From the opening scene, the audience is part of an illusion. When the onscreen spectator is asked to choose a card, chances are high that you’ll choose the same one she does.
“The closer you look, the less you’ll see.”
Not since The Illusionist and The Prestige has a movie about illusion been done as well as Now You See Me.
Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas performing a “trick”; Photo Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
Four solo artists, each with their own skill and area of magical expertise, are joined together to produce a sell-out show with three acts as they are pursued by members of law enforcement that just won’t give up.
J. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg) performs incredible card tricks. Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson) is a mentalist and hypnotist.
Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher) is a master escape artist, and Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) has the slick fingers of a pick-pocket and is a slight-of-hand genius.
The four illusionists (left to right) Dave Franco as Jack Wilder, Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas, Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves and Woody Harrelson as Merritt McKinney in Now You See Me
The four join forces after a person wearing a dark hoodie slips a cryptic tarot card to each of them.
A year after meeting at the location indicated on the back of the card, the four solo artists open their first show together as the Four Horsemen with the backing of a wealthy benefactor, Arthur Tressler (Michael Kelly).
Their first act ends with the audience screaming for more and the Four Horsemen on the run from the FBI. Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo), agent-in-charge is stuck with Interpol agent Alma Dray (MélanieLaurent).
Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas; Photo Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
While the FBI is upstaged at every turn, a man whose life’s work is to discredit magicians, Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) turns his eye on the Four Horsemen.
Bradley manages to stay one step ahead of the FBI, yet two steps behind the four illusionists. What ensues is a chase full of misdirection and wonder.
You’ll be pulled in from the first moments, and the ending will leave you speechless. Abracadabra!
Isla Fisher as Henley Reeves and Jesse Eisenberg as J. Daniel Atlas in Now You See Me
Biblical Worldview
In the beginning of the movie, there is a scene where Daniel and a girl in the crowd go back to his apartment and she takes off her top and pants and they make out for a few minutes.
There is sexual tension between Daniel and Henley, which Merritt picks up on and starts a sexual conversation with Henley in the airplane.
There is occasional bad language, but it’s not prominent throughout the movie. There is the occasional drinking, but it’s not a main part of the movie.
Dave Franco as Jack Wilder in Now You See Me; Photo Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
Biblical Discussion
While illusions are enjoyable past times, entertaining to watch, and sometimes stressful to figure out, God has ensured that the more we study, and spend time in his Word and in prayer, the more we’ll know about Him.
He won’t deceive us and He doesn’t build up an illusion that everything in life will be great by following Him.
Morgan Freeman as Thaddeus Bradley in Now You See Me ; Photo Courtesy of Summit Entertainment
In the same way, shouldn’t our lives demonstrate Christian living and righteousness? Are there areas where we fall short and choose to hide, be a deception of having a perfect life?
James 1: 23 and 25 says “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says…But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
- Are there areas in your life that you tend to hide from shame or regret?
- Do you feel like you’re living in an illusion, where you can’t see the “trick” even though the answer is right in front of your face?
- Is it sometimes hard to distinguish God’s will in your life? What are some ways to decipher the message He’s trying to tell you?
Click here to watch the trailer for Now You See Me
Interested in reading another SCH movie review? Read Bethany Jett’s review on Despicable Me 2
To learn more about the author, check out Bethany Jett.
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