Culture

Rating: 2/5

When you watch the trailer for Now You See Me, you get the distinct impression that the film might actually have some merit. The trailer features Morgan Freeman’s melodic voice promising a cryptically intriguing film about illusionists. The film itself, however, could not have been more of a let down. You expect to come out pondering and impressed, like after other magician-based films such as The Illusionist (2006) and The Prestige (2006). Instead you are left with the cold hard realisation that every mainstream film now is Hollywood’s excrement.

The film follows the illusionists “The Four Horsemen” as they receive an enigmatic message from a mysterious benefactor who promises to teach them how to become the greatest illusionists of all time. It turns into a Robin Hood narrative as they pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt businesses and give the money back to the people. The FBI then become involved, creating a cat-and-mouse chase that concludes with an obvious plot “twist.”

You would hope that the average audience member, after watching the film, would think critically about the many plot holes. Much of the glittery CGI-based magic is so preposterous and unfounded that it loses all sense of realism. The film tries to back this up by explaining the main tricks of the show. However, you are still left with the sense of being cheated. The love story between FBI agents Alma (Mélanie Laurent) and Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) was so painfully obvious that the cinema crowd actually laughed when they kissed.

It was also sad to see admirable actors like Laurent and Freeman in such pitiful Hollywood filler. A sense of a capitalistic and consumer-driven society also lies behind the film’s shimmering exterior. We see “The Four Horsemen” gain a position of eminence and fame simply because they give away millions of dollars at every show. It seems like they are giving back to the people, but you see by the end that they, too, are motivated by money.

Hollywood cinema continues to churn out mindless drivel. If you want to endorse rubbish, then by all means pay to watch this less-than-magical film.