The Magician (2005)

71% of critics liked it
(14 reviews)
73% of users liked it
(1,323 ratings)

'When Melbourne hit-man Ray Shoesmith discovers that his next-door neighbor is a film student, he commissions him to document his life. The footage is to be released in the event of his early death. The focus is not on the violence, but on the conversation, the banalities and intensities of human… More 'When Melbourne hit-man Ray Shoesmith discovers that his next-door neighbor is a film student, he commissions him to document his life. The footage is to be released in the event of his early death. The focus is not on the violence, but on the conversation, the banalities and intensities of human interaction and obsessive interest in detail. We see what makes Ray tick, even as we witness his brutal efficiency. This darkly comic tale is fictional narrative, shot like a documentary. Its main character is a likeable killer, whose strangely moral illustrations take a jab at everything from the legalization of drugs to the prevalence of gays in Hollywood. --© Regent

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Scott Ryan
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Oct 29, 2010 Limited
Studio: Regent Releasing

Critic Reviews

Jeannette Catsoulis, New York Times
Mostly, however, this dreary Antipodean curiosity is a yob-filled slog of hard-man posturing, all of it bathed in an oppressive testosterone funk. And I haven't even mentioned the hairy buttocks.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
A gritty, shot-off-the cuff gem and a top prize winner in its native Australia.
Ron Wilkinson, Monsters and Critics
The Aussie New Wave sends out a very indie understated crime thriller.
Diego Costa, Slant Magazine
The camera has penetrated the fabric of everyday life in unsettling and insidious ways, but not quite enough to mistake the pseudo-documentary-ness of The Magician for recorded reality.
Fr. Chris Carpenter, Movie Dearest
A fairly pointless and not particularly well-accomplished exercise, although Scott Ryan gives an impressive, charismatic performance.
Mark Keizer, Boxoffice Magazine
Ray is a ratty little bugger with a corner pub smile that hides secrets you're safer not knowing but can't wait to discover.
Anton Bitel, Film4
might almost be described as Tarantino-esque, were it not for the absence of tight plotting.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Totti is either genuinely foreign and amusing or is an incredibly gifted comic actor - his innocent, matter-of-fact delivery of [some of his lines] will have you laughing for days afterwards.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
After pulling this rabbit out of the hat, it'll be interesting to see what Ryan's next trick will be.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
There's nothing particularly new here, but the storytelling style makes it worth a look.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
Plays much longer than the 98 minute running time.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

A low budget mocumentary about a hit-man, my kind of film! It?s been compared to Leon, Chopper & Man Bites Dog. Well, it?s nothing like the first two but unfortunately it?s pretty much the same story as Man Bites Dog and Man Bites Dog is much better. That aside though, this is a… More
A low budget mocumentary about a hit-man, my kind of film! It?s been compared to Leon, Chopper & Man Bites Dog. Well, it?s nothing like the first two but unfortunately it?s pretty much the same story as Man Bites Dog and Man Bites Dog is much better. That aside though, this is a nice little indie that lacks in originality but makes up for it with a lot of Australian charm!
Barry L

Genuinly funny film with some really sharp moments. Brilliant view into the mind of a 'hitman'. Well worth a watch.

Cast

Scott Ryan
as Ray Shoesmith
Ben Walker
as Tony Rickards
Massimiliano Andrighetto
as Massimo 'Max' Totti

Kane Mason
as Benny
Nathaniel Lindsay
as Edna
Adam Ryan
as Garage Victim

The Magician (2005)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Anthony L

Barry L

Cast