Rent Now You See Me (2013)

Now You See Me review by Alyse Garner - Cinema Paradiso

With a plot that can only really be described as audacious Now You See Me is an intriguing, complex, action packed and fast paced thriller with a fantastic cast and unusual story. My only qualm that the premise of the story is so imaginative that it becomes almost a little too far fetched to be believed.

With an opening scene that sets up the characters known as the Four Horsemen, a trope of illusionists who rob banks whilst on stage, then funnelling the stolen profits in the bank accounts of their audience members, the film grabs you immediately – how these people achieve this complex illusion is baffling, yet what is more intriguing is the characters involved in the heist. With the appearance of two older gentlemen, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine, with an unknown prior relationship (not Batman of course) and the determination of a distraught FBI agent to catch the magicians the film is full to bursting with illicit connections, dubious relationships and strange coincidences all of which contribute to the many stranded web that makes up this thriller.

The classy style with which the writers and directors disperse clues and red herrings throughout the plot is reminiscent of the most accomplished sleight of hand trick, by the time you realise you have been fooled it is far too late and you find yourself running to catch the next clue as it falls. The pace is bang on however and although you spend a great deal of the film asking questions there are only a few in the audience who are likely to feel truly left behind, the film intends to confuse you, the beauty of its trickery in how it distracts characters and audiences alike whilst secretly robbing them blind.

The performances are all excellent; Mark Ruffalo is perfect as the harassed FBI agent, whilst Freeman and Caine create intense intrigue and suspicion. The stars behind the Four Horsemen, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco are fantastic; their intellect and the way in which they run rings around the authorities is both awe inspiring and comedic gold. Provided one is prepared to suspend all belief and feels quick enough to notice the minutia hidden within the plot then I think you’ll really enjoy Now You See Me, for the more serious and stoic among us however you may find it all a little too over the top for your liking.