Script + Plot - 7
Characters - 6
Actors - 8
Soundtrack - 7
Visuals + Sounds - 8
Editing + Cinematography - 8
Directing - 7
Effect - 6
Raw Overall Score - 7.125
Personal Overall Score - 6.9
Brief Overall Review: This visually stunning movie with complementary cinematography had an enthralling plot that initially seemed as if it would be a horrific rip-off of 'The Prestige' or maybe a bad flashy complicated modern 'Robin Hood', but luckily it turned into something quite different, with magic tricks that were not completely mind-blowing but entertaining all the same as you worked to figure it all out and actors that could keep the entertainment factor up and produce believable characters with unbelievable circumstances, the end of the movie whilst containing a huge unpredictable twist still fell a little flat and made the overall film feel like wasted potential, however despite the numerous plot holes in this movie it still managed to entertain and give something for the viewer to enjoy watching.
Script + Plot - An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money. The plot and storyline for this movie was an interesting one, although it sounded initially like this movie was working hard to be the next 'The Prestige' I still thought it took an interesting take on magic and how it could be used and exploited. Although the plot I felt was a little original even though it just mixed elements from different plots, I thought it was handled a little poorly and especially towards the end it completely lost it's goal. Whilst an interesting concept for a movie, the way the script portrayed and handled it was quite simply amateur. The script was so poorly done that if not for the good actors, this movie could easily have been one of the worst ones out there this year. Although the script was horrible and there were unexplained plot holes, I really did enjoy the plot a lot, so I'll give this a 7 even though technically the script score should trump the plot's.
Characters - The characters were not even slightly developed if we're being honest, we only really managed to see them on the surface level; this movie was all about the twists, turns, special effects, crazy plot and less about the characters. I usually don't like it when the characters and their development is secondary/tertiary in movies or books or shows, or anything fictional really so I was a bit disappointed, however I thought we had a nice mix of characters that complemented each other and each brought a little something different to the movie. I thought they had a nice dynamic together, the characters were well defined and I don't think I noticed a character waver from their typical traits so for that I believe they were well structured. Unfortunately I found myself feeling indifferent to most of the characters and this was probably due to the fact that we didn't learn enough about them to truly like or dislike them. A 6 in this category.
Actors - I thought the actors did a superb job with what they were given, they had pretty bad scripts and incredibly underdeveloped characters but they actually managed to make them bearable and make them real, giving them just a hint of depth simply by the way they handled their scenes. I also felt like there was good chemistry on set between them all and that made it easier for them to pull off interactions they had in the movie. I was particularly fond of Morgan Freeman, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson and Isla Fisher's handling of their characters, and a lot of people did a great job. I wasn't so sure about Jesse Eisenberg because I feel like he plays the same character again and again even though I have technically only seen him in three movies, although he seemed to portray his character quite well I don't believe I can give him much credit as I don't feel that he stretched himself enough or tapped into anything special or different. An 8 for me.
Soundtrack - The soundtrack from what I recall wasn't anything special and didn't stand out in a bad way, it was good and I believe it was very fitting for the movie and did a great job accentuating the scenes, amplifying them and bringing them to life, adding to the awe of the occasions during when magic tricks were being presented etc. A 7.
Visuals + Sounds - I thought the movie was visually stunning and evidently CGI was often used to accompany dazzling images especially when going for certain staged magic tricks. I liked the colours and the flashing lights which of course played into the aspect of trickery and the deception of the mind and hiding truths behind the flashy outer layers. The sound effects again is not something I particularly listen out for but I believe they sounded good, nothing out of place, nothing too over the top. I give this an 8.
Editing + Cinematography - I thought the cinematography in this movie was so well done, I know I don't know much about cinematography but I really do think that they did a brilliant job and had a wide range of interesting shots and angles that contributed to this film being so beautiful to watch and kept our eyes glued regardless of the other negative aspects of the movie, I can also recall so many shots and just admire them in my mind and how stunning and well designed they looked. The editing was also done quite well and majority of the scenes flowed appropriately, I surrender an 8 towards this section.
Directing - Generally I felt that the movie knew where it wanted to go at first and although the beginning made it seem like it would be a rip-off of a small selection of movies, it all started coming together and the vision of the movie was slowly created and developed, the whole idea of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor in a disguise of magic and the implications was beginning to be well handled halfway through the movie, in spite of the terrible script, the movie was beginning to make sense. However everything suddenly went down hill closer to the end, especially when numerous situations and twists were revealed, then the movie just seemed like it was trying to produce complicated and contrived twists and introduce complex ideas which didn't match the essence of the first part of the movie which had initially seemed more believable. The movie lost it's direction after a while, so I give this aspect a 7.
Effect - The movie lost most of it's effect by the end with the ridiculous twist it posed. The fact that there were no strong original lines in the movie also did not help create any effect upon the viewer. The maximum effect that it had was to provide some intellectual entertainment as the viewer tries to put the puzzle pieces together, tries to understand the magic tricks that were performed and obviously tries to uncover the mystery. Unfortunately the tricks were either really easy to guess and therefore not so interesting e.g the 7 diamonds trick at the start, or were really over the top or complicated that they were completely unbelievable and seemed ridiculous or pointless e.g the last trick they performed for everyone with the money and the appearances (trying not to spoil it for anyone). I give the effect a 6 as I can still recall some nice imagery and certain magic tricks.
Who should watch it?
If you liked The Prestige and would not mind watching a perhaps 'lesser' version of it, if you like anything involving magic, if you enjoy watching even slightly intellectually stimulating films, if you want to be mind-blown, if you want a movie with an unexpected twist, if you're a fan or Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson and really any other cast members, if you enjoy mysteries, if you fancy yourself a magician, if you just want to watch something genuinely entertaining and pass time.
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