For a movie populated by magicians, it’s a bit surprising that the magic is lost. With so much clever story up its sleeve to tell, I fear, the filmmakers may have forgotten all about the wonder of magic. Aside from the not-so-watertight box of this crafty tale, there is little else to pull from the hat. Honestly, I found the mood rather miserable.

I’m a fan of Jackman, Bale, and Johansson. But, here they can’t find spark. Perhaps that’s because their characters lack heart. In fact, heart is nearly absent from the entire production. Michael Caine’s character’s patient wisdom reveals some heart. But, in a darkly shot picture that focuses on the tit-for-tat rivalry between two lost-souled performers that heart virtually vanishes.

From the very first big tragic trick, I cringed. A tied performer drowns in less than 30 seconds of screen time in a locked box of water, while Michael Caine tries desperately to break the glass sides of that box with an axe. This makes no sense. There are two other sharp individuals on stage, but no one opens the top of the box and pulls the woman out. I don’t get it. Yet this is the scene that sets up the motivations that drive the entire scheming film. And the question about which knot was used on her arms – I’d much rather have had Jackman’s character simply have an ungrounded suspicion.

Regarding the dialogue in the very last scene – where did that come from? “To see their faces filled with wonder.” Ridiculous. There’s nothing in the film that supports these last words.

That said, faults aside, the idea of the story is actually pretty cool. And I really like the Tesla stuff. (David Bowie nails that small part). I bet there’s a great deal of depth in the book that never made it to the screen.

This film screened at a Krikorian Theatre.

Free Ross Anthony Signed Book Contest!