Death Defying Acts (2007)
Genre: Thriller / Romance
Duration: 97 minuten
Alternative title: Houdini's Death Defying Acts
Country:
United Kingdom / Australia
Directed by: Gillian Armstrong
Stars: Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Timothy Spall
IMDb score:
5,8 (10.839)
Releasedate: 13 September 2007
Death Defying Acts plot
"Love is inescapable"
In 1926, Harry Houdini is one of the world's most famous artists. For all the money and fame, however, Houdini has one major frustration: not being at his mother's deathbed to hear her last words. Benji McGregor and her mother Mary are two penniless residents of an Edinburgh slum who survive by making people believe they can speak to the dead. The two hatch a plan to fool the wealthy Houdini, but it doesn't quite go according to plan...
Actors and actresses
Mary McGarvie
Harry Houdini
Sugarman
Benji McGarvie
Leith Romeo
Leith Romeo's wife
Mr. Robertson
Flower Stall Seller
Oily Librarian
McTavish
Reviews & comments
scorsese
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- 13527 messages
- 11330 votes
Mediocre film in which Harry Houdini challenges psychics to find out the last words of his late mother. The film certainly starts off well and quite captivating, but when the romance comes into play, it gets a lot duller. Not a biopic, but a made-up story around Harry Houdini.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Film Pegasus (moderator films)
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- 31413 messages
- 5590 votes
Each biopic allows for a free interpretation of the main character. After all, it must still remain an entertaining film and an image of someone is sometimes a clearer summary of facts. Harry Houdini does take some jokes with reality. Only his talent as an escape king and interest in the paranormal have been taken over. The rest (including his passing) are pure fantasy. Not really a biopic, but a romantic mystery film with the well-known Houdini as parody. At times this is certainly not a bad movie, but not really special either. In terms of romance it falls short and the mystery content is also delayed. Houdini's talent for escaping is quite poorly portrayed and is rather a fait-diverse to show that it is about Houdini.
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a predictable role that we are used to from her. Guy Pearce isn't bad as Houdini with the necessary flair, but there isn't much charisma either. Well done is Saoirse Ronan who steals the show, including a strong Scottish accent. Saoirse is of Irish origin by the way.
Death Defying Acts is a well made movie with nice costumes and a nice story. But it is also not striking and unfortunately soon forgotten. Some band work, but from a good factory.
Translated from Dutch · View original
K. V.
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- 4426 messages
- 3816 votes
This one was on TV and a movie about magicians always fascinates me. I liked this one a little less. The focus was more on the romantic/drama than really on the magic tricks. If it was still really compelling, it would still have been a hit, but I found it all rather flat.
The cast wasn't bad, but you weren't particularly memorable either.
A great film to catch on TV and so good for once, but nothing more. The movie isn't special enough for that.
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