The Last Magic Show

The first feature film from New Zealand writer/actor/director Andy Conlan.

We meet and follow sympathetic and tragically flawed Ronny Roman (Conlan) — a magician so badly hurt by the infidelity of his former partner and stage assistant, that he weaves a world of magical make-believe around himself - as long as he believes he's a magician with eerie dark powers, he doesn't have to face up to the pain of betrayal — while he tries to get his life back on track.

Unfortunately his scumbag manager (a convincingly slimy Michael Hurst) isn't doing much to help, but his scumbagness does have the accidental benefit of tricking our Ronny into an unpaid gig in a hospice where we meet our delightfully quirky love interest, in the beguiling form of Nurse Sarah (newcomer Georgie Hill), a girl with serious germ issues - she boils bottled water, "just in case" - and a heart with a Ronny Roman shaped hole in it.

Of course while life and love happen around him, Ronny is so distracted by his efforts to make a come-back TV magic show appearance - and his own hidden pain - that he might miss his chance at happiness and love. And lots of games of night time mini golf, if you know what I mean. (I mean mini golf played at night.) Featuring one of the most surreal umbrella fight scenes between a fry cook in a wifebeater and a dapper gentleman in a top hat ever to be caught on film.

There's a lot of wonderful weirdness to be had here, which makes for some great laughs and an enjoyable film. Support our fledgling local independent film industry, go see it tonight - at Rialto cinemas nationwide.

This is basically a student level film. Andy Conlon might think he's a genius in writing, directing & starring in his opus, but his acting is woeful. It's like watching (and listening to) a wooden Indian recite lines. There's no tone or connection. He kind of looks half right - but he just can't act !

Apart from the late Alexander Anderson, only Georgie Hill shows any beguiling skill level as an actor. The rest of the cast are either over the top out of control, or simply mugging to camera.

The lack of budget shows mainly in the lighting. Most of it looks like a tennis court at night, or service station forecourt. The Art Department is the sort of thing you'd expect from a local church group "putting on a show". Commendable but amateur.

Oddly enough the storyline has possibilities and in the hands of a better team, something could have been made of it. The traumatized magician trying to rebuild his life ...who winds up serving drinks to the terminally ill whilst wearing a silk top hat & tuxedo ...and stumbles into romance with a strange nurse who plays mini golf - is worthy of David Lynch lite.

In general though, it's a classic case of over confidence by the crew & cast who made this. It would probably get a pass mark as a film school exercise, but it should never have been released commercially - anywhere, on any format.

I signed up to review this movie, the last reviewer is I think incorrect with his/her comments. Great acting, great story, unexpected. A guy who thinks he has special powers. Based in a rest home.

The movie has its own particular pace - akin to Tonto in The Lone Ranger, (if you can liken a movie to a character). There are some good bits of relationship between people captured, some love and some grumpiness too.

I really enjoyed this movie, it deserves more reviews and a higher rating.

I thought it was Australian when I watched it, but on here its listed as from New Zealand