11.10.10
A thriller, yes, but oddly the plot got in the way of the exuberant re-creation of stage magic in the days before television robbed us of our wonder. A compelling hero, unusually feisty heroines, vivid historical detail and, on another level, an encyclopedic portrayal of the life of early-twentieth century showmen. You can sit and think about the complexities (life versus art; show versus reality; what magic really means) or you can sit and gasp in the audience and just go with the flow.
