Now You See Me

Starring: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Common, Michael Kelly
Directed by: Louis Leterrier
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
2013

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: Four magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco) pull off daring robberies as part of their act, while trying to stay one step ahead of the FBI Agent (Mark Ruffalo) on their trail.

Review:

Tim: Now You See Me is the rare movie that exceeds all expectations. This was an incredibly fun, nail biting, thrilling movie. I was completely engrossed in the film from start to finish. It was fresh, entertaining, and one of the better movies of 2013. I just had a great amount of fun watching this movie.

When you first hear about this movie, I wouldn't blame you if you were skeptical- it's a film about magicians who also rob banks. This could go in many, many different ways. It wouldn't have surprised me if this story didn't work. And yet, it does. It works because the subject matter was treated seriously- all of a sudden, magicians robbing banks doesn't sound silly- it's a fascinating idea. Magicians are masters of sleight of hand, tricking audiences, getting you to look one place when the action is somewhere else- how cool would it be to apply those skills to a life of crime? And yet, the movie is so much more than that. It's a twisting, turning, interesting movie that offers up a series of mysteries that keep you engaged. The story was fantastic and keeps the audience on its toes- you never know what's going to happen next.

Director Louis Leterrier did a terrific job- he keeps the action going. There's no slow parts, no unnecessary down time- the movie moves along at a breakneck pace, giving the audience barely time to breathe. He treats everything seriously while also managing to have a lot of fun. This is the rare movie that takes the story seriously while also winking at the audience and having fun. Leterrier delivers a great movie.

He is helped by absolutely brilliant casting. Jesse Eisenberg was perfect as the cocky, sure of himself magician. I'm not sure if I like Eisenberg as a person, but I think he's a good actor and I have a lot of fun watching him on screen. Once again, he delivers a strong performance in a great movie. Woody Harrelson is such an underrated actor and he brings so much to this film as a mentalist. He was funny, warm, and a great character. Isla Fisher brought a unique element as well. While she's not as good as Eisenberg or Harrelson, she does add some charisma to the cast. Dave Franco is a step down from his three costars, but he was pretty good as well. Mark Ruffalo was excellent- I just love him so much as an actor and he delivers an incredible performance here. He might have been my favorite part of the entire film. Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine give good supporting performances, each adding class and talent to the already impressive film. As a whole, the cast here is one of the best ever assembled. It's a big reason why this movie was just so damn good.

I know that the typical "Oscar bait" movies are the ones that get all the acclaim at the end of the year and while I love those movies, there's a whole host of other great films that don't get recognized. Now You See Me is one of those films- it's a brilliantly structured, purely entertaining, incredibly fun movie. I loved watching this movie. Sometimes, you sit down to watch a film and you just want to have fun. This the perfect movie for that situation. Regardless of its lack of year-end rewards, this is one of the best movies you'll see in 2013.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: The Social Network, The Prestige, Clash of the Titans