemen uses that against them. Do they succeed? You will have to see the movie for that question to be answered.

The visual effects are outstanding during the public performances. They make the magical tricks to seem so real and even make one to believe in them. A fantastic skill is achieved with the visual illusions.

Sound quality can make or break a film, it is a bonus that the sound complemented each scene and it was clear. In one scene one can even hear a person snore while the FBI agent and the Interpol detective are conversing in a plane.

In most of the scenes the characters mainly wore dark colour outfits which can symbolise the association of magic with the dark. The scenes are mostly shot in the dark and light is reflected on the subject. Although the movie is fiction, it can question the existence of “the eye” and how one has to excel in doing bad to be initiated into the club.

The cinematographer used his creativeness where the composition tells the story just by the scenery. This results in the scenes to blend in letting the motion pictures to do the story telling.

Although false hope is given on illusions, the movie is worth watching.