Death Defying Acts

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Death Defying Acts

PG,

2008,

1h 37m,

Drama/

Romance/

Mystery & Thriller

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Watchlist

Watchlist

43%

35 Reviews

Tomatometer

26%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

43%

Tomatometer

35 Reviews

26%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland for a series of mind-boggling performances, master illusionist Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) offers an impressive cash reward to any supposed psychic who can accurately tell him his late mother's exact last words. Gorgeous swindler Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) rises to the challenge and engages Houdini in a dangerous flirtation that will blur the line between reality and paranoia -- and test the very limits of his skepticism.

Critics Consensus

Pretty but dull, with unconvincing turns from Zeta-Jones and Pearce. If you want a period magician movie, seek out The Prestige or The Illusionist instead.

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

Metro Newspaper (UK)

Aug 8, 2008

Any magic is instantly dispelled by the dead hand of a tirelessly pouting Zeta-Jones, whose slap boasts more layers than her talent.

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Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

Aug 8, 2008

2/5

It's all a touch undercooked and dull.

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Anthony Quinn

Independent (UK)

Aug 8, 2008

2/5

It's a movie that seems to have been lavished with care and performed with gusto, yet its tale of fakery sounds its own knell: there's not a believable moment in it.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Mar 7, 2024

3/4

Immersed in beautifully atmospheric location photography by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, shooting in and around original Scottish architecture, the film’s presentation is stunning.

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Kaleem Aftab

The National (UAE)

May 14, 2018

Every line spoken is so austere that the characters seem like they're acting in straitjackets. But it's the audience that will be most desperate to escape.

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Rich Cline

Shadows on the Wall

Aug 8, 2008

3.5/5

It's a shame that the story itself feels like smoke and mirrors with nowhere to go, wanting to have its cake and eat it too.

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Gillian Armstrong

Director

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Mary McGarvie

Guy Pearce

Harry Houdini

Timothy Spall

Sugarman

Saoirse Ronan

Benji McGarvie

Silvia Lombardo

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Synopsis

Upon arriving in Edinburgh, Scotland for a series of mind-boggling performances, master illusionist Harry Houdini (Guy Pearce) offers an impressive cash reward to any supposed psychic who can accurately tell him his late mother's exact last words. Gorgeous swindler Mary McGarvie (Catherine Zeta-Jones) rises to the challenge and engages Houdini in a dangerous flirtation that will blur the line between reality and paranoia -- and test the very limits of his skepticism.

Director: Gillian Armstrong
Producer: Chris Curling, Marian Macgowan
Screenwriter: Tony Grisoni, Brian Ward
Distributor: Third Rail
Production Co: Myriad Pictures, BBC Films, Australian Film Finance Corporation
Rating: PG (Smoking|Language|Some Sensuality|Thematic Material|Violent Content)
Genre: Drama, Romance, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $3.6K
Runtime: 1h 37m

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