Reading
Add Comment
Hello! What are your thoughts about magic?
“First rule of magic: always be the smartest person in the room.”
- Daniel Atlas
- Daniel Atlas
In this article, I want to tell you about the movie Now You See Me. This American film was released in 2013, and it’s a mystery genre, directed by Louis Leterrier and written by Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt.
Now You See Me plot consists in the story of a team of illusionists – Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) – that one day is brought together by a mysterious source, becoming the Four Horsemen. “The Four Horsemen?” you may be wondering. Well, yes. They were all living their lives (from doing tricks on the streets, hypnotism to show in Los Angeles) until they receive a tarot card that leads them to the same abandoned New York City apartment, where they will find a holographic blueprint for a trick never seen before, so outrageous that the only way that it's possible is if they do it together. It's a trick that will lead them to The Eye, a dark, super-secret organization of the world's best magicians.
One year later, Daniel, Merritt, Jack and Henley are already performing an unimaginable and elaborate show in the famous city of Las Vegas, with the support of Arthur Tressler that becomes the group benefactor. But in what consists their trick? They seem to be able to teleport a member of the audience to his bank, Crédit Républicain in Paris, France, where he helps them steal millions of euros. The Mister thinks he's been magically zapped into his bank's vault and so does the people in the audience, that sees themselves being showered by the bills.
This is one of my favourite scenes in the entire movie. I remember that while I was watching, I was thinking “What? How? How is this possible?”:
Namely, their trick is so convincing that Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), FBI agent, and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Mélanie Laurent) are then partnered to investigate The Four Horsemen. Subsequently, the group is arrested for interrogation, since the bank in question was actually assaulted. Yet, there is no evidence against them. There is nothing that connects them to the scene of the crime. How to believe that a group of proclaimed magicians did indeed teleport a man from the USA to France, stealing millions of euros that they later distributed to the audience of their show? Unless you believe in Magic, there is no logical explanation. I especially like the humour in this scene. Daniel, Jack, Merritt, and Henley deal, each in their own way with Dylan and Alma, providing the spectator an entertaining moment. With this said, the protagonists are soon free again and back on tour.
Dylan, who is determined to make the magicians pay for their crimes, and Alma then turn to Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a former magician who is known for explaining the tricks behind magic acts. Thaddeus demonstrates how the Horsemen have made their big trick: using a mock vault under the Las Vegas stage. In addition, Thaddeus explains that Atlas, Merritt, Henley and Jack must have stolen the money in Paris before it arrived at the bank, replacing it with flash paper that left no evidence.
Afterwards, the trio follows the Horsemen to New Orleans where they will have their next show and something unexpected will happen. Dylan and Alma disagree in a lot of things, but one thing is sure for the duo: The Horsemen must have an outside point person, and that finding that person will help them to put an end in all the madness that the magicians’ brought. At this point, I was principally trying to figure it out what were the intentions of Daniel Atlas, Henley, Jack and Merritt. Are they the bad guys or are their intentions good? And who is the person behind the big trick? Alma? Arthur Tressler? Thaddeus? They seem to be a group that goes against corrupt business leaders, pulling off a series of daring covers during their performances, and returning to the well-chosen audience (by this I intend to explain that in the audience were people settled by the illusionists) the money that once belonged to certain people by right. All of this, while staying always one step ahead of the law.
Additionally, a various amount of things will happen until the moment of The Four Horsemen final show in New York that will be attended by a huge crowd. There, they will give their fans a farewell and leave a message about their purpose.
The movie ends with a shocking revelation about who is the mysterious person behind The Eye and the explanation related to the big trick.
Lastly, to end this review, I would like to address, we can say, the magic soundtrack of Now You See Me. Moreover, the music was mainly composed by Brian Tyler, an American musician, songwriter, composer, conductor, arranger and producer. Here are some of my favourite songs from the movie:
“The closer you think you are, the less you’ll actually see.”
- Daniel Atlas
Now You See Me
The Four Horsemen
Welcome to the Eye
Now You See Me is, in my opinion, a unique movie. I had never seen a film with such an intriguing plot and characters. I spent the entire time of the film focused on its development and in the course of the action, trying to anticipate the next step of the characters and the great final trick. Furthermore, it does teach the viewer that not everything is the way we think it is and that sometimes we might work together to achieve greatest results. Work and practise are the keys to the success and Daniel, Henley, Merritt, and Jack show us that. Also, as human beings, we have to be ready to expect the unexpected. Finally, is a fact that the movie ends with a reasonable amount of questions to answer, however, the viewer must have in consideration that there is a sequel that will deeply develop the story and explains the gaps of the first movie plot.
Trailer of Now You See Me:
“What is Magic? Focused deception. But deception meant to entertain.”
- Daniel Atlas
- Daniel Atlas
What are your thoughts on Now You See Me?
Nb: I do not own any of these pictures and videos and I am not trying to infringe copyright here.
I hope you have a wonderful week!
Mariana Nunes
0 comments:
Post a Comment