惊天魔盗团 Now You See Me影评

惊天魔盗团Now You See Me (2013)Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, Common, Michael Kelly and David Warshofsky.Writers: Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt.Director: Louis LeterrierSYNOPSIS:An elite FBI squad is pursuing The Four Horsemen (Woody Harrelson, JessieEisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco), a team of the world's greatest illusionists who pull off a series of daring heists against corrupt business leaders during theirperformances, and then funnel the millions of stolen profits into their audiences' bank accounts. FBI Special Agent Dylan (Mark Ruffalo) is determined to make the magicians pay for their crimes-and to stop them before they pull off what promises to be an even more audacious heist. But he's forced to partner with Alma (Melanie Laurent), an Interpol detective about whom he is instantly suspicious. Out ofdesperation he turns to Thaddeus (Morgan Freeman), a famed magic debunker, who claims the bank heist was accomplished using disguises and video trickery.One thing Dylan and Alma agree on is that the Horsemen must have an outside point person, and that finding him (or her) is key to ending the magicians' crime spree.A hugely enjoyable thriller, whose sleight of hand is both audacious and ambitious, Louis Leterrier's film is considerable in scale and daring. But be warned: The springboard on which the film is balanced is one that asks its audience to take a leap of faith - and embrace the illusion and the impossible. We are given strings of clues (as well as red herrings) throughout, but there are more questions than answers in this high concept and original screenplay by Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt. 'The more you think you see, the easier it is to fool you,' we are told at the beginning of the film, but so fast and relentless is the action, the dazzle overshadows our ability to put all the elements together, irrespective of how closely you look, watch and listen.The film begins by establishing the key players, beginning with four magicians cum scam artists who display their street skills for ill gotten gains in showy scenarios. There's an intriguing set up that brings the four together before meeting them onstage in Las Vegas (as The Four Horsemen) about to execute an elaborate illusion involving a Paris bank vault, an audience member and money falling like rain. The elements and execution are both showy and baffling; the presence of Morgan Freeman and MichaelCaine as two interested parties who have a history with each other also pricks our interest.The scene in the police station when the apprehended magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) run rings around Mark Ruffalo's FBI special agent who has been assigned to making the crime stick is very funny. The plot thickens as a second spectacular illusion is staged and by this stage the focus is on the relationships: between Freeman and Caine, the magicians and between Ruffalo and Melanie Laurent's Paris Interpol agent.It's a formidable cast headed by Ruffalo who is in fine form as the distraught agent. The questions are numerous: What is a distraction and what is the real trick? Who is setting up whom and who is working for whom? Is there a Fifth Horseman? We become intricately involved in the proceedings and the stakes. Admittedly, some of the action is over the top and defies credibility but there's a thrilling car chase and an onslaught of twists and turns before a grand spectacle of a finale. Watch out for the buzzynight-scene in Time Square that reinforces the story's scale.Throw logic out the window as you watch this invigorating and novel film and don't be afraid to take a leap of faith - you'll be glad you did.This is an audacious screenplay, a sleight of hand that takes us in and plays with our minds. It is perhaps a tad far fetched ... a big tad in fact, and the complicated plot needs a lot of focus, but it is so darned appealing. Well, I would say that, being a huge fan of magic. Seductive with its opening magic show delivering fabulous illusion, Now You See Me has a bit of Ocean's 11 at its heart. It's somewhat darker, and it's that darkness that gives it texture.The engaging story is elevated by a superior cast: Mark Ruffalo zings as Agent Dylan, hot in pursuit of the mysterious and frustratingly effective foursome, who are indeed making magic - and mayhem. All four of them - Woody Harrelson, Jessie Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco - are splendid, and cleanly differentiated with unique characteristics while the lovely Melanie Laurent is charmingly powerful as the Interpol agent with French perfume.Needless to say, Morgan Freeman delivers a compelling performance as the man who has made a fortune debunking magic tricks. An admirer of great magic, he plays a pivotal role as an outsider; do we trust him? Do we know where he stands? Where are his loyalties? That's what makes the character interesting.But it's the final twist that delivers the plot payoff, while the big effects and the massive chase give the film a sense of scale. It's bigger than a sleight of hand show in sideshow alley: perhaps too busy with its own cleverness, though.This surprisingly witty, deliciously well-played and sneakily subversive outing from director Louis Letterier (better-known for spectaculars like the Clash Of The Titans remake) freaks out a little into its final act but, nevertheless, ranks as one of the year’s most entertaining pics.A quartet of magician-types comprising street performer J Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), ‘mentalist’ Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), stunt illusionist Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) and sleight-of-hand huckster Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) are mysteriously united and, later, become notorious after stage acts that seem to strip the wealthy of their cash and redistribute it amongst the audience (and one of the ripped-o zillionaires is Michael Caine’s Arthur Tressler, who’s pretty damn unhappy about it).A harried detective (Mark Ruffalo), an Interpol agent (MélanieLaurent) and a pro-debunking TV star (Morgan Freeman) are soon on their trail, and we build to the expected final tricks and turnarounds, some of which are betrayed, as usual, in the trailer - but not all. That rare film, American or otherwise, in which the screenplay actually ‘zings’ (as in the interrogation scenes with Eisenberg, Harrelson and Ruffalo, which almost leaps off the screen), this does indeed get a bit overly loopy after a while.But no matter, as it’s still just about sheer magic.One must approach Louis Leterrier’s ridiculously entertaining Now You See Me with exactly the mindset you would adopt if you decided to sit down for one of the magical extravaganzas central to the movies conceit. If you are going to avail yourself to two of hours slight of hand and slippery conjuring, you are going to have to be willing to believe the unbelievable to fully enjoy the show.The lean, snappy, funny script from Ed Solomon, Boaz Yakin and Edward Ricourt spins the story of a quartet of magicians with varying skills who, under the stage name ‘The Four Horsemen’, enact elaborate bank heists and eludeinternational authorities with arrogant panache. Showman Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) is the self-appointed leader of the group, though mentalist Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson), illusionist Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) and upstart Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) keep his ego in check with quick asides and their own well-honed skills.A pre-title montage establishes them all as down-on-their luck bit players in the world of magic, until a mysterious invitation and the presence of a hooded figure spins all their lives off into Vegas superstardom. Backed by smug benefactor Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), the quartet make headlines when a showstopping act of international thievery puts them in direct conflict with grizzled FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (a terrific Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol sidekick Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent). The investigators, constantly flummoxed by the quick hands and minds of their suspects, employ debunker Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) to help crack the case.Given his hit (Unleashed; The Incredible Hulk) and miss (Clash of the Titans; Transporter 2) career to date, Leterrier exhibits a sure and professional touch with his fifth and best feature. He adheres closely to the primary tenets of the magician’s code, spinning his narrative on the maintenance of illusion via misdirection create the perception your audience is one step ahead when in fact they are two steps behind. He wisely keeps his magicians at an enigmaticarms-length from the audience, never quite revealing motivations until the timingis just right. Some viewers may be a little surprised at the central role Ruffalo and the stunning Laurent take in the plot, but the pay-off, however convoluted it may feel, is immensely satisfying.The result is a supremely slick piece of commercial filmmaking; despite being patently implausible in every respect, the swirling camera and warm colours employed by DOP’s Mitchell Amundsen and Larry Fong, the rich depth of Peter Wenham’s production design and the beat-perfect cutting of editors Robert Leighton and Vince Tabaillon dispel disbelief with a giddy pace. Special credit goes to Brian Tyler’s driving, buoyant score, which ebbs and flows beautifull y with the onscreen action and goes a long way to making Now You See Me a daft but dazzling adventure.。