Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Magic (1978)

3 / 5
Tagline: A Terrifying Love Story.
Directed by: Richard Attenborough
Written by: William Goldman
Actors include: Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margaret, Burgess Meredith
Genre: Horror, Thriller
Length: 107 minutes
Banned: Nope
Country: USA

Review:
Terrifying...hardly, surprising...hardly...shocking...hardly....worthwhile...hardly. This was quite a letdown and it took me several times to actually get through to the ending. The big issue is that the plot requires you to entirely suspend belief with no explanation and well I'm not quite willing to do that. First of all we meet the tragically uncharismatic magician who delves into lame card tricks. After he fails to impress he comes back with the same act...only we have an obnoxious ugly dummy saying lewd things. It never shuts up, not ever in fact it seems to be alive. In order to get his life in order he goes to an out of town resort where a girl he has a crush on lives. She's married but seems to give him play anyhow, the dummy doesn't like this. It argues with his puppeteer, it tells him what to do and or else he'll blackmail his master. I guess it really must be seen to be believed, but it's a long talky boring picture and although I generally like Hopkins, I do not believe that anyone would have a crush on him or even slightly enjoy his stupid act. Not a bad idea at least right?

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