The Expert at the Card Table

I came across this film after seeing the trailer - the genre listed as documentary and history came second to my curiosity. I've never read The Expert at the Card Table, nor had I heard of S. W. Erdnase before this. My only exposure to card tricks comes from birthday parties, movies, or the occasional TV show. Still, I found this documentary thoroughly engaging.

The pacing was well-handled. It gave me time to reflect while listening, without ever dragging. Despite my unfamiliarity with the topic, the documentary was accessible - the ideas were presented in a way that even a newcomer could follow.

What surprised me most was how cinematic it felt. The trailer teased something more story-driven than a traditional documentary, and the film delivered on that. I've seen a handful of documentaries, and this stands out as one of the more memorable ones.

The story begins as an inquiry, and while it involves cards and magic, it reaches deeper into something more philosophical. The focus shifts from just solving a mystery to exploring the nature of the mystery. In that way, the question becomes just as important as the answer.

The actor portraying Erdnase was a standout - he embodied the ambiguity and enigma of the figure so well that it added emotional weight to the entire premise.

There was a wide range of experts and theories, which I appreciated. Rather than pushing me toward a single conclusion, the film encouraged me to stay with the question. It felt like both a journey and a challenge - one that respected the audience's intelligence.

My rating: 9/10.

It fell just short of a perfect score for me. I wish the ending gave a firmer conclusion - something more grounded to tie the narrative. Still, the open-ended nature may be part of what makes it linger in the mind.