David Blaine Movies
Known for his mysterious, theatrical style and his deep, monotone voice, magician David Blaine became fascinated by magic at a young age. Born in Brooklyn and later raised in New Jersey, he soon began taking particular inspiration from the likes of Orson Welles and Titanic Thompson, who were pioneers in the niche field of street magic: tricks designed to be performed up close without the aid of a distant stage and dark theater. Blaine was able to hone his skills at the craft virtually anywhere, and by 1996 his act scored him a deal with ABC for a TV special titled David Blaine: Street Magic. The program captured him performing illusions for impressed and frequently terrified people in public places and was such a hit with audiences that he would go on to film several more specials in the years to come, each one capturing a new and seemingly more dangerous stunt, such as being encased in a block of ice for 63 hours and hanging upside down for a day and a half. ~ Cammila Albertson, Rovi
A young man on his way up hitches his wagon to a middle-aged star on his way down in a comedy from writer and director Sean McGinly. Troy Gable (Colin Hanks) is a guy in his early twenties who has dropped out of law school and is pondering his next move. Troy has an interest in working in the entertainment business, and when he learns that a "celebrity performer" is looking for a personal assistant, Troy thinks he's found the ideal entry-level position. Troy soon discovers he's landed a job as a glorified gofer for Buck Howard (John Malkovich), a once-famous mentalist who appeared on The Tonight Show 61 times during Johnny Carson's reign as host. However, Howard hasn't been doing much lately, and he's hired Troy and new publicist Valerie (Emily Blunt) as he grooms himself for a comeback. While Troy is fascinated with Howard's creaky but still effective act, his boss has enough personal quirks and absurd demands to give anyone second thoughts about working with him for long. One thing that keeps Troy on the road with Buck is Valerie, who wastes no time in showing her sexual interest in him; however, Valerie is also the only one who harbors no illusions about Howard's prospects for a return to fame, and she isn't afraid to tell him about it. The Great Buck Howard also features Tom Hanks as Troy's father; as it happens, he's also Colin Hanks' real life dad. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- John Malkovich, Colin Hanks, (more)
When a Michael Jackson impersonator (Diego Luna) living in Paris falls for a Marilyn Monroe impersonator (Samantha Morton) during a performance at a retirement home, the lovestruck pair retreats to a seaside castle in the Scottish highlands populated by a commune of reclusive impersonators. Earning a living can be a difficult endeavor in the City of Lights, and in order to make ends meet, one man has turned to mimicking the King of Pop. One day, while doing the moonwalk in an old folks home, Michael meets a beautiful Marilyn Monroe look-alike. When Marilyn suggests that Michael join her in traveling to the Scottish Highlands and move into a castle populated entirely by celebrity doppelgangers, the would-be gloved one readily accepts her invitation. Shortly after arriving at the castle, Michael and Marilyn find the commune preparing for their first-ever gala -- a lavish affair featuring appearances by Abe Lincoln, the Three Stooges, Buckwheat, Shirley Temple, Madonna, Sammy Davis Jr., and Charlie Chaplin. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi
- Starring:
- Diego Luna, Samantha Morton, (more)
In a few short years, David Blaine has turned the world of magic upside down, much to the delight of audiences and the chagrin of traditional magicians. With his low-key brand of "street-magic," Blaine has made a name for himself by shunning flashy presentation and sets and simply letting the trick speak for itself. Released in 2002, David Blaine: Fearless contains highlights from Blaine's first three television specials and features some of his most popular and amazing tricks. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi
