Magic
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Movie Reviews of Magic
Movie Review: An underrated classic comes to DVD
Summary: 5 Stars
I cannot even begin to tell you how terrified I was of the 1978 film "Magic". Actually, I never got around to seeing the film until recently. What scared the blazes out of me were the darn commercials that ran on television when the film played in the theater. In 1978, I would have been seven or eight years old, depending on when the movie came out. No wonder I was scared! Those advertisements for the film surely rank as one of the most effective marketing campaigns in motion picture history. If you have a copy of the DVD, check out the extras' section on the disc. The ads are there, and they're still horrifying. All we see in the television spot is a closeup on Fats, the main character's dummy, as he recites a poem. It's the music playing in the background, and how the dummy says the words and how he looks when he speaks them, that still send shivers down my spine. I ran out of the room with my hands over my ears when I first heard the commercials, and I felt like doing so again recently. Scary. So scary, in fact, that I spent YEARS looking under my bed every night just to make sure that the maniacal little dummy wasn't waiting for me.
Now that I can bring myself to watch the movie without screaming over those commercials, it's nice to see "Magic" and realize it's an excellent, chilling little film. The protagonist of the story is Corky (Anthony Hopkins), a failed magician looking for the one thing that will launch his star. Early on we get to see the utter horridness of his act. It's bad largely because he's so insecure and hesitant onstage. Flash forward roughly a year and we see that our hero has found the golden ticket to Hollywood. Corky managed to construct a highly entertaining ventriloquist act with his dummy Fats. We see him in action in front of a packed house, and it's like he's a totally different person. Confident, funny, not sweating like Richard Nixon on crank--Corky is ready for the big time. His seasoned agent Ben Greene (Burgess Meredith) thinks his client is ready for bigger and better things, too, but there's a slight problem. The television network wants our man (not the dummy) to take a physical as a precondition for employment. Corky flat out refuses to take the examination, and runs off to his childhood stomping grounds somewhere in the Catskills in order to lie low and clear his head.
What's the big deal about taking a physical, anyway? Well, Corky knows he's slipping mentally. He can feel it day by day. His old insecurities never really went away. They actually worsened, and now they manifest themselves through Fats. Call it a split personality. Call it schizophrenia. Whatever the case, our main character is crazy, crazy, CRAZY. He prays the trip will help his condition, and hope seems within reach when he hooks up with his childhood flame Peggy (Ann-Margret). She's in a relatively loveless relationship with the overbearing Duke (Ed Lauter), and is just looking for a way to get out. So is Corky. The two quickly come to the realization that they could run off and live a new life together. Alas, Fats isn't interested in a new life. The dummy wants to remain at the center of Corky's existence, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to win the battle going on in the magician's soul, including committing a series of heinous murders. It soon becomes apparent that no one in Corky's inner circle is safe--including Corky. The situation worsens when Peggy refuses to leave without telling Duke her plans. Too bad her old man isn't around anymore...
"Magic" is pure magic, a vastly underrated suspense and horror thriller that undeservedly slipped into semi-obscurity for nearly thirty years. The film simply sparkles with creativity, excellent performances, and memorable sequences that stick in your head long after the credits roll. The idea of using a dummy to represent one half of a schizophrenic personality was a stroke of genius. Bolstering this theme are the performances from Anthony Hopkins (amazing) to Burgess Meredith (excellent) to Ann-Margret (also excellent). A great cast always helps make a film great, and "Magic" is no exception to that rule. Also giving the movie added vigor are several memorable sequences. I can think of three off the top of head. There's an amazing scene between Meredith and Hopkins where the agent asks Corky to ignore the dummy for just five minutes. The fact that our protagonist can't do it speaks volumes about his deteriorating mental state. Another sequence involving Corky, Peggy, and a deck of cards underscores his condition as well. Finally, when we see the dummy "manipulating" Corky instead of the other way around...well...prepare yourself for some serious scares. Thanks go to everyone, from director Richard Attenborough on down, for a job extremely well done.
The DVD version of "Magic," brought to us from Dark Sky Films, exceeds expectations. The picture and audio quality look and sound excellent. Extras abound. We get trailers, an old interview with Anthony Hopkins, Ann-Margret make up footage, a still gallery, an interview with cinematographer Victor Kemper (who reveals several intriguing cast changes that make one wonder what the film might have looked like had they went with their initial plans), a lengthy "Fats and Friends" documentary, and previews and radio spots for the film. Fats himself even shows up to say a few words. I'm so glad I finally got the opportunity to see this film on disc. I'm also thankful for the opportunity to commiserate with so many other folks my age about those horrific commercials. It's almost therapeutic to learn I wasn't the only one running for the door, hands clamped firmly over my ears and shrieking like a banshee!
Movie Review: MAGIC Is Fun...!
Summary: 5 Stars
Richard Attenborough's 1978 opus MAGIC is a minor masterpiece of cinematic horror that, while oft overlooked, arguably helped pave the way to the slasher craze of late '70s and early '80s (it was released within a mere month of John Carpenter's now better known HALLOWEEN). Though Attenborough and scripter William Goldman--who adapted from his own identically titled bestseller--play down the grislier slasher aspects of the novel, they do generate genuine psychological terror with the help of an outstanding performance from actor Anthony Hopkins (yes, THAT Anthony Hopkins, who would later leave a bigger mark on horror cinema portraying another fictional loon, the infamous Hannibal Lecter). Excellent supporting performances from Ann-Margaret, as Hopkins' love interest, and Burgess Meredeth add to the believability and, in turn, the scare factor of this delightful genre gem.
Hopkins portrays Corky Withers, a painfully shy but talented magician who overcomes his stage fright and ignites a meteoric rise to fame when he takes on a sidekick--an extroverted and bawdy ventriloquist's dummy he names Fats. As Corky's act becomes more and more popular and draws the attention of big-time agents and Hollywood brass, introverted and insecure Corky allows the artificial Fats personality to take control. And Fats will do anything--ANYTHING!--to help Corky keep his split personality a secret.
True, the plot of MAGIC is not totally original. Not only had a few cinema offerings already told the same basic story--1929's THE GREAT GABBO and a segment of the 1945 British anthology DEAD OF NIGHT, to name a few--but TV's ALFRED HITCHCOCK PRESENTS (in an episode entitled "The Glass Eye") and THE TWILIGHT ZONE (in a segment called "The Dummy") also featured startlingly similar subject matter. Still, MAGIC has two things going for it that make it rise way above the miasmic story line--the superb dramatic (and, surprisingly, ventriloquistic) talents of Anthony Hopkins, and a scene featuring the eye-poppingly gorgeous bare [...] of the beautiful and talented Ann-Margaret. Seriously, though, the performances in MAGIC, especially that from Hopkins, make the worn plot seem compelling and fresh--not that Ann-Margaret's naked [...]don't add a certain allure--and fans of the horror and thriller genres who haven't seen the film already should definitely seek it out.
Fortunately, the new DVD release of MAGIC from Dark Sky Films makes it easier than ever for genre fans to see this cinematic jewel. Not only does the disc offer a pristine widescreen digital transfer made from original 35mm negatives, it also offers some pretty cool bonus material. Included are a featurette in which ventriloquist Dennis Alwood, who was a consultant on the film, discusses the challenges in creating the Fats dummy and in tutoring Anthony Hopkins in the art of ventriloquism; interviews with Mr. Hopkins; TV and radio spots in both English and Spanish; and much more.
In short, 1978's MAGIC is a great horror flick that, unfortunately, has been eclipsed by other more sensationalized genre films from the same era. But thanks to the folks at Dark Sky Films, horror fans can now see a near-perfect copy of this wonderful film, and serious genre fans will definitely want to add the DVD to their collections.
Movie Review: You will believe in MAGIC
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember as a boy wanting to see this movie, (honestly thinking that i would see an entertaining movie about a man and his puppet, man did i love the muppets as a kid) my father warned me that it might not be what i was hoping for (how right he was). I have waited years for this movie to come out on DVD to once again experience a movie unlike any i can remember seeing as a child (or any point thereafter, in my life).
If you're anything like me and miss the horror of the 70's and 80's, this movie might well be one for your collection, in fact it always bothered me that it never earned a place in the annals of the great horror of that period. And now that i think of it, the movie might better be described as a traumatic drama.
The best way i can describe it is if you can imagine Jack Nicholson from The SHINING with a puppet (think for a second of what would gradually ensue). This movie is the sad and gradual plummet regarding a shell of a man tortured by his own inadequacies and just a hint of paranoid schizophrenia. Ill admit there are bizarre moments where one is left to question where the man ends and the puppet begins and which one is really pulling the strings.
For those of you not up on horror and are more in line with lets say Batman, if you know the villain Scarface (a pathetic ventriloquist, with a split personality, run by the more dominant criminal personality found in his puppet) Imagine if a movie was made solely on that concept, save for the fact that the puppet isn't so much a criminal mastermind as murderous sociopath.
The viewer watches wanting desperately to believe that there is hope for Corky (Sir Anthony Hopkins, which i will quickly add not only gave one of his first cinematic performances in this movie, but arguably one of his best since the LAMBS SERIES) but the viewer is soon left to know what better i not tell you (this is simply a movie that has to be watched, and i promise if watched with another you will be discussing it for hours).
One of the worst parts of growing up is becoming a cynic, losing your innocence and realizing the things you once believed in really aren't for real (i.e. Santa and the tooth fairy). Well for those of you looking to regain a loss piece of your childhood, when this movie comes out in April 2006, (do like i will) rent it or buy it, turn out the lights and watch, you will believe in magic again (i promise you).
Movie Review: Magic is Purely Magical. A Minor Masterpiece.
Summary: 5 Stars
There is no way I would even attempt to outshine the two current spotlight reviews by Kona, dated August 30, 2003 and by Michael R. Gates, dated May 1, 2006 which are excellent. If they aren't still spotlighted by the time you read this minor review by me, then look for them by their dates. They are truly superior reviews.
This film is an outstanding achievement in acting by Anthony (The Silence of the Lambs) Hopkins, and directing by the legendary actor and director Sir Richard Attenborough (The Great Escape and Jurassic Park for acting and A Passage to India and Gandhi) for directing. Of course, both Hopkins and Attenborough are known for their many other works. Additional fine acting is to be seen and enjoyed in Ann-Margret (Viva Las Vegas) and Burgess (Rocky) Meredith's roles. Even the type-casting of Ed (The Longest Yard) Lauter as the heavy is well-played.
Of course, without William Goldman's original novel and film adaptation, we wouldn't have this great story and although one can't say that it's original, as we've seen this issue on both the large and small screen before, it is compellingly done here and, again, much credit to the flawless acting by Hopkins who evokes both great sympathy and great dread and the extraordinary directorial skills of Attenborough.
This is a minor masterpiece and I wrote about it as I know that it is also fairly much forgotten and deserves recognition. In spite of knowing the ending after seeing it once, thus the mystery is over, it does have great repeat quality to it as the story is so cleverly told and acted. Purchase this little gem; you won't regret it.
Movie Review: Marvelous thriller re-released with "Magical" extras
Summary: 5 Stars
Corky (Anthony Hopkins) a failed magician hits the big time with his ventriloquist act featuring the foul mouthed Fats. When fame comes knocking at his door Corky's world begins to unravel when a major network wants to give him a deal but insists that he undergo a medical examination. His new found fame begins to overwhelm him so Corky returns to his hometown and starts an affair with a crush from high school (Ann-Margaret). It quickly becomes evident to his manager (Burgess Meredith)that Corky is mentally unbalanced.
A riveting thriller "Magic" met with hostile critical reaction when it was released despite a strong script by William Goldman ("Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", "Marathon Man", "All the President's Men")from his novel, agile, suspenseful direction by Sir Richard Attenbrough and an incredible performance from Anthony Hopkins. This re-release on the Dark Sky Home Video label features a stunning brand new transfer from the original 35 milimeter negative for the film. The film is presented in its original widescreen aspect ratio that's been enhanced for 16X9 Television sets. It's a pity it hasn't been remixed for 5.1 Dolby Digital but its possible the original soundtrack elements may not exist any longer.
Additionally, Dark Sky has produced a number of attractive extras for this terrific edition. "Fats & Friends" is a nearly 30 minute featurette on the film providing background on the history of ventriloquism and plenty of behind-the-scenes stories. We find out for example that Jack Nicholson was originally going to be cast opposite Laurence Olivier in the film and with a different director (Norman Jewison). "An Interview with Victor J. Kemper" the cinematographer on the film features plenty of behind-the-scenes information on the making of the film as well and it runs just over 12 minutes. We also get a vintage radio interview with Anthony Hopkins playing behind bloopers and cut sequences from the film. We get a second interview with Anthony Hopkins as well as Ann-Margret's silent make up tests shot for the movie as well as a photo gallery and the original theatrical trailers two in English and two in Spanish with radio ads. The interactive menu echoes the original chilling commerical that played on TV when the film premiered and is highly inventive and disturbing.