Acensbart
Excellent but underrated film
Baseshment
I like movies that are aware of what they are selling... without [any] greater aspirations than to make people laugh and that's it.
Rosie Searle
It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.
dolorespark
I've seen lots of bad to so-so reviews for this one, but I gotta say, I keep going back to it because the funny bits really are funny. For me, Peter Capaldi absolutely steals every scene he's in; he can do more comedy with one facial expression than many comedians can pull off in an entire stand-up act, and he's perfect for the role of the bureaucratic petty tyrant in charge of the magic contest. Daren Boyd (my GOD does he look like a young John Cleese!) also steals his scenes, as does Alex McQueen as the stooge: amazing what really good comedic actors can do with even the smallest roles.
Jackson Booth-Millard
From the makers of Peep Show, and director Andrew O'Connor (who did magic as a kid, and has been executive producer of pretty much all Derren Brown shows) this isn't too bad. Basically Harry (David Mitchell) and Karl (Robert Webb) used to be two of the most successful magicians on stage, but it was after Harry discovered Karl and his wife (the act's assistant) having an affair, and then accidentally cutting off her head in a guillotine trick they fell apart. 4 years later, they have split and do not speak to each other, Harry is trying to get a job (possibly that could involve his magic skills), and Karl has reinvented himself as a Derren Brown type act, using thought suggestion and medium. When Harry sees an advert for a international magic contest with a cash prize of £20,000, he originally planned for Karl to help him with an audition, but they are obvious not to get on, and request to both be solo acts. Harry has found a new assistant in the ambitious Linda (Spaced star Jessica Hynes/Stevenson), and Karl has attracted a new naive, almost thick and easy-to-fool Danni (Andrea Riseborough). Both acts progress to the finals, but Harry still has his doubts of bringing back his guillotine act (and he still thinks of what happened last time), soon, Linda will feel the same, and Karl is struggling to keep convincing people he can do his thing. In the end, Karl loses his patience and storms of stage, but after Linda walks out, Karl helps Harry win the contest, and they get their fame back. Also starring Darren Boyd as Otto, Karl's agent, Steve Edge as Tony White, a fellow contestant, with his son Dwight (Rasmus Hardiker), Peter Capaldi as Mike Francis, the leading judge, Alexander Kirk as Dietmar and Tim Plester as Malky. The magic tricks are interesting and impressive, there are even some real magicians in the background, there are some good small giggles, but I can see why the critics give it two stars out of five. Okay!
xx-114
This movie, for the wife and I at least, was very hard to connect with. Maybe it's the fact that we are Americans, and we are just too ignorant to get the Brit Wit. Although we do love almost every Monty Python, and Benny Hill that we have ever seen.This one though is just..... I don't know...obtuse? It seems like a wanna-be documentary and not a real 'film'. Comparing it to 'The Prestige', or 'The Illusionist' is quite unfair to this movie. If you liked those, then don't expect the same from this. It's quirky, somewhat non-linear, and quite frankly, just not that great. If it pops up on the tele, then maybe give it a watch over dinner. But I honestly can't even say rent it.
Radioheap
Hmmm...I saw the screening last week in Dublin, and although it was quite funny, it wasn't "brilliant". I had lots of fun, but there was just something missing I think. Mitchell and Webb were great (as ever), Jessica Stevenson, Darren Boyd and Peter Capaldi were also great (as ever)...but there was just something about it. Too slight? Not enough meat? No Mark Heap? I dunno. All this talent and - it pains me to say this - it didn't seem to be much more than the sum of its parts. Maybe further viewings will reveal more. Now having said that, there were plenty of great jokes, nuances, the odd subversion, and so forth - not to mention magic tricks. Despite my minor reservations, it's still a cut above the rest of the tripe that passes for comedy these days. Armstrong and Bain have made the leap to film confidently and convincingly. They still deliver the goods. Go see it! Incidentally, Jessica Stevenson just gets more gorgeous as time goes on (sigh).(Notice I didn't mention Peep Show! Surely I deserve some kind of award!)Oh, and there was a Q&A session with David and Rob after the screening and they were hilarious. Sharp as tacks, took time to answer even the stupidest questions, and hung around long enough for fans to mob them (well, ask for autographs and photos anyway). Great guys.
