Now You See Me (2013) Movie Review

 

Now You See Me | 2013 | 1h 55m
Genre: Caper/Heist/Crime/Mystery/Thriller | Country: US
Director: Louis Leterrier | Writers: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin, Edward Ricourt
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo
IMDB: 7.2
My Rate: 9/10

Four magicians who call themselves the Four Horsemen perform a shocking magic act by stealing money from a bank in Paris, which causes the FBI to struggle to solve the case. The difficulty in proving the accusations does not stop the FBI because the Four Horsemen continue to act with their amazing performances.

Warning:

Scenes of violence and strong language.

 

Synopsis:

J. Daniel Atlas - illusionist, Merrit McKinsey - mentalist, Henley Reeves - escape artist, and Jack Wilder - street performer, receive a mysterious invitation in the form of tarot cards after their show. They meet in an apartment in New York. However, no one knows where the cards came from; they are only greeted by a mysterious holographic message, which becomes their only clue. They join together and perform as the Four Horsemen.

They get the opportunity to perform in Las Vegas, sponsored by Arthur Tessler, a successful insurance businessman. The show shocks the world when they ‘rob’ a vault in a bank located in Paris in a short time. This becomes a complicated problem that forces the FBI to intervene.

Dylan Rhodes, assigned to solve the case, initially underestimates it. Together with Interpol detective Alma Dray, assigned from Paris, Rhodes tries to interrogate each Horseman. However, he finds no clues.

Rhodes finally asks for help from Thaddeus, a former magician who now works to uncover other magicians’ tricks. Thaddeus is at the location and records the event. From this, Rhodes learns that their performance is purely a magic show. However, the money was indeed taken from the bank with preparations made long before the show.

Thaddeus receives threats from Arthur not to interfere with the Four Horsemen. However, Thaddeus ignores this and intends to uncover the next trick they will perform in New Orleans. Nevertheless, the Horsemen are not afraid.

The show in New Orleans leaves an impression not only on Thaddeus and the FBI but also on Arthur, who loses all his wealth. The Four Horsemen drain Arthur’s savings during the show and give it to the audience. Then they disappear without a trace.

Arthur asks Thaddeus for help to find their whereabouts. The FBI also tries to locate them. A chase ensues, but Jack is killed during the pursuit.

Will they succeed in catching the Horsemen before their final performance?

 
Review:

Now You See Me is a film based on a story by Yakin and Ricourt. It presents a quite interesting idea and brings back the world of magic, which has begun to fade, to the stage. With various impressive scenes and tricks, each scene is thoughtfully and systematically planned.

The background of the story and characters is built quite well. Each member of the Horsemen is first shown demonstrating their skills in magic, until they finally join together to become the Four Horsemen after receiving a mysterious ‘invitation.’

The conflict is also quite interesting though developed gradually. It begins with a robbery case that prompts the FBI to intervene. Several new related characters also appear, along with other conflicts that continue to develop until reaching the climax.

The resolution is done quite well, although some critics feel it slightly damages the story that has been built. However, the unexpected twist is presented quite interestingly, especially with clues that seem intended to mislead the audience about the ending. Everything is neatly wrapped and not easy to guess.

One strength of this film is presenting magic as something magical. It may seem illogical, but all tricks are explained quite well, so no curiosity remains in the audience. Every detail shows how well this story is constructed.

The cinematography and camera movements are done very well. Every detail is presented meaningfully. There are no wasted scenes or dialogues. The audience must pay close attention to every detail to avoid missing clues needed to solve the mystery.

The choice of music and sound effects is also well done, matching each scene. The effects and tricks displayed are captivating, like watching an amazing live performance. Suitable for magic lovers.

The acting of the cast is also very good. The chemistry built is quite strong. The dedication of each actor is visible in every scene, especially Isla Fisher, who experienced a minor accident during a scene where she nearly drowned while escaping chains inside a water tank.

Overall, this film is interesting to watch and quite thrilling.

Memorable scene:

Arthur Tessler realizes that he has been deceived by the Four Horsemen and that all his money has been drained by them. Previously, Arthur arrogantly boasted about his wealth and power in front of Thaddeus. In this scene, we realize that the possessions we have are only temporary and can disappear in just seconds.

 

Memorable dialogue:

"The closer you look, the less you see"

 
Ending:

Twist Ending

 

Recommendation:

Must Watch

 

(Aluna)