Just like Bullwinkle's hat trick, this movie doesn't work. The synopsis states that THIS is the real secret: "far more fascinating than the magic are the magicians themselves." Wrong. Way too much time is spent humanizing the magicians. Once the curtain is pulled back to reveal their lives off stage...guess what? Tuh-dah!! They're just normal people! They have relationship problems, money concerns, career uncertainty, and pets that they love. FASCINATING!
What makes magicians 'fascinating' is the art and secrecy of the craft. Virtually none of that is addressed. I had no expectation or desire to learn the methods of their craft, but show us what goes on in the industry that the public is unaware of. Just when it starts to head in that direction (Criss Angel is caught blatantly stealing one magician's signature illusion), the resolution is one sentence: "we decided not to sue." Fine, but did he steal the trick or not? What is Criss Angel's take on this?
The film explores 'why' these guys chase their dreams. But, there's no mystery to reveal. It's because they love magic! Duh. The real "why" I was hoping to learn is never answered. They ALL have passion, skill, and years of experience. So WHY is one guy still teaching at poorly attended magic classes in spite of appearing on the Tonight Show three times? How does one guy get a TV special while the other sells mini magic toilet plungers? Why is one guy performing for a bachelorette party while another is headlining in Vegas at his own theater? Again...one sentence: "to make a long story short, they offered him the Tropicana Theater." *sigh* Of course, the biggest downfall with this film is the illusion pulled on the producers by one of the star magicians. "Far more fascinating than the magic" turns out to be a sad and gross understatement about the life of Jan Rouven.
What makes magicians 'fascinating' is the art and secrecy of the craft. Virtually none of that is addressed. I had no expectation or desire to learn the methods of their craft, but show us what goes on in the industry that the public is unaware of. Just when it starts to head in that direction (Criss Angel is caught blatantly stealing one magician's signature illusion), the resolution is one sentence: "we decided not to sue." Fine, but did he steal the trick or not? What is Criss Angel's take on this?
The film explores 'why' these guys chase their dreams. But, there's no mystery to reveal. It's because they love magic! Duh. The real "why" I was hoping to learn is never answered. They ALL have passion, skill, and years of experience. So WHY is one guy still teaching at poorly attended magic classes in spite of appearing on the Tonight Show three times? How does one guy get a TV special while the other sells mini magic toilet plungers? Why is one guy performing for a bachelorette party while another is headlining in Vegas at his own theater? Again...one sentence: "to make a long story short, they offered him the Tropicana Theater." *sigh* Of course, the biggest downfall with this film is the illusion pulled on the producers by one of the star magicians. "Far more fascinating than the magic" turns out to be a sad and gross understatement about the life of Jan Rouven.