Film review: Now You See Me (8 out of 10)

I’m also a fan of movies that have a neat twist at the end.

Therefore Now You See Me is right up my street.

Unlike the other summer blockbusters, this film has had comparatively little hype.

So no surprise it has a 12A certificate.

However, I’m not sure too many children under 12 would hang on to the plot as it twists and turns with red herrings all over the place.

There have been some great ‘magic’ movies in recent years (The Prestige, The Illusionist) and this happily sits alongside them.

It opens with a trick that even the audience can join in with.

We then meet all the main ‘magic’ characters as they ply their trade on stage or hustling on the street.

They are brought together by a mystery person and several months later appear on stage in Las vegas as The Four Horsemen - an amazing act that ends up robbing a bank in France!

Mark Ruffalo plays FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, brought in to thwart the magic team, while we also have Morgan Freeman as a man who has made his name revealing illusionists’ tricks and Michael Caine as a wealthy benefactor.

There’s little time to draw breath as we follow the Four Horsemen from show to show with the law enforcers in hot pursuit.

Jesse Eisenberg and Woody Harrelson are particularly good as two of the Horsemen, while Freeman, Caine and Ruffalo can always be relied on to give a good performance.

Melanie Laurent is also excellent as an Interpol agent who attempts to get on with the rough and ready Rhodes. However, the other two ‘Horsemen’ (Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) struggle in such great company.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie although I did guess the twist a few minutes before the reveal (I hate it when I do that!).

The 115 minutes seemed to flash by which is always a good sign.

Film details: Now You See me (12A) 115mins

Director: Louis Letterier

Starring: Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson

Screening courtesy of Cineworld Crawley

Steve Payne