MAGIC

 

MAGIC 

B

I really wish that Jaret Morlan was still on Facebook. He once asked me years ago if I had ever seen a film with a weak screenplay, but such strong performances, that I couldn't help but still give the film a positive review. At the time I couldn't think of anything. Now, I have an answer and that answer is Magic. 

I don't know if I would necessarily refer to the script as weak. It's more along the lines of a script of this mediocrity didn't deserve to have the A list ensemble of talent that it did. It was more like a good B film, that should be treated like a good B film, but somehow or another acquired some of the greatest thespians of our time. It'd be one thing for a film of this nature to have had one A list name, but this film had a ton! Anthony Hopkins, Ann Margret, Burgess Meredith & who I personally feel is the most underrated actor of all time David Ogden Stiers. It truly was a miracle that it was somehow able to attract this much talent. 

Had the film had less known actors, actors that more or less matched the material, it probably wouldn't have come off as good. I'm almost positive that with the exact same story & exact same direction, I probably could have dropped it to at least a B- if not a C+.  That's very uncommon for me, as usually a film's story, to me is the central focus of how I grade the film. It's so rare for anything, be it the acting, the directing, or anything else to be so good that it trumps the story.  Be this the exception. 

As to the story it was rather intriguing & suspenseful, but as you expected it to grow stronger, it actually grew weaker. You start off wondering if Corky is insane or if the dummy may be real to then feeling sorry for the mentally unstable Corky. Towards the end of the film you're waiting for it to be over, as it throws a final twist your way that is nothing short of laughable. 

Again, not a great film as far as story is concerned, but some really strong performances. Although it would be 13 years before Hopkins took the role of Hannibal Lector in SILENCE OF THE LAMBS you can see the beginnings of the character in his performance as Corky.