dsuggitt

I rarely write reviews for movies I watch but I had to say something about this film. From beginning to end this movie grabbed my attention. The plot and sub-plot were riveting. This movie had everything! Drama, romance, great story, great acting, great cinematography, the whole package. The ending especially was just so incredibly well done. Very respectful and professional. This is a definite must watch.

I rarely take the chance and actually watch a Canadian movie, but boy am I glad I watched this one! Nothing like your typical low budget Canadian film. Everything about this movie was first rate. The acting, the writing, the story line, even the music score and lighting was top notch. The best thing about this movie was the realism. The principal players in this film had dialogue that was really intelligent and made for a very intriguing and suspenseful film. I watched this movie with my 19 year old daughter (I am 52 years old) and throughout the movie we were both on the edge of our seats, and many times we gasped in anticipation of what might happen next. I could not wait to see how this movie would end, and needless to say it did not disappoint me. This is easily one of the best movies I have seen in a long time, and if you are in the mood for a real intelligent and suspenseful film, do not miss this one!

OK, let me tell you the major flaw with this movie....The movies main focus is the relationship between the two friends. The shooter and the shootee:the magician. From the beginning of the movie we are pulled into this strained relationship, and I wouldn't have a problem with that except for the context of this relationship. The magician has a problem with the shooter. He wants to make sure he can shoot straight, so he grills him about going to the shooting range and practicing and so forth. The shooter claims throughout the documentary that he is more than capable of doing the job and therein lies the basis for the movie. Now, for the problem....Obviously the shooter does not need to know how to shoot a gun! This is a magic trick, and as such, no one will be in danger because no one is ever going to shoot a gun at the magician. If you want to see how this trick is actually accomplished just go on wikipedia. Their are many different and very simplistic methods used to create this illusion. So, this is why whenever the magician is talking to his friend the "shooter" there is much rolling of eyes and obvious befuddlement. I can imagine the cutting room floor is filled with lines from the shooter exclaiming "Why should I learn how to shoot when there's not even going to be a shot fired!" And that is the feeling one gets throughout the documentary. The most ridiculous moment in the movie comes when the magician is practicing catching tennis balls in preparation for catching a live bullet....Yes, I actually just typed that.....He also claims that he will actually not just catch the bullet, which of course is impossible, but he will catch it as it bounces off his chest....Yes, I also just typed that as well. Do they makers of this movie think we are all 5 years old? This documentary is complete rubbish, and an insult to anyone with an IQ above 100. I think if the makers of the documentary were a little more honest with the whole thing, this could have been much better. Sadly it has the feel of just another "reality show" where nothing is real at all.