The best films about magicians and illusionists

Feature films about magicians and illusionists attract people with their mystery and entertainment. Magicians are people who know what a mortal does not know. At the same time, everyone understands that this is not about magic, but only about sleight of hand. But to unravel the secret of the illusionist is not so simple. So, what pictures do you need to see a fan of illusory art?

"Oz: Great and Dreadful"

If you list children's films about magicians and illusionists, the list must necessarily begin with the adaptation of 2013. "Oz: Great and Terrible".

The plot of this tale is familiar to children from all over the world. The story of a girl from Kansas, which the hurricane brought to the land of wizards, living woodcutters and talking lions, was repeatedly told by various writers. One of the main characters in the tale is the wizard Oz, who is considered a powerful and terrible magician. But in fact Oz - an ordinary person who owns the art of illusion.

Hollywood director Sam Reimi decided to give this story a second life, and the company Walt Disney Pictures supported his idea. In the new adaptation of the fairytale story, stars such as Mila Kunis (Black Swan), James Franco (Tristan and Isolde), Rachel Weiss ("Constantine: Lord of Darkness") and Michelle Williams ("7 Days and Nights with Marilyn "). To recreate the illusive attractions of Oz on the screen needed a lot of special effects.

"Love Formula"

Of course, Soviet films did not use computer graphics, but from this film Mark Zakharov's "Formula of Love" did not become worse.

In 1984, the legendary Soviet filmmaker made a film about several days in Russia of the famous predictor Count Cagliostro. It is not known for certain whether the earl, who is a real historical character, is a real magician, or he was simply an adept illusionist. Mark Zakharov himself in his film is more inclined to the fact that Cagliostro was a wonderful conjurer. He very cleverly fooled noble gentlemen, taking away their money and jewelry, then barely managed to escape from the city. To the St. Petersburg authorities did not put the count in prison, he had to hide in the Russian outback and practice his "magical" rites there.

Count Cagliostro in the picture of Zakharov was played by Georgian actor Nodar Mgaloblishvili. Also in the frame you can see Alexander Abdulov ("Carnival"), Elena Valyushkin ("Black Lightning"), Semen Faradu ("Wizards") and Alexander Zakharov ("Thin thing").

"Deadly number"

If you describe movies about magicians and illusionists, the list should also include the Gillian Armstrong thriller "The Death Room".

This picture is devoted to the biography of Harry Houdini, who was the most famous American magician. It shows a period shortly before his death, during which Harry enjoyed the greatest success. During the tour of Scotland Houdini meets a charming woman. They have a passionate romance, but as it turns out later, Mary was sent for money, only to find out from the magician all his secrets. In the final picture shows the scene of the death of Houdini, which occurred due to an absurd accident: three students decided to test the magician's supernatural abilities and inflicted several deadly blows to his stomach.

The role of Houdini in the tape Armstrong was played by Guy Pearce ("The Secrets of Los Angeles"). The fatal beauty of Mary was entrusted to play Catherine Zeta-Jones ("Mask of Zorro").

"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"

There are various films about magicians and illusionists, but the "Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" is the most scandalous of them.

The thing is that the main role in this film began to play Oscar-winning Heath Ledger. But in the midst of the shooting process, the actor died from an overdose of antidepressants. And his role had to finish the first handsome Hollywood: Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell.

The essence of the tape is that a kind of wandering circus named Parnas has learned to revive the fantasies of his viewers. They enter his Imaginarium and begin to see their innermost desires. Parnassus is not just a magician, he is immortal. However, the doctor must pay for his gift with his own children. If he does not get out faster than the devil to capture five souls, then a certain Mr. Nick will take Parnas's only daughter Valentina.

In addition to Heath Ledger, the film also features Christopher Plummer ("12 Monkeys"), Andrew Garfield ("Social Network") and Verna Troyer ("People in Black").

"Prestige"

The best films about jugglers and illusionists, according to many critics, are Christopher Nolan's "Prestige" and Neil Berger's The Illusionist.

Nolana's "Prestige" was released in 2006 and brought together the first Hollywood celebrities: Christian Bale, Scarlett Johansson, Hugh Jackman and Michael Kane.

Speech in the tape is about two magicians - Angers and Borden, who were originally friends and even acted together. But in the course of performing one of the tricks, Enger's wife perishes, and he blames his partner for this. From that moment the paths of the two magicians parted, and they themselves became zealous opponents. Anger and Borden are plotting against each other, but the further they come in their confrontation, the more confusing and incomprehensible the story becomes.

Like all of Nolan's paintings, Prestige was very well received by critics and spectators. The American Film Academy even put this picture on the "Oscar" in two categories. At the box office, the film grossed nearly $ 110 million with a budget of $ 40 million.

"Illusionist"

Films about jugglers and illusionists are not shot so often. But 2006 was rich in such premieres. At one time with the "Prestige" in the world's cinemas, Neil Berger's drama "The Illusionist" with Edward Norton in the title role was staged.

"Illusionist" is a story about an unusual person, a magician who could fool everyone and everything for the sake of his love for a woman. Edward Abramovitz was still quite a boy when he met Duchess Sophie. At first, the children became friends, then grew up and felt a lighter sense for each other. But no one would ever allow a girl from a noble family to lead a friendship with a beggar. Edward was forced to disappear from his native city.

Abramovitz, under a new name, returned to Vienna many years later, being already a famous artist-magician. He finds Sophie, who became the bride of the Crown Prince and tries to use her art to expose a noble villain, to round the finger of the police and to get another chance to live life with a beloved woman.

The main roles in the film were played by Edward Norton ("Fight Club") and Jessica Biel ("The Prophet").

"The Incredible Bert Wonderstone"

In 2013, the screens also showed new films about magicians and illusionists. The list of 2013 primarily includes paintings "The illusion of deceit" and "The Incredible Bert Wonderstone."

"Incredible Bert Wonderstone" - a comedy by Don Scardino, dedicated to the adventures of two jugglers from Las Vegas. Burt Wonderstone and Steve Gray confront each other, winning their place under the sun. The main roles were played by the first comedians of Hollywood - Jim Carrey and Steve Carrell. So you will not have to miss while watching the picture.

In addition, the film involved Steve Buscemi ("Mad Dogs"), James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos") and Olivia Wilde ("The Lazarus Effect").

Films about magicians and illusionists - the list of 2014: "The illusion of deceit"

The loud premiere of 2014 was the picture of Louis Leterrier "Illusion of deceit." Films about magicians and illusionists are captivating, but "The illusion of deception" - especially. The tape is removed in the genre of the thriller and until the last moment the viewer does not quite understand what is happening on the screen.

Out of nowhere in Las Vegas, four illusionists appear who organize grandiose shows. Only during the concerts of "4 Horsemen" are real robberies of banks and manipulation with real money. FBI agent Dylan Rhodes is chasing the talented scammers all over the country. Nobody knows that Rhodes is a ringleader of "4 Horsemen" and the main instigator of all crimes.

Films about jugglers and illusionists - the list of 2015: "Focus"

"Illusion of deceit" caused the directors a new wave of interest in circus and illusion art. Films about magicians and illusionists in 2015 did not appear on the screen infrequently, but one project is worthy of attention: it's a picture of Will Smith's "Focus". And again in the center of the plot are scammers. But this time they use magic tricks to deceive each other. Who wins in this battle - the swindler Nikki or the thief Jess - will be clear at the end of the film.