Now You See Me

Let me be perfectly honest potential readers, I picked my first topic simply because I liked the idea of using the movies title for the title of my first post. "Now You See Me". . .it has a cryptic and playful kind of flair and I am enjoying looking at it up there on the bar immensely. You must admit that it is a pretty apt title for an entrance to the blogosphere.

Before I get to talking about this film though, let me give you a brief rundown of what you are going to see on this blog. I love books. I love movies. I love television. I love music. Really what it comes down to is that I love stories and being entertained. This is my place to critique and review anything and everything I feel like. I will keep it to the categories of books, film, television, games, and music; Do not expect reviews of any websites, commercials, magazine articles, clothes, or interior design here. I will also aim to keep it current, though a nostalgia post will probably crop up from time to time.

So, let's talk about magic. . .

 . . . Specifically movie magic. "Now You See Me" may just be the single best 'action' flick I have seen in an excessively long time. In fact I think the last action film I saw that I would even classify as being in the same league as this film would be "RED: Retired and Extremely Dangerous". I am excluding movies that were good but cannot be classified as action over science-fiction or fantasy ("Star Trek: Into Darkness" comes to mind). This film doesn't even smack of the brooding art-house drama that I've come to expect of decent action films (see "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"). No, this was a no-bones-about-it, action-packed-heist spectacle in the vein of "Ocean's Eleven" and "The Italian Job" and it was absolutely fantastic. Why I enjoyed this movie so much, and honestly why you should go see it, boils down to three simple components: Engaging  plot, fantastic fight sequences, and Mark Ruffalo.

The most important thing this movie has going for it is,surprisingly enough, plot. It isn't that it has anything incredibly important to say (though it is rather political for a feel-good action flick) or that it is especially innovative, but rather that it employs the traditions of the illusionist to create a consistent internal logic that serves not only as the framework for every scene of the film, but as a subtle push that goads the audience into chasing twists they have no chance of predicting. This movie could definitely be described as having a gimmick, but they lean on the illusionist theme in the best possible way. First off they incorporate everything from street magicians hustling for a payout, to the polished sensationalism of escape artistry. They don't just beat you to death with David Copperfield references the whole movie is really what I am getting at here. Secondly the plot is all twists and turns and tailor-made to keep the movie from getting too kitschy. It fits the theme but doesn't exploit it. Last but not least it doesn't lose the staples of action trade to incorporate the theme. There is still everything from high-speed car chases to foreign intrigue. This is the kind of movie that explored every part of the mythos, stereotypes, and realities of a niche profession and utilized the knowledge to craft a proper story without assuming that tropes and traditions are automatically outmoded and without merit.

As for those traditional action movie staples, the standouts are definitely the fight scenes. Like the rest of the film they uniquely incorporate the props and techniques of illusionists. In particular a scene in a simple apartment featuring the least explored character, Jack Wilder, really showcases how spectacular the combination of magic and hand to hand combat can be. I don't want to ruin too much of the surprise on what exactly gets utilized but to give a little taste let me just say that it is not all typical stage magician tricks, even hypnosis is used as a method of defense. To sum it up the fight scenes are both spectacular and surprisingly simple.

Oh. . .and last but certainly not least. . . if you hadn't yet realized it Mark Ruffalo's participation pretty much guarantees a good movie going experience. I have yet to see him in a role he couldn't pull off and the overworked, hyper-realistic FBI agent he plays in this film is certainly not an exception. He is gruff but likable, and his interaction with the french interpol agent is endearing and not hormone induced. It is refreshing to see a partnership between a man and woman grow to friendship before any possible romance.

Probably the one downside to this film, in my humble opinion, was the casting of Isla Fisher. I found her character to be flat, vapid, and possibly unnecessary. From what I can tell a change in casting could have gone a large way towards changing that fact. All this said, she still serves her purpose and my complaints are minor. The french interpol agent provides a more balanced and interesting female character to keep my feminism at bay.

Basically, go see this movie. It is well worth the ticket price and you will definitely want a popcorn ;).

Thank you for taking the time to read my first blog!