Magic at the cinema

Over the last few years there have been a number of magic themed films released in cinemas – The Prestige (2006), The Illusionist (2006) and Magicians (2007). There’s one I watched recently which some of you may not have seen as I think it received less press than the others – The Great Buck Howard (2008).

A comedy film loosley based on the career of mentaist The Amazing Kreskin it shows the ever failing attempts of a once famous performer to revive his career and regain the recognition he once had. Ricky Jay appears a couple of short times in the film but does not perform anything.  It’s great to see the desperation of Buck as he tries to go back to the way things were and it makes me think that in all likilhood some of stage magics past masters would have gone through the same feelings when magic on stage took a back seat to cinema.

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