Summit Entertainment
Mercury the Trickster does a massive sleight of hand in Louis Leterrier’s crime caper Now You See Me, given there are not one but four magicians, all at the top of their mischievous games, creating enthralling mayhem.
Befuddled detective Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) is looking increasingly incompetent as he tries to keep one step ahead of master illusionist Daniel (Jesse Eisenberg), escape artist Henley (Isla Fisher), hypnotist Merritt (Woody Harrelson), and pickpocket-lock picker Jack (Dave Franco). Each member, shown at the beginning of the movie to have been working their careers solo, has received a special and mysterious invitation to work as a team to use their talents to gain admission into a revered secret organization called The Eye, which protects the principles of the real magician’s game.
As the group gains a huge fan following for their heists and Dylan lags in pursuit – he seems to be falling into “the closer you look, the less you see” trap, despite his being assisted by Interpol agent Alma (Melanie Laurent) – one can barely keep up with the movie’s Mercurially paced dialog and mental agility.
In the end, the culprits who call themselves The Four Horsemen – as well as the mastermind behind the quarter’s escapades – are seen as part of a mystical heritage who can dominate and control the four elements. The movie gives new meaning to the adage, “Be the change.”
Astrology Film Rating: ☿ (Mercury)
