Featured Audience Ratings

• Chris W

  
  Considering the cast (and to a lesser extent, the director), this had some real potential to be awesome. And you know what? This film does mostly deliver. It's a fun, breezy, and dazzling caper film about a group of magicians known as The Four Horsemen (even though one of them… More
  Considering the cast (and to a lesser extent, the director), this had some real potential to be awesome. And you know what? This film does mostly deliver. It's a fun, breezy, and dazzling caper film about a group of magicians known as The Four Horsemen (even though one of them is a woman) who pull off a series of heists, but dress them up as magic acts. Hot on their tail in a game of cat and mouse are a determined FBI agent, a specialist from INTERPOL, and an ex-magician turned debunker, all of them with the shared goal of bringing the Horsemen down. If you've seen a few movies about magicians, then you'll probably be able to see where some of this is going. There's plenty of twists and turns, but I wasn't able to guess all of them. That was part of the fun. Now, the film doesn't really hold up to much scrutiny, and it's probably not worth many repeat viewings, but it's a decent way to kill a couple of hours. Where the film is lacking with character development, plotting and story, it more than makes up for it with stylish, flashy direction, tons of energy, and a top notch cast who all bring their A game. The Horsemen are played by Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, and Dave Franco, and they have pretty good chemistry with one another, and seem to really be having a blast. Michael Caine is a financier for the group, the debunker is played by Morgan Freeman, and Mark Ruffalo and Melanie Laurent are the FBI and INTERPOL agents, respectively. Like I said, they all seem to care, and put some effort into this, and they really make the film worth seeing. Perhaps one of the best parts is a fight scene where Franco uses flash paper, playing cards, and sleight of hand techniques against Ruffalo and his cohorts. That's pretty funny and cool. All in all, this is a better than average caper, and a pretty fun ride. It may not be airtight or intellectually stimulating, but I didn't feel duped by the time the end credits rolled.

• Sanjay R

  
  This may be the worst movie to come out this year. It is a classic case of a pretty good idea gone completely to waste. The writing is terrible, the plot holes are gaping, the acting is horrific and the directing is poor. This is an extremely poorly constructed film.

• Jeff "

  
  So far this summer we've been treated to many great films. Now You See Me is yet another fun and highly entertaining film that delivers effective thrills to engage from the first frame onwards. With a great cast, interesting concept and effective directing, this film is a… More
  So far this summer we've been treated to many great films. Now You See Me is yet another fun and highly entertaining film that delivers effective thrills to engage from the first frame onwards. With a great cast, interesting concept and effective directing, this film is a terrific summer picture that is sure to entertain anyone looking for a smart heist film that mixes different genre elements into one film. I found the film to be quite underrated, and though I can see why the film may have gotten bad reviews, it is much better than what you think. The film does have its flaws, but there is plenty here to enjoy. For me, this is Louis Leterrier's best work. The film will keep you guessing till the very end, and it is one of the best heist films in a long time. Although at times, the film does have a few weak areas that could have been improved upon, the good concept is what keeps you involved in the film's plot, and the varied cast of wonderful talent saves this film from being a total dud. Now You See Me is one of the most surprising films this summer, and I went in expecting a total failure, but I walked out pleasantly surprised. There's effective action, thrills and humor to make for a worthwhile two hours. Now You See Me is flawed in places, but manages to pull off something that is above average due to a well written script, and good performances from a cast that are just interesting to watch. Expect a good heist film with this one, but one that combines the magic into its plot in a way to really make you think about what's going on. The only downside to the film is that sometimes it does struggle with what type of film it's trying to be, but I guess in the end it's all part of the big picture. Even with all its imperfections, I really enjoyed the film, and it is another entertaining summer film that manages to be better than what everyone has claimed it to be. Go into this one with an open mind.

• Markus R

  
  "Now You See Me" is essentially a movie whose narrative is played out like a magic trick. And I love magic, but here is the thing about a well done trick: If every part of the trick (especially one that lasts two hours) isn't engaging enough to keep the viewer… More
  "Now You See Me" is essentially a movie whose narrative is played out like a magic trick. And I love magic, but here is the thing about a well done trick: If every part of the trick (especially one that lasts two hours) isn't engaging enough to keep the viewer interested, then most certainly the outcome will be disregarded, no matter how amazeballs it may be. The Synopsis: After a team of magicians, who call themselves The Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, and to a lesser extent Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) pull off a bank robbery in a bank located halfway around the world during a live Las Vegas performance, an FBI agent and an Interpol detective played by Mark Ruffalo and Melanie Laurent (who is horribly unnecessary here) respectively, must work together in order to get to the bottom of it all. Director Louis Leterrier (The Transporter) does the best he can with the material allotted. All the visuals are on point, so the fact that the script contains a huge lull for the entirety of the second act (and part of the third) isn't really his fault. This leads me to the main issue with "Now You See Me". This is a film which begins with a visual bang. A bang so hypnotizing that it completely masks its own confusingly weak premise. And for about 40 minutes, due to Leterrier's direction and how Ruffalo, Harrelson and Eisenberg interact with each other, "Now You See Me" does maintain an impressive, high octane, cat and mouse entertainment level. But as the movie progresses, it is the elongated second act which may lose the interest of many audience members and a final rather shocking, but overall nonsensical reveal in the final act, which may lose the rest. Side Note: Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine both have supporting roles in this movie, and in fact do have one pretty epic interaction. But neither of them do enough here to allot them any more space in this review, so... Final Thought: It is the rather snappy and well delivered humor throughout, which keeps this film from totally becoming derailed during its questionable latter half. But the more I had hoped that this was going to be a comedic "The Prestige", the more it became a misguided, moral-centric Robin Hood. That said, the most damning thing I can say about "Now You See Me" is that it's a definite instance of: the more you have time to think about what you've just seen, the worse this movie becomes. Written by Markus Robinson, Edited by Nicole I. Ashland Follow me on Twitter @moviesmarkus

• UUd I

  
  This movie takes the ending in the wring way.

• Nate Z

  
  Everybody loves magic, right? At least the prospect of being surprised and delighted. Now You See Me takes something everybody loves (magic) and mixes it with a genre everybody loves (heist movie) and has already profited from the results at the box-office. Mix an ensemble of actors,… More
  Everybody loves magic, right? At least the prospect of being surprised and delighted. Now You See Me takes something everybody loves (magic) and mixes it with a genre everybody loves (heist movie) and has already profited from the results at the box-office. Mix an ensemble of actors, though all of them white, and look over in this direction for a diverting, entertaining, and ultimately frustrating film that is too breezy to hate. Four different magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco) have teamed up to form a super team, The Horsemen, and they've taken Vegas by storm. A year into their reign, the insurance magnet and casino owner, Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), is sitting pretty with his investment until the Horsemen turn their targets on him. With each new fantastic trick, the quartet fleeces the shady businessman of his money, returning it to wronged parties and the public at large. FBI Agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol Agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent) are tasked with finding the magical fugitives and figuring out their greater scheme. Just as one of the magicians notes, every time they think they're one step ahead, they're actually three behind. Let's begin by admitting that the premise of a group of magicians performing heists is excellent. Seriously, on that alone I'd be hooked. Wouldn't an Ocean's 11-style movie about a group of magicians working a big score just be awesome? There's so much fun to be had with such a breezy premise and for the most part Now You See Me lives up to its breezy potential. It works in segments, presenting a magical set piece, watching it unfold, and then unpacking it, sort of like a reverse heist sequence. It provides a bite-size moment of satisfaction, and then the movie goes off and repeats the process. The Horsemen elude the police and we start to get a broader sense of their aims, namely a slice of class warfare vigilante justice. There's a genuine thrill to watching smart, talented types outfox their antagonists, and Now You See Me is no different. Under Louis Leterrier's (Clash of the Titans) direction, the results are fast-paced, constantly shifting and surprising, and so cheery in tone that it's hard to fault the movie for its lack of substance. Here is an example of a summer movie that's just fun to watch. It taps into the desire we all have to be fooled, the same willful disbelief we process when watching magic or movies themselves, the modern artistic equivalent of magic. For a solid hour-plus, Now You See Me is a diverting and entertaining action thriller. There are only a handful of traditional action sequences in the movie as most of the thrills are comprised of the illusions and some foot chases. I do want to single out a great moment, namely a magic fight where Jack Wilder (Franco) runs al over an apartment subduing police officers with magic. At first he relies on stealth to get the drop on them, but then the guy resorts to what is practically magic kung fu, using his sleight-of-hand to disarm his attackers. He then uses playing cards and flash paper at his disposal. I only wish that Rhodes, Wilder's main adversary in the scene, tried to fight fire with fire, so to speak, and make use of the magical accessories in comical matters. The scene's imagination reminded me of the final confrontation in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? where a selection of toon-specific tools were brought back for a unique showdown. But with most magic acts, the good times start to fade once you find out how the trick is done. What hampers Now You See Me from being a stronger movie is a convoluted third act that goes to great preposterous lengths to explain the source behind the Horsemen. It's pretty much who you'd assume it would be but I'll still refrain from spoilers. Suffice to say, it's an ending that doesn't really work especially since it's one of those reveals that makes you think back and question ordinary scenes. The movie muffs the landing, relying on twists to satisfy what was really just a high-concept heist movie. Another issue I had with the film is how quickly it marginalizes our would-be Robin Hoods of magic. After about the 45-minute mark, the Horsemen get sidelined as supporting characters and the movie is almost entirely told from the perspective of Rhodes. I understand there's got to be some narrative discipline so that we don't know the protagonists' tricks before they perform them, but if I'm going to stuck with the dogged cop then make it his movie from the start. Compounding this problem is that the Horsemen, through no fault of the actors, barely register as characters. The actors are given one-note, and in the case of Fisher (The Great Gatsby) it was Woman, and that's it. We see them as they perform their tricks and their daring escapes, but that doesn't count as character development. In this regard, it's less bothersome that these poorly conceived people get sidelined but then you stop and think that the only character you actually feel some interest in is Laurent's Interpol agent. My suggestion for any possible future installments (Now You See Me Again? Now You Don't?) is to focus more on our core team of magicians rather than their mysterious benefactor. I would also stress less time spent talking about The Eye of Horus or whatever through-the-centuries secret club of magicians the film was hinting at. I liked that, while completely elaborate and with endless fortune in preparation, that the illusions still had some tenuous foot in reality, that the magic tricks could be done in a somewhat recognizable world of ours (ignore the hologram junk). I strongly feel that even hinting about secret magical orders is just a step too far, breaking the film's credulity, and taking what was fun and making it silly. I was worried before seeing the movie that the magic, as advertised, was going to be too supernatural. I was relieved that there wasn't going to be a late reveal where some character rolls their eyes, probably Eisenberg, sand says, "Well, yeah, magic is real. Stupid." When you're playing around with larger-than-life figures that deal in theatricality and misdirection, I think it's paramount not to get too carried away, failing to ground your movie for the audience. If you're looking for a fun time out at the movies, Now You See Me will serve its purpose well enough until it begins to fall apart by the end. You may find yourself looking back and the earlier mystery and thrill of the unknown will dissipate upon reflection, leaving you with little. It's fun while it lasts but when it's all over you're left with substandard characters and an overly convoluted plot that doesn't satisfy in the clinch. Magicians-plan-heist is such a juicy premise that I hope someone else makes better use of it. I would still love to see that movie, only well developed and giving me characters to actually care about. Now You See Me is as substantial as a magic trick itself but it's an inoffensive, carefree, and mostly fun ride at the movies, though I think so much more could have been done with this concept and this budget. For a $75 million dollar magic trick, I want a better result. Nate's Grade: B-

• Nikhil N

  
  The real trick is being played on the audience. This movie disguises itself as clever and unique, but really it is just an inconceivable plot which boasts a wasted all star cast. Not smart enough to keep the viewer's attention, not entertaining enough to make it worth the… More
  The real trick is being played on the audience. This movie disguises itself as clever and unique, but really it is just an inconceivable plot which boasts a wasted all star cast. Not smart enough to keep the viewer's attention, not entertaining enough to make it worth the insufferable two hour run time, Now You See Me is disappointment on every level. Perhaps the only redeeming element is that the actors do try their best despite a worthless script and plot. Unfortunately, Now You See Me is able to pull off its magic trick by the end of the film. It made my time, money, and patience completely disappear.

• Mark H

  
  Now You See Me has a brilliant set up. Over time that semblance of sense gives way to a pretty convoluted third act that will require a willing suspension of disbelief in order to swallow all that came before it. For example the clarification of what actually happens during a car… More
  Now You See Me has a brilliant set up. Over time that semblance of sense gives way to a pretty convoluted third act that will require a willing suspension of disbelief in order to swallow all that came before it. For example the clarification of what actually happens during a car crash is completely ludicrous. The details don't hold up, but that still doesn't mean the picture isn't fun. For a good while, the developments are fast paced and lively. There's CGI galore to emphasize the style of their illusions. The cinematography is a bit dizzy. A little less spinning camerawork would've sufficed. I suppose that's the art of misdirection at work, but it also imparts a lighthearted panache that never allows the audience to take this subject too seriously. There's no way anyone could possibly explain the 'how' or 'why' until the very end, but it's still interesting enough to hold your attention. fastfilmreviews.wordpress.com

• Bathsheba M

  
  Physically ravishing. The idea of magicians being able to right the wrongs of society is very appealing because sometimes that seems like the only way it would ever happen. But as much as I enjoyed all that, the story was contrived and as disappointing as finding out how magic… More
  Physically ravishing. The idea of magicians being able to right the wrongs of society is very appealing because sometimes that seems like the only way it would ever happen. But as much as I enjoyed all that, the story was contrived and as disappointing as finding out how magic tricks are done. Plus, there were a lot of plot holes that needed splainin' and didn't get it.

• Sam B

  
  I was worried that "Now You See Me" would pull a "Gangster Squad" and waste its amazing cast on a lazy script. Luckily, this movie avoids that pitfall with a story that actually tries to do something original. The magical twist on the heist genre makes for an… More
  I was worried that "Now You See Me" would pull a "Gangster Squad" and waste its amazing cast on a lazy script. Luckily, this movie avoids that pitfall with a story that actually tries to do something original. The magical twist on the heist genre makes for an immediately engaging plot, and each character gets at least one awesome moment to shine, and none of the actors felt like cameos in the same way that Morgan Freeman did in "Oblivion" just a month earlier. Unfortunately, though the film avoids pulling a "Gangster Squad", it instead pulls a "Hancock". That movie notoriously built up a great first half only to introduce ludicrous plot developments, which killed the film just when it was reaching its peak. "Now You See Me" does exactly that, with a couple (that's right, more than one) second half plot twists that throw all logic out the window, and feel more like a flimsy attempt to channel "Fight Club", without setting the reveal up well throughout the movie, and barely trying to explain itself. As it stands, the film is still a cool, fast-paced adventure and I was glad to see just how much the cast helped elevate the film as a whole, but the execution towards the end makes me hesitant to recommend the movie unless you really love these actors, as I do.

• Flutie A

  
  I felt like this never really delivered, and then they went for the big reveal and it was pretty "meh". Also, don't spoil your third act in the trailers, for crying out loud. Redbox it!

• Everett J

  
  "Now You See Me" is a movie about a group of magicians who rob from the rich, and give to the poor. Like a modern Robin Hood. The group is called the Four Horsemen and after their first show, they are quickly followed by the F.B.I and Interpol. Also watching them is a… More
  "Now You See Me" is a movie about a group of magicians who rob from the rich, and give to the poor. Like a modern Robin Hood. The group is called the Four Horsemen and after their first show, they are quickly followed by the F.B.I and Interpol. Also watching them is a mysterious Magic Debunker played by Morgan Freeman. The cast in this movie is amazing. Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Michael Caine, and Mark Ruffalo all star and play pivotal roles. Ruffalo is the head F.B.I. agent on their trail, and he is awesome as always. Eisenberg is also fantastic playing against his usually awkward geeky roles. Here, he is cool, calm, and confident as the leader of the Magic act. The effects are all done good(even if some are cheesey) and other than a couples spots towards the end, the movie is very well made. This is a perfectly fun Summer heist movie. It doesn't take itself too seriously, yet remains grounded(most of it anyway). This is a very entertaining watch. Even Emily enjoyed it, so guys take the ladies, and hopefully some magic of your own will happen;-)

• KJ P

  
  Seeing as I was highly looking forward to this film, I walked out of the film scratching my head in disappointment. It's preposterous plot line would never be able to occur in real life, which magic should be able to make happen, but when all the cool tricks in the film are done… More
  Seeing as I was highly looking forward to this film, I walked out of the film scratching my head in disappointment. It's preposterous plot line would never be able to occur in real life, which magic should be able to make happen, but when all the cool tricks in the film are done by CGI effects, it takes all the stakes away and you are pulled out of the film to reality and you just have to turn off your brain for this one. The actors are enjoyable and the twists work very well, but it all just seemed so easy for them to pull everything off when the final act of the film comes to a close. Magic is supposed to amaze people, and that is certainly not what this film did. Besides a few fun action sequences and an enjoyable premise, "Now You See Me" is a very hit or miss film. Sadly, I won't be remembering this the way I hoped I would...

• Aaron N

  
  Dylan Rhodes: I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you just say magicians robbed a bank? Now You See Me is the kind of movie that is both a lot of fast-paced fun throughout and still annoying due to how clever it thinks it is. I can see a large audience enjoying this… More
  Dylan Rhodes: I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you just say magicians robbed a bank? Now You See Me is the kind of movie that is both a lot of fast-paced fun throughout and still annoying due to how clever it thinks it is. I can see a large audience enjoying this movie quite a bit, as everything is moving so quickly that there is rarely a chance to stop and consider what it took to achieve certain spectacles, if one were to apply logic. However, the annoying thing is that the movie acknowledges that it knows it doesn't make too much sense if one were to look closely and encourages its audience to essentially look the other way, much like one does at a magic show. The pretty magician's assistant is on one side, while the trick being performed is happening elsewhere, and as long as the viewer stares at the assistant, they should ideally have a fun time watching a story about a team of tricksters illusionists pulling off a series of heists. read the whole review at thecodeiszeek.com

• Martin B

  
  Magic's appeal is in making the audience think "HOW did they do that?!?" Now You See Me wants you be amazed and entertained at its tricks, but the mystery and appeal of its tricks is lost, because thanks to the clear use of CGI and camera trickery, you *know* how it was… More
  Magic's appeal is in making the audience think "HOW did they do that?!?" Now You See Me wants you be amazed and entertained at its tricks, but the mystery and appeal of its tricks is lost, because thanks to the clear use of CGI and camera trickery, you *know* how it was done - it was faked. That's not to say it's not an enjoyable film. It's fun, and it keeps moving at a brisk pace, but the moments when they clearly think they are astonishing the audience fall a little flat; and those are meant to be key moments of the film. It's this overconfidence (along with being a bit predictable) that is the film's only real flaw. The characters (and the film itself), while entertaining, are all a bit too smug for their own good. While the marketing focus is on the magic, just as much if not more screentime focuses on Mark Ruffalo's detective as he pursues them. He does a fine job, though in a couple scenes he plays it a bit too hammy. Eisenberg and Harrelson, reuniting here after Zombieland, are the most fun to watch. Entertaining? Sure. But I think I was expecting a little more from it, and a little less in the way of CG that really takes away from the impressiveness of the practical tricks. The summer release date is a bit questionable as well. This film is going to vanish (no pun intended) pretty quickly in a crowded summer market. It would have been much better suited for a late-winter or early-fall release.

• Bradley W

  
  Now You See Me manages to be one of the most implausible films I have seen in a long time, but somehow it also manages to be one of the years more entertaining treats. Expectations were very low for this film by me and many people, but I was given a pleasant surprise when I… More
  Now You See Me manages to be one of the most implausible films I have seen in a long time, but somehow it also manages to be one of the years more entertaining treats. Expectations were very low for this film by me and many people, but I was given a pleasant surprise when I discovered that it was Louis Leterrier's best film to date. I have always been interested by magic, and the way we are distracted so that we cannot see the big picture of the trick. Leterrier understands people's fascination with magicians and he gives us a story that most people will accept due to its entertaining style and the way Leterrier handles the concept. If you are hoping to see tricks that you can try at home, you will be sadly disappointed. Nearly every trick in this film is impossible and could never happen in the real world, but that is part of the movie magic. I walked out of this film happy with the results and feeling like my money was well spent, and that is all I ever ask for when going to the movies. The entire cast worked very well, and I never got too star struck seeing all the great actors on the same screen at once. Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fischer, Dave Franco, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, and Mélanie Laurent? What more could a movie geek ask for. The film feels like a cross between "The Prestige" and "Ocean's Eleven" and at times, I didn't know if the film did this well enough. There is a lot of focus on the police trying to hunt down our protagonists, but the protagonists disappear from the film for long periods of time and at some points I was asking myself "where are they?" The film also has a ridiculous ending that will either be loved or hated by audience members, as for me I found it to be an interesting and yet implausible twist that I saw coming a mile away. Sometimes this film felt like too much too handle, but Now You See Me was some great entertainment nonetheless and I was happy with the results. It's nothing incredible or groundbreaking, but Leterrier still brings us some fun summer movie entertainment. The story involves a group of magicians: J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and Henley Reeves (Isla Fischer) who perform big magic acts in which they take money and give it to the audience. Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) tries to hunt down these four vigilantes and bring them to justice. The plot of the film felt a bit like Robin Hood but with magician, and in a lot of ways this concept was very interesting. The characters have personalities, charisma, and they each bring something to this story to make it feel real. But it's very hard to ignore how impossible every magic act in this film is and how Leterrier manages to trick many audience members into thinking this all could happen in real life. It felt too supernatural and impossible to call these people magicians, which is why I was kind of hoping they would explain it all with some mystical secret that would explain how these guys can do the impossible. But of course, the film concludes that these magicians are just the most talented people who ever lived. It didn't really matter much, as the characters keeps the film flowing and whenever they believe something is possible, we also believe it. Each character perfectly matches the personality of the actor playing it, and I was surprised how well the story managed to give them all a little spotlight. I enjoy magic, and I really enjoy films about magic, and I guess you could say this film had me entertained due to its focus on magic. I never believed this would be anything new or important, which it's not, but its good old fashioned entertainment that sometimes is hard to find these days. The characters are thinly written, the story is scattered, and the magic is impossible, but in a way that is what makes this film so charming. You can't go to a film like this and hope for a masterpiece, you must focus on what it sets out to achieve and that is to entertain the audience and I must admit that I was intrigued from start to finish. This film is nothing we haven't seen before, but with an interesting concept and entertaining magic we can't help but not take our eyes off the screen the entire time. The cast is what the film really handles well, and with such a starstruck cast you can't help but just smile when you see so many fantastic actors in the same film. Jesse Eisenberg has proven to me that he is a great actor, and I trust his career will go to great places. He is funny and cool in this film, and he makes for a very solid hero. Mark Ruffalo was in many ways, the true star of this film. I walked out of the movie only thinking of his cool and well-handled performance. He brings new layers of charisma to the film and overall he owned the show. Woody Harrelson is pretty much Woody Harrelson, and we couldn't ask for more. He has grown into one of the most lovable actors in Hollywood and seeing in this film just brings a smile to my face with his cool humor and witty banter that only he can pull off. Isla Fischer gives a solid and nice performance in this film, and she stands her ground with a cast filled with Academy Award winners and nominees. She has beauty and witty dialogue which keep her standing with the rest of these great actors. Dave Franco has not yet proved to me he is ready to be in films like this, and he really was just a background character. He was fine in films like "21 Jump Street" and "Warm Bodies," but he never really stood out to me. He may grow on me, but until then I hope he takes roles more suitable for him. Morgan Freeman is great, and Micheal Caine gave a good performance as well. Mélanie Laurent has always been a great actress, and her streak doesn't end here as she gives a solid performance. This cast had me entertained the entire time, and they gave the film an upper hand in a summer of black busters. Now You See Me will likely be forgotten in a while, as most films like this do. They are popular for a while then people start talking about it less and less until it's on Netflix and has been forgotten. That's the curse for most summer movies, once they leave theaters their memory is forgotten. But for what it's worth, this film is one of the better movies I have seen so far this summer and I am very happy I saw it. Louis Leterrier handles this movie in a way that I found interesting, as he uses his love for special effects in a way that is effective to the films concept. He is not a famous director, or even a great director, but I admire his lust for entertainment that he almost always provides to the audience and never fails to give exactly what is expected. So you cannot trash the film for what it succeeds at doing, which is entertaining the audience. But you can argue that since it has such an important cast, it should've been taken more seriously and focused a little more on a plausible story. But nevertheless, I enjoyed the film thoroughly and it provided me with the magic, laughs, and action that I needed for the day.

• Byron B

  
  The trailer made it look cool. Wait, is this another Inception? No. Freeman and Caine are in it together. Is Christopher Nolan somehow associated? No. Producing partners Kurtzman and Orci, who wrote the Transformers movies and have often worked with J.J. Abrams are involved. So,… More
  The trailer made it look cool. Wait, is this another Inception? No. Freeman and Caine are in it together. Is Christopher Nolan somehow associated? No. Producing partners Kurtzman and Orci, who wrote the Transformers movies and have often worked with J.J. Abrams are involved. So, it's a big special effects filled summer movie? Yes. Action movie director Leterrier seems to think big crowds, big pyrotechnics, and big twists are better. So, it's like a big mind-bending magic show with lots of slight of hand? Um, sometimes. First time screenwriter Ricourt worked with Boaz Yakin, who's had a spotty career in a handful of genres, to develop the story and then it appears stand-up comic writer Solomon was brought in to add jokes. Is it well written? No. Hell, no! I was not impressed with most of the jokes. Eisenberg is basically the same smart ass he was as Zuckerberg. Trying to squeeze a romance in between Ruffalo and French actress Laurent, the agents investigating the magicians' crimes, was a mistake. The movie dragged and the writing was particularly bad in their scenes together. Listen to the names of The Four Horsemen, the magicians at the center of this scam: J. Daniel Atlas (Eisenberg), Merritt McKinney (Harrelson), Henley Reeves (Fisher), and Jack Wilder (Franco). They're so ridiculous. The women are pretty faces, but not much else. Isla Fisher is definitely not given equal screen time with the three men. Caine as a financier looked worn out and deserved a better character. Freeman has a few good scenes as an online/tv video celeb debunker of magic. In an effects heavy movie like this stage magic has no meaning. With editing and post-production I cannot suspend my disbelief very far. Still movies are all about giving away the secrets with so many behind the scenes featurettes on DVDs, so Freeman and later the Horsemen's connection to the mystical organization The Eye explaining how all the tricks were done was fun.

• Jeff B

  
  Despite boasting a Prestige-ous curtain closer of its own, this 2 hours of magical thinking amounts to a better than average sleight of ham. Oh, Now You See Me doesn't exactly boast Oscar-winning screenwriting even if moviegoers can't always see the strings levitating the… More
  Despite boasting a Prestige-ous curtain closer of its own, this 2 hours of magical thinking amounts to a better than average sleight of ham. Oh, Now You See Me doesn't exactly boast Oscar-winning screenwriting even if moviegoers can't always see the strings levitating the big Houdini Who-Done-It reveal. Hell, just because a popcorn flick has something up its sleeve doesn't exactly make it David Copperfield...uh, the classic Charles Dickens novel, not the illusionist. However, the fact that it's not a dead rabbit in a hat like The Incredible Burt Wonderstone often allows for the movie to be as entertaining as David Copperfield...uh, the illusionist, not the classic Charles Dickens novel. In this PG-13-rated action-adventure, an FBI agent (Ruffalo) and an Interpol detective (Melanie Laurent) pursue a team of illusionists (Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco) who pull off bank heists during their performances and give the money to their audience. If you sawed director Leterrier's projects in half, there's always more style than substance in evidence (Transporter 2, less-than-Incredible Hulk, 2010's Clash of the Titans). Jesse Eisenberg and Mark Ruffalo lead an exceptionally talented ensemble (add Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine to the roster above) capable of selling through this action-packed magic act. Oh, no amount of smoke and mirrors can detract from plot holes the size of Caesar's Palace and the fact that these Blackstone Robin Hoods contradict themselves by putting lives in jeopardy in pursuit of dolling out charitable lucre. Still, it looks pretty and possesses enough Abracadabra to hypnotize audiences for 2 hours. Bottom line: Impractical Magic.

• Sol C

  
  Great film. Perfectly casted and everyone shines. I did pick up the big twist early on in the film, however, that didn't bug me at all. I thought it was very entertaining. It kind of reminded me of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone meets Ocean's 11 meets The Usual Suspects. I… More
  Great film. Perfectly casted and everyone shines. I did pick up the big twist early on in the film, however, that didn't bug me at all. I thought it was very entertaining. It kind of reminded me of The Incredible Burt Wonderstone meets Ocean's 11 meets The Usual Suspects. I definitely recommend this film.

• Jeffrey M

  
  A movie about magicians with a cast including such greats as Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, and Morgan Freeman with an intriguing premise, involving the robbing of a bank thousands of miles away while simultaneously conducting a show, would seemingly have a lot to… More
  A movie about magicians with a cast including such greats as Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, and Morgan Freeman with an intriguing premise, involving the robbing of a bank thousands of miles away while simultaneously conducting a show, would seemingly have a lot to offer. Such is the not the case. Now You See Me is a nearly textbook example of style over substance, with a lot of flash and dazzle, but no fully realized dramatic elements. It's a movie made in the most obvious movie way possible, National Treasure without any believability. The greatest hindrance for Now You See Me is the script. It's full of hammy dialogue, thin characterizations, and rushed exposition. The way we meet the characters is fast and not engaging, and how they came to work together is never fleshed out. The magic tricks aren't tricks, they are asinine excuses for CGI, covered only by laughable explanations by Morgan Freeman, who has no actual way of knowing anything, but is given gravitas by a camera crew following him around. The best movies about illusion and magic have realism, here there is none. The movie passes as clever contrived plot devices, nothing we see is remotely plausible...ever. Add to that a through-line about some bizarre secret society, and you have a movie that makes very little sense in any way, shape, or form. The one good thing about Now You See Me is the cast, with likable performances all around, save Ruffalo. Mark Ruffalo's performance as a cranky FBI agent never felt real, and seem more like an impersonation. The film also has a brisk pace about it, which sometimes helps masks the massive plot definiteness, but is never fast enough to mask that which is wasted talent. Overall, undeniably disappointing. 2/5 Stars

Read all 20 featured audience ratings