'Deceptive Practice' & 'Now You See Me' Reviews

Deceptive Practice is a documentary about magician Ricky Jay. You may know him from The Prestige or season 1 of Deadwood as well as countless other TV and film appearances but his primary passion and focus is on the art of magic.

The film follows Ricky Jay's career from the age 4 to present. Interviews with Ricky Jay inspired with archival footage of his performances as well as performances from the mentors that taught him sleight of hand. Ricky Jay discusses his particular magic philosophy and we see a development of an intriguing man who went through a number of transformations that we see but he never discusses. In the 80's for example his hair and beard are long and his act is as boisterous as a Sam Kinisin routine.

The film is also a lesson in the history of magic. Ricky Jay describes the great magicians that inspired and taught him going back to the early 1900's. Deceptive Practice is not only a portrait of Ricky Jay but a love letter to magic itself. It's full of small beautiful moments of magic described by others as done by Ricky Jay. One in particular by a Guardian reporter that while she recounts it begins to weep.

Mysterious, engrossing, beautiful.

See It.

Now You See Me is a heist-thriller with magicians. There's no real acting to speak of done by the star studded cast and Morgan Freeman in particular phones in his performance. The story seems to be so focused on the magical effects it contains it forgot to have dialogue that make sense or a plot that can be followed. There are extended parts of the movie that literally make no sense, you have no idea why the participants are doing or saying the things they are. But there is lots of cool CGI magic.

Don't See It.