No, they are not prophets of doom, but four talented magicians who mesmerise an international audience with a series of bold and original heists, all the while pursuing a hidden agenda that has the FBI and Interpol scrambling to anticipate their next move in a visually spectacular blend of astonishing illusions and exhilarating action.
Leterrier mesmerised us with Clash of the Titans, The Incredible Hulk and Transporter, and with the pacey script by Boaz Yakin, who also wrote the action-packed stunner Safe, it's razzle and dazzle from start to finish. Magic is all about hidden secrets and Now You See Me explodes with a relentless series of enigmatic events and twists that will leave you mystified and flabbergasted. With Now You See Me it is also advisable to know nothing about what happens in the story, as it will definitely spoil the delightful revelations.
It's one of those films that take you on an imaginative journey where three worlds collide head on: a world of espionage and intrigue where detectives try their best the capture the witty four magicians who outsmart them at every turn; you get an intimate glimpse into the realm of fantasy and magic; we also get to see how the tricks are done through the eyes of a notorious debunker of magic, a former magician who realised that there was more money to be made in discrediting tricks than in doing them.
Without four dazzling and beguiling "Horsemen", Now You See Me would fall short, but its sensational cast is truly magical. Jesse Eisenberg, an Oscar nominee for his work in The Social Network, is magnificent as Atlas, a sleight-of-hand specialist and all-around illusionist; with Isla Fisher making a charming-and-alluring escape artist whose signature trick is getting out of a 100-gallon, piranha-filled water tank while shackled hand and foot.
Woody Harrelson has never been better as the subversively funny mentalist Merritt Osbourne, a former star who has hit hard times and is now hustling on the street-artist circuit, and Dave Franco is fantastic as a relentless and expert scamming pickpocket. There are also great performances from Mark Ruffalo as the FBI agent in charge of investigating the Horsemen and about to break a huge organised-crime case, with French actress Mélanie Laurent as an Interpol operative selected to investigate the first robbery.
Now You See Me also offers to memorable villains with Morgan Freeman as the magic sceptic and Michael Caine as the billionaire businessman who sponsors The Four Horsemen's extravagant performances.
It's brainy and bold and offers perfect escapism for anyone who wants to have an intimate tour into the world of magic, where what we discover is what we least expect, and what is ultimately revealed is will totally blow your mind. Besides its absolute spectacle and visual splendour, Now You See Me is really clever, and fun, without ever taking itself too seriously.
It is also incredibly funny and charming, and has all the magic ingredients we seek in entertainment. Make sure to experience Now You See Me. What's real will definitely never be the same again after watching the film, and the allure of magic and its awesomeness regains its stature as an illustrious art form that will always be celebrated. It is guaranteed that you will be fooled and being the fool has never been more fun.
One of the problems inherent in putting magic on film is that audiences will instinctively doubt that what they see is actually happening, but the filmmakers behind Now You See Me were determined to eschew CGI and other special effects whenever possible. They consulted with some of the world's foremost magicians to guarantee the authenticity of the film's illusions and gave the actors the means to learn and perform their tricks themselves.
The core values of professional magic and illusionism have been woven into the script. "Often people try to write movies about magic without having any real knowledge," said producer Bobby Cohen, president of Kurtzman/Orci. "It's not just the hand skills that we've taught to people, although all of the actors learned the basics of their specialties. We brought in a lot of terrific magicians to consult, like David Kwong, founder of Misdirectors Guild, a company that regularly counsels filmmakers on the art and craft of magic, and our chief magic consultant and Jonathan Levit." The filmmakers also brought in Irish mentalist Keith Barry, who may or may not have hypnotised Cohen into hiring him. "Some people say he hypnotised me into making his deal before I was ready," said the producer. "But I believe I was already prepared to say yes, so I don't think it really worked."
"Now You See Me harks back to the days that movies were projected on a 'magic lantern', reminding audiences that the two disciplines have always gone hand in hand," said Edward Ricourt, who wrote the original script. "When you buy your ticket and go into the theatre, you're prepared to believe in magic, because that's what movies are," the writer said. "You have to suspend your disbelief momentarily for both. You suppress what you know is real and become willing to believe whatever you see. This movie reflects that. Anything is possible!"
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