惊天魔盗团 Now You See Me影评.doc

惊天魔盗团 Now You See Me (2013) Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Common, Michael Kelly and David Warshofsky.Writers: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt.Director: Louis LeterrierSYNOPSIS:An elite FBI squad is pursuing The Four Horsemen (Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco), a team of the worlds greatest illusionists who pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders during their performances, and then funnel the millions of stolen profits into their audiences bank accounts. FBI Special Agent Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) is determined to make the magicians pay for their crimes-and to stop them before they pull off what promises to be an even more audacious heist. But hes forced to partner with Alma (Melanie Laurent), an Interpol detective about whom he is instantly suspicious. Out of desperation he turns to Thaddeus (Morgan Freeman), a famed magic debunker, who claims the bank heist was accomplished using disguises and video trickery. One thing Dylan and Alma agree on is that the Horsemen must have an outside point person, and that finding him (or her) is key to ending the magicians crime spree. A hugely enjoyable thriller, whose sleight of hand is both audacious and ambitious, Louis Leterriers film is considerable in scale and daring. But be warned: The springboard on which the film is balanced is one that asks its audience to take a leap of faith - and embrace the illusion and the impossible. We are given strings of clues (as well as red herrings) throughout, but there are more questions than answers in this high concept and original screenplay by Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt. The more you think you see, the easier it is to fool you, we are told at the beginning of the film, but so fast and relentless is the action, the dazzle overshadows our ability to put all the elements together, irrespective of how closely you look, watch and listen. The film begins by establishing the key players, beginning with four magicians cum scam artists who display their street skills for ill gotten gains in showy scenarios. Theres an intriguing set up that brings the four together before meeting them onstage in Las Vegas (as The Four Horsemen) about to execute an elaborate illusion involving a Paris bank vault, an audience member and money falling like rain. The elements and execution are both showy and baffling; the presence of Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine as two interested parties who have a history with each other also pricks our interest. The scene in the police station when the apprehended magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) run rings around Mark Ruffalos FBI special agent who has been assigned to making the crime stick is very funny. The plot thickens as a second spectacular illusion is staged and by this stage the focus is on the relationships: between Freeman and Caine, the magicians and between Ruffalo and Melanie Laurents Paris Interpol agent. Its a formidable cast headed by Ruffalo who is in fine form as the distraught agent. The questions are numerous: What is a distraction and what is the real trick? Who is setting up whom and who is working for whom? Is there a Fifth Horseman? We become intricately involved in the proceedings and the stakes. Admittedly, some of the action is over the top and defies credibility but theres a thrilling car chase and an onslaught of twists and turns before a grand spectacle of a finale. Watch out for the buzzy night-scene in Time Square that reinforces the storys scale. Throw logic out the window as you watch this invigorating and novel film and dont be afraid to take a leap of faith - youll be glad you did. This is an audacious screenplay, a sleight of hand that takes us in and plays with our minds. It is perhaps a tad far fetched . a big tad in fact, and the complicated plot needs a lot of focus, but it is so darned appealing. Well, I would say that, being a huge fan of magic. Seductive with its opening magic show delivering fabulous illusion, Now You See Me has a bit of Oceans 11 at its heart. Its somewhat darker, and its that darkness that gives it texture. The engaging story is elevated by a superior cast: Mark Ruffalo zings as Agent Dylan, hot in pursuit of the mysterious and frustratingly effective foursome, who are indeed making magic - and mayhem. All four of them - Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco - are splendid, and cleanly differentiated with unique characteristics while the lovely Melanie Laurent is charmingly powerful as the Interpol agent with French perfume. Needless to say, Morgan Freeman delivers a compelling performance as the man who has made a fortune debunking magic tricks. An admirer of great magic, he plays a pivotal role as an outsider; do we trust him? Do we know where he stands? Where are his loyalties? Thats what makes the character interesting. But its the final twist that delivers the plot payoff, while the big effects and the massive chase give the film a sense of scale. Its bigger than a sleight of hand show in sideshow alley: perhaps too busy with its own cleverness, though.This surprisingly witty, deliciously well-played andsneakily subversive outing from director Louis Letterier(better-known for spectaculars like the Clash Of TheTitans remake) freaks out a little into its final act but,nevertheless, ranks as one of the years most entertainingpics. A quartet of magician-types comprising streetperformer J Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), mentalistMerritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), stunt illusionistHenley Reeves (Isla Fisher) and sleight-of-handhuckster Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) are mysteriouslyunited and, later, become notorious after stage acts thatseem to strip the wealthy of their cash and redistributeit amongst the audience (and one of the ripped-ozillionaires is Michael Caines Arthur Tressler, whospretty damn unhappy about it). A harried detective(Mark Ruffalo), an Interpol agent (Mlanie Laurent)and a pro-debunking TV star (Morgan Freeman) aresoon on their trail, and we build to the expected finaltricks and turnarounds, some of which are betrayed, asusual, in the trailer - but not all. That rare film, Americanor otherwise, in which the screenplay actually zings (asin the interrogation scenes with Eisenberg, Harrelsonand Ruffalo, which almost leaps off the screen), this doesindeed get a bit overly loopy after a while.But no matter, as its still just about sheer magic.One must approach Louis Leterriers ridiculously entertaining Now You See Me with exactly the mindset you would adopt if you decided to sit down for one of the magical extravaganzas central to the movies conceit. If you are going to avail yourself to two of hours slight of hand and slippery conjuring, you are going to have to be willing to believe the unbelievable to fully enjoy the show.The lean, snappy, funny script from Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt spins the story of a quartet of magicians with varying skills who, under the stage name The Four Horsemen, enact elaborate bank heists and elude international authorities with arrogant panache. Showman Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) is the self-appointed leader of the group, though mentalist Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson), illusionist Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) and upstart Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) keep his ego in check with quick asides and their own well-honed skills.A pre-title montage establishes them all as down-on-their luck bit players in the world of magic, until a mysterious invitation and the presence of a hooded figure spins all their lives off into Vegas superstardom. Backed by smug benefactor Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), the quartet make headlines when a showstopping act of international thievery puts them in direct conflict with grizzled FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (a terrific Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol sidekick Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent). The investigators, constantly flummoxed by the quick hands and minds of their suspects, employ debunker Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) to help crack the case.Given his hit (Unleashed; The Incredible Hulk) and miss (Clash of the Titans; Transporter 2) career to date, Leterrier exhibits a sure and professional touch with his fifth and best feature. He adheres closely to the primary tenets of the magicians code, spinning his narrative on the maintenance of illusion via misdirection create the perception your audien