Magic Magic

❤️❤️❤️❤️

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source: Magic Magic

I was so ready to give up on this weird, navel-gazing, unfunny, aimless awkward-off between Juno Temple and Michael Cera. Then...slowly, but surely, all these pointless awkward scenes started to mean something. They were trying to show you what the regular constant of these kids' lives in Chile was, before they introduced something strange. And just when I thought...alright, it's just another white girl losing it movie, it changes again. And it builds and it grows and it rewards you for staying with it over and over. But I can't blame you if you hated it early on. As good as Juno Temple is and as knowingly hateable as Michael Cera's oddball character was, there's almost nothing to the first half of the movie. But it does change, and by the end I couldn't look away. Not an amazing film, but much more than what I thought it was initially. It helped me understand how such good talent could be attracted to something like this. But I also have to say, where it ends, might've just annoyed you all over again.

If I could give this less than 1 I would! Negative numbers are great in this case if I could go there!! That is saying a lot since I saw Cannibal Hookers which was shot on cam corders (not even in hi def but old 1980's type) and Necromantic which should say it all. I would watch Necromantic like 10 times before seeing this one again! Totally waste of my eyeballs. Seriously a horrid waste of film makes me wonder who financed it?!?!? I could have put that money to better use buying toilet paper.... yeah it was that bad. NO character development, no story, no real ending, racist of non American medicine and people not from the US, animal cruelty, creepy nerd guy and wannabe euro trash. Take my advice although it is shot in actual movie quality filming that is the ONLY thing good besides the few and far between breast scenes that occur 2 short times. I have to say if I saw ANY of these actors in another movie the taste of this movie would make me not want to see the other one cause Magic Magic is SOOOOOO FRIIIGGGING BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD! I seriously have had better times sorting my socket set and cleaning my basement, doing dishes or folding laundry. You get the picture?!?!?? Save yourself and go do something else.

Long Story Short: The Story evolves around Alicia (Juno Temple) – an emotionally fragile young woman, who visits her cousin Sarah (Emily Browning) in Chile. Together with Sarah's boyfriend Agustín (Agustín Silva), Agustín's sister Barbara (Catalina Sandina Moreno), and their very strange friend Brink (Michael Cera) they travel to the countryside. But things aren't as pleasant as they are supposed to be, and especially Brink turns out to be very insensitive and doesn't show any sympathy for Alicia retentiveness. What was meant to be a relaxing vacation for Alicia soon turns into a horrifying experience. Review: Magic Magic is often advertised as a horror movie, however, I would say it's more of a psychological thriller with a very dark and intense undertone. Juno Temple is giving a master performance, her acting is on point and very disturbing. Michael Cera plays this psycho, who shows not only anti-social but also sadistic tendencies, and everyone was wondering if he would be able to portray a character like Brink. I think he did great, but at the same time, he annoyed the living hell out of me. The camera-work is stunning, and the landscape shots are beautiful. The movie starts very strong and interesting, but leaves you clueless not only until the end, but even past that. There is absolutely no conclusion, the audience is completely left in the dark, and even though the tension and suspense rises it turns out to be a thick cloud of confusion. It seems like someone came up with a good idea but ran out of time to write a satisfying ending. So let's just end it somehow, because at the end of the day indie movies are supposed to keep you guessing and that's what makes them artistic. Not true. Furthermore, character development is hardly existing, and even if Juno Temple convinced with her performance, I couldn't relate to her character because I didn't know enough about her. Magic Magic is not a bad movie but towards the end there are just too many questions unanswered, which might be very unsatisfying.

OK, I apologize. It is perhaps not fair to begin a review with what seems like a total non-sequitur, but in that regard I have an edge on you, kind reader, inasmuch as I know in advance that the review is not going to be especially flattering. So, armed with such foreknowledge, I figured, hey, why not lead with the only really "interesting" fact that those unfortunate enough to watch this will remember when they get home...? Which is that Emily Browning looks EXACTLY like a young Shannen Doherty, the face and bone structure are identical. I mean, wow, is that cool ... or what? Speaking of cool, this movie is not. I see in the reviews that (as expected) we already have a controversy brewing between those who wish they would have had their teeth cleaned INSTEAD OF watching this.. and those who (typically) feel this is a work of suspense on par with the greatest of the great and it was a privilege to be in the same theatre where it was playing. OK, let me help. The only close analog for this film is Repulsion, one of the most in-depth and brilliant and mesmerizing studies of descent in paranoia ever filmed. I saw Repulsion first-run in a theatre and have seen it a half-dozen times since. One, this is not Repulsion. Two, this is not Godfather. Three, this is not even an especially well-crafted movie, although it is an ambitious one. If you allow yourself to get caught up in it -- itself a dubious choice -- the strangeness of the remote setting, the oddness and lack of empathy among the characters, and the constant whining of Michael Cera (brave of him to take such a self-deprecating role!) will irritate the heck out of you, but it will not necessarily entertain you. And therein is what separates a great film from a wasted opportunity to make a film.

Juno Temple plays Alicia, a young American woman who has traveled to South America to share some adventures with her cousin, Sarah, played by Emily Browning. Sarah introduces Alicia to her boyfriend, Agustín, who is currently studying hypnotism, his sister, Barbara, and their mutual American friend, Brink, played by Michael Cera. Together the five of them begin to head for a remote island off the coast of Chile when Sarah is called to return to the city. Alicia then finds herself alone with her cousin's four friends, who speak more Spanish than English, in an unfamiliar land. As culture shock sets in, insomnia and paranoia take control as Brink desperately tries to seduce the emotionally unstable Alicia. The chaos captured in the film is enough to induce a panic attack in some unsuspecting audience members. This is far from a fun film to watch, do not be fooled by Michael Cera's name. Cera does play the perfect creep though and is a surprisingly good antagonist, even if only in Alicia's perspective. Those looking for Michael Cera comedy in a horror flick are going to hate this. This is an indie psychological drama that will win over film festivals but the majority will despise it for being so obscure and frustrating to watch. No matter how good the film does get, the ending will leave you feeling a little cheated. But perhaps that is the point. Magic Magic is a well-crafted nightmare in the shell of a story that could have been a romantic comedy adventure. There is so much that could be said to be wrong with the film and yet all the wrongs helped portray a mental breakdown better. It's a heart-breaking story that most people are never going to want to witness again, even if they liked the film.

-Red-Barracuda- Really hit the nail on the head about the whole thing. I suppose I'll just give my general thoughts on it as well. I'd like to start by saying that the trailer was totally misleading but it did help with keeping the story somewhat a surprise. First: do not go into this thinking its a Turistas (2006) or something like that. Second: I'm like 90% sure its not about demonic possession or anything of the sort, the movie made it pretty clear. So for those who didn't get it; Alicia was crazy from the start. With crazy people like this (possibly a paranoid schizophrenic) that are on medication, it is important to note that they are not cured! They are taking medication to suppress symptoms - symptoms that in this case were triggered by a few things surrounding a certain theme. Animals, Pressure and Fear. On medication and in a calm and controlled situation, Alicia is probably functional - as we see in the beginning. However, her friend abandons her in a 3rd world country during her very first trip out of the US. (Also hint: Alicia is crumbled on the bathtub floor after her friend tells her she is leaving her there, another person would just be scared or nervous, Alicia was totally broken down and panicked.) After being tossed to the side and into a group of strangers in an unknown land, they begin their journey even deeper into nowhere. This is where the story becomes very unsure because as we later find out, the 'friends' of Sarah (who is Alicia's friend and lifeboat) are seen - well its a little hard to describe. What we as the viewers see is what Alicia believes she is seeing. For example in one scene of the movie they completely give away the fact that Alicia is crazy where she is sitting down in the living room with the other woman (Barbara) and out the corner of Alicia'a eye, she thinks Barbara is staring at her in a very weird and uncomfortable way, only when Alicia turns to look (no camera trick or scene cut, she just turns her head normal and the camera focuses) Barbara was reading her book all along and totally minding her own business. Phantom phone calls, hearing voices talking crap about you. Seeing people who aren't there... So that's really the trick with this movie is that we are watching the events unfold from a crazy persons point of view. Although he did a good job acting strange, Brink (M.Cera) was never really a weirdo - it was all in Alicia's head. Later, Brink finds Alicia's Meds and tries to call attention to it but Sarah is in denial and tells everyone to back off. I could go on a whole lot more and there is more to talk about but there is too much to this movie, which is a good thing. As -Red-Barracuda- said, and I like that term,it is a 'slow-burner.' But I too was kept interested and entertained throughout. Heres what I can quickly throw out about the deeper meanings of the movie. One big thing was the death and mistreatment of animals (big trigger for Alicia's metal issues) and the other is altered states of mind or just perception. With the hypnosis and Agustin staring at a wall design trying to hypnotize or put himself in a trance. I'd like to thank the directors and writers of this story for it was a very interesting trip into the mind of a crazy person and the movie offers enough to merit more than one viewing. Now for my big gripe. I'm on a roll this week with watching movies that have no real or good ending. I'm like: wtf was that? I don't care how right or wrong I am about my opinions or analysis of this movie, it freaking felt like they didn't know how to end it so they just threw together some ritual crap where they drug Alicia and water-board her to death as a form of ancient cure. c'mon guys. The movie is very (but justifiably) slow and is good all the way up to the last 6 minutes. See it for the trip, but not for the ending.

I watched Magic Magic last night. I guess I have waited about a year to see it after watching Jack and Diane (2012). Jack and Diane didn't set the world on fire but for my money it was excellent film, it features the art of Brothers Quay and I thought Juno Temple was outstanding, so I followed her to this film. Magic Magic is haunting, disturbing, sad and insightful. I held our attention for the full duration of the film, and was captivating adult story telling. Juno Temple is amazing; we will be following her career with great interest. Emily Browning also delivers an excellent performance here; both of these young women are choosing interesting challenging source material to work with. In a time when cinemas are full of reruns, remakes or reboots this serious piece of cinema is most welcome. Thank you.