Lost in the Shuffle

I'd probably give this a higher review- six or maybe a seven-if not for one thing: ALL the ten stars reviews here are by people who have never written a review on IMDb before. This often means that someone had people log on and write ten star reviews to boost the film's rating and credibility. There are two reviews that don't fit this description, the authors of which gave the film an eight and a nine respectively. These are worth reading. Another person gave it four stars. I do think it deserves better than that, but at least I know this opinion came from someone not associated with the film. [BTW, I'd issue the same warning about films that receive a lot of one star reviews from people who haven't reviewed anything else. This can often be enemy action.] As for my own opinion, I think the film has some very good aspects. It's always fun to watch magicians at work, and some of the history is interesting. But the film's main claim is based on too much supposition to be of any value in academic history circles. Correlation does not imply causation, as the saying goes. The film is well put together and not a total waste of time, but take everything it says with a grain of salt.

World Champion Magician Shawn Farquhar takes us on an engaging journey in this extremely entertaining documentary that explores a 15th Century mystery of murder. The unique cast of several world famous magicians in this film will certainly leave you feeling captivated and astonished. Several demonstrations of superior magical skills performed in a series of vignettes provide various insights into each magician's style and individual story. Wonderful cinematography showcasing beautiful European locations further highlight this modern day forensic investigation. Commentary by several experts regarding the detailed sequence of events leading up to such a mysterious death further draw the viewer into forming their own conclusions and interpretation of all the evidence presented. A definite must see for mystery solvers, curious conjurers and those who enjoy sleight of hand astonishment. I found this documentary to be entertaining and certainly give it my highest recommendation. Not only will you be throughly entertained but I guarantee you will not look at a deck of cards the same way again!

He started off good. The history of playing cards etc, but devolved into some silly long winded, self-indulgent, pat on his own back about some theory of a king or something......who cares?! Should've delved deeper into the mystery and meaning of the cards themselves. BORING! He goes on and on about different influences, seeming to try to make this a biography, and it has some good clips. A couple of good tricks by people that aren't him. He stacks these different interactions in some sort of, i dunno what. What does it even have to do with his end "trick"? There is absolutly no payoff to this terrible boring movie. I appreciate the clips of the greats, but this is just BORING.

And what it feels like to be in the company of ones. What differentiates them from engineers and people in scientific trades. The value and the heartfeltness of truths for all factions and for all types of people. The value and place of story telling. And still all the aspects it takes to become a performer in your own right.

With good editing.

The final big time and place cut I was sceptical on, but upon the second viewing - it fits and brings the (not so obvious) story arc to its intended finish.

Whats especially well done is, that it stays truthful to the audience throughout, while it tells them everything to know to understand whats happening before their eyes in an analytic way also -- and yet in its credit sequence it ends with the most easy thing you can do to an audience - mislead them, but in a way - that if you listen to it closely you'll understand, that it is misdirection in a very fundamental way. Yet still truthful. And for certain, no big mystery, because you've been told how it works by one of the magicians in the first third of the movie.

And yet the movie is not about any of these things. Its about the sense of wonder, the heart, the comfort and the story telling, that Shawn Farquhar brings and brought to magic -- and about being entertained by a shockingly probable murder mystery. And at least in my interpretation, how he hands over his understanding of the craft to future generations.

10/10: LOST IN THE SHUFFLE is an engaging mystery in which the clues and the cards are costantly moving and the boldness drops your jaw. The real puzzle, hidden in plain sight for five hundred years, is the centerpiece of this documentary in which we investigate a real-life whodunit... and leaves the cards on the table for you to draw your own conclusions!

Get close up, close in, and close to the vest. For those who have never seen Shawn Farquhar before, this is a powerful introduction to both him and some of his most amazing peers in the industry. For those who have, this proves there is no other performer out there quite like him.

Either way, you'll never pick up a deck of cards the same way again.