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Death Defying Acts (2007)

Death Defying Acts (2007)
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My Brilliant Career and Oscar and Lucinda director Gillian Armstrong explores the final feat of the greatest illusionist ever to deceive a live audience in this docudrama concerning Harry Houdini's obsessive quest to find proof of an afterlife. The year is 1926, and Houdini (Guy Pearce) is an international superstar. Not only does the illusionist's otherworldly ability to bend reality hold audiences completely enthralled, but his easy charm finds him winning the hearts of his growing legion of fans as well. Yet behind Houdini's winning smile resides the restless heart of a tortured soul. Isolated by fame and drowning in regret over having not been present to hear his mother's last words, Houdini sets out in tour of Scotland and announces that he will pay 10,000 dollars to anyone who can prove spiritual contact with his deceased mother. But in his determination to prove that there is life after death, Houdini also becomes the target of countless charlatans, scam artists, and self-proclaimed spiritualists. Of course, stunning psychic Mary McGregor (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her daughter/sidekick, Benji (Saoirse Ronan), seem remarkably sincere in their supernatural talents, yet that doesn't mean that the pair doesn't have their own ulterior motives for making a connection with the world-famous magic man. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Starring:
Guy Pearce, Catherine Zeta-Jones, (more)
Director(s):
Gillian Armstrong
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR
Format(s):
DVD
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Synopsis of Death Defying Acts

My Brilliant Career and Oscar and Lucinda director Gillian Armstrong explores the final feat of the greatest illusionist ever to deceive a live audience in this docudrama concerning Harry Houdini's obsessive quest to find proof of an afterlife. The year is 1926, and Houdini (Guy Pearce) is an international superstar. Not only does the illusionist's otherworldly ability to bend reality hold audiences completely enthralled, but his easy charm finds him winning the hearts of his growing legion of fans as well. Yet behind Houdini's winning smile resides the restless heart of a tortured soul. Isolated by fame and drowning in regret over having not been present to hear his mother's last words, Houdini sets out in tour of Scotland and announces that he will pay 10,000 dollars to anyone who can prove spiritual contact with his deceased mother. But in his determination to prove that there is life after death, Houdini also becomes the target of countless charlatans, scam artists, and self-proclaimed spiritualists. Of course, stunning psychic Mary McGregor (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and her daughter/sidekick, Benji (Saoirse Ronan), seem remarkably sincere in their supernatural talents, yet that doesn't mean that the pair doesn't have their own ulterior motives for making a connection with the world-famous magic man. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Theatrical Feature Running Time:
97 mins

Complete Cast of Death Defying Acts


Director(s):
Gillian Armstrong
Writer(s):
Brian Ward, Tony Grisoni
Producer(s):
Chris Curling, Marian MacGowan
Theatrical MPAA Rating:
NR
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    Member Reviews
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    Timothy W.

    A very pleasant surprise. I'd never heard of this movie until I saw it on the rack, so my expectations weren't very high. I rented it out of respect for Pearce and Zeta-Jones and was rewarded with a top-shelf production similar in tone and look to The Prestige and The Illusionist from a couple years back. Compared with those films, Death Defying Acts relies less on red herrings and more on the well-crafted relationship between the lead characters. Guy and Catherine have never been better and phenomenal teen actress Saoirse Ronan delights in every scene. Don't miss it.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Robert R.

    It is true the Movie Details description is utterly misleading. This film focuses on a love affair as well as an obsession with issues of the after life and such. As an offbeat character study, the film succeeds. Guy Pearce is a bit uneven in this. The classical style music score is very beautiful as is the cinematography. I enjoyed the film. But, it is not really about Houdini's life and career as a whole. It focuses solely on one extramarital relationship and also how he ultimately died. Having understood that from reading about the story line (from an outside source) in advance of watching it, I found the movie enjoyable.

    Yes   |   No

     
    Hilary P.

    I don't know if this was based on a novel, as "Oscar and Lucinda" was, but it's a deceptively pretentious film. "Oscar and Lucinda" was depressing but unforgettable; never saw another film like it and probably never will see one. "Death Defying Acts" aspires to that exact same formula--quirky, complicated heroine, troubled and weak-willed hero...and a plucky trendy child-star thrown in, maybe because the plot's so stupid. I rented this because I thought it was based on a real incident; it's not.

    Yes   |   No

     
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