New in theaters: "Now You See Me" - Starring Jesse Eisenberg and Morgan Freeman

Now You See Me......now you don't. I found myself hoping for the latter throughout this overly long and sometimes confusing effort from director Louis Leterrier. Despite an extremely talented cast, Now You See Me never realizes its full potential and wastes at least three talented actors, who are relegated to what seems like non-essential roles because they are off screen for long periods of time. In any event, the story centers around four magicians who are asked to meet at a mysterious address where they encounter each other with egos firmly intact and are treated to a unique visual spectacle, which leads to a offer for their combined services. While the foursome all are full of themselves, J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) is probably the most arrogant. However, he has the talent and intelligence to back up his boasting (don't you just hate people like that?)

Rounding out the group is a mentalist, Merrit McKinney (Woody Harrelson), a street magician, Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) and an escape artist, Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher). As you might expect, trust is an issue within the group, who are masters at manipulation and that results in several amusing exchanges. They are eventually christened the Four Horsemen (I suppose Henley is just "one of the guys") and, over time, they band together for a Las Vegas show and promise to thrill audiences by performing impossible illusions. One of those tricks involves a bank robbery, in France, which is conducted on stage in Las Vegas, seemingly during the show. When the bank is actually found to be robbed, the authorities become involved, including FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Dray (Melanie Laurent). However, the tricksters always appear to be ahead of the aforementioned agents and make them repeatedly look like fools.

The flummoxed agents enlist the help of a former magician, Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), who they hope can shed some light on the bank heist. Bradley is also acquainted with the person who is funding the Four Horsemen, Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine), and they share a complicated and competitive history. However, the foursome eventually turn on Tressler, who vows revenge, but then disappears, just like magic! The balance of the film focuses on the efforts of the authorities to find out the truth behind the illusions and bring the foursome into custody, which is no easy feat.

From a technical perspective, Now You See Me looks slick and magical, as well as fantastic and contemporary. However, the convoluted plot and lack of focus hampers this effort, but to its credit, the final act manages to hold a couple of surprises. However, even an award worthy cast (who should have been given better material to work with) and the technical marvels cannot save Now You See Me from becoming a less than stellar magic act.

Blu-ray Spotlight: "Zombieland" Starring Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg

I originally reviewed Zombieland in 2009 and was surprised by the quality of the film and how much I laughed from beginning to end. The story centers around a plague that has devastated the country and turned many of its residents into zombies. While that may not sound funny, the execution results in tongue in cheek hilarity. Four of those who remain unaffected, Tallahassee (Woody Harrleson), Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), Wichita (Emma Stone) and Little Rock (Abigail Breslin), must find a way to coexist after a rough start and join forces in an effort to save all of their lives. The result is a mostly amusing, sometimes touching, well acted and clever effort that deserves a sequel. If nothing else, I want to know how Tallahassee is dealing with the bankruptcy of Hostess Brands and the uncertain future of the Twinkie. Now that is scary to think about! Oh, and Bill Murray is sensational in a cameo that features some of the best work of his career. 

You can read my original review of the film here.

The Blu-ray special features include: Deleted Scenes, Commentary by director Ruben Fleischer and stars Woody Harrelson and Jesse Eisenberg, two Featurettes, Trailers and more. 

Movie Recommendation: "Seven Psychopaths" - Starring Sam Rockwell, Colin Farrell and Christopher Walken

Writer/director Martin McDonagh has mastered the art of dark comedy and creating memorable, albeit damaged, characters. His 2008 film, In Bruges, starring Brendan Gleeson and Colin Farrell, is one of my all-time favorites and features two hit men who take a vacation after a botched job. The film works so well because the writing is sharp, honest, unexpected and often hilarious. McDonagh's latest film, Seven Psychopaths, is very similar in quality and also boasts a stellar cast, including Colin Farrell, who re-teams with the writer/director.

Seven Psychopaths centers around three friends; Billy (Sam Rockwell), Marty (Colin Farrell) and Hans (Christopher Walken), as well as a gangster, Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson). Marty is an aspiring writer whose new novel is titled Seven Psychopaths. He utilizes people who are in his life to construct characters and scenes for Billy, a would-be actor and part dog dognapper, who listens intently and with all seriousness to Marty's often absurd ideas (kudos to Farrell and Rockwell for playing it straight). However, Marty does not realize that he is giving the emotionally unstable Billy some very gruesome ideas. When Marty experiences writer's block, Billy suggests that he place an ad looking for psychopaths who want to share their stories. Enter a serial killer (Tom Waits) with a rabbit in tow, who confides about his career murdering other serial killers. No, I am not making this up. The absurdity is simply brilliant.

Billy is not alone in his instability. His friend, Hans, who assists him in kidnapping dogs and then returning them to their owners for reward money, is equally unbalanced, but he manages to hide that fact from most people because of his religious beliefs and usually unflappable demeanor. However, Hans can be a formidable enemy and also a dangerous one. Billy and Hans unknowingly provoke Charlie Costello, who just happens to be a gangster and a serious dog lover. When his pooch is pilfered, Charlie is beside himself, which is both silly and surreal. Consider a ruthless tough guy who would go to pieces when his Shiz Tzu, Bonny, goes missing. Unfortunately for Hans, Charlie will do anything to exact revenge, including murder.

After Hans discovers a gruesome scene that hits close to home, he confronts Charlie, and sends a calm and not so subtle message. However, Charlie is not aware of who Hans really is and continues on his quest to find the dognappers. As a result, Marty, Billy and Hans head for the desert, where they hope to wait out Charlie and his paid assassins. However, the men soon learn that trust is sometimes a one-way street, as Marty has a crisis of conscience, Billy goes off the rails even more than usual and Hans has an epiphany, which leads to life changing events for all of them.

The performances from Rockwell, Walken and Farrell are outstanding. In fact, this may be Rockwell's best work to date. Walken is always a joy to watch onscreen and he portrays creepy characters like no one else can. Farrell plays a familiar, but very likable role as the good guy with a conscience that will not quit. His conflicting emotions are perfectly conveyed with the expert use of his furrowed brows, which sometimes say more than any dialogue possible could. The equally unbalanced supporting cast, including Harrelson, Waits and Harry Dean Stanton, are perfectly cast (and kudos to McDonagh for having Michael Pitt play a small role at the beginning of the film). Viewers may wonder if the events that are occurring onscreen are actually happening or if they are part of Marty's book, or perhaps Billy's psyche. I think that may be the point. In this bizarre world created by Martin McDonagh, it is up to the viewer to decide what, if anything, is real, and who, if anyone, is sane. The answers may not be straightforward, but you will have a hell of a good time trying to figure them out.