'Deceptive Practice' & 'Now You See Me' Reviews

Deceptive Practice is a documentary about magician Ricky Jay. You may know him from The Prestige or season 1 of Deadwood as well as countless other TV and film appearances but his primary passion and focus is on the art of magic.

The film follows Ricky Jay's career from the age 4 to present. Interviews with Ricky Jay inspired with archival footage of his performances as well as performances from the mentors that taught him sleight of hand. Ricky Jay discusses his particular magic philosophy and we see a development of an intriguing man who went through a number of transformations that we see but he never discusses. In the 80's for example his hair and beard are long and his act is as boisterous as a Sam Kinisin routine.

The film is also a lesson in the history of magic. Ricky Jay describes the great magicians that inspired and taught him going back to the early 1900's. Deceptive Practice is not only a portrait of Ricky Jay but a love letter to magic itself. It's full of small beautiful moments of magic described by others as done by Ricky Jay. One in particular by a Guardian reporter that while she recounts it begins to weep.

Mysterious, engrossing, beautiful.

See It.

Now You See Me is a heist-thriller with magicians. There's no real acting to speak of done by the star studded cast and Morgan Freeman in particular phones in his performance. The story seems to be so focused on the magical effects it contains it forgot to have dialogue that make sense or a plot that can be followed. There are extended parts of the movie that literally make no sense, you have no idea why the participants are doing or saying the things they are. But there is lots of cool CGI magic.

Don't See It.

Steve's Guide To A Day Job

my desk

1. Fulfillment- If you have a job you love you're in luck. If you have a job you like, enjoy it as much as you can. If you have a job you hate, get a new job. If you have a job you don't feel one way or the other about take pleasure in the work that you do. Be proud of doing a good days work, work your hardest, and be positive, let any angst roll off you like water. You have to take some measure of fulfillment form your job or you will be perpetually discontent. That may be something small or it may be big if you have a job that engages you. The important thing to remember is that every job is important in some way. No job is too small, no job is unimportant, no job is beneath you. I suffered under the idea that I was too smart for every job I had and it made me miserable. You get payed to do a service, render the service, and enjoy the feeling of being of service.

2. Commuting Materials- If you drive, bike, or ride the train keep yourself engaged. Don't let that half an hour be wasted time. Read, listen to podcasts, music, or audio books. Engage with something it will liven up your day and get your mind rolling on some interesting things if you have a relatively mindless job.

3. The Internet- If you have internet access at your job find out what restrictions, if any, your work has. Find sites that you like, that make you laugh or have interesting content. When your bored, need a pick me up, or need a break- do some well deserved surfin'.

4. Lunch Buddies- Every once in a while make a lunch date with friends. It'll brighten up your day and break up your week.

5. Work Space- Personalize your office space. Pictures, kitch, quotes whatever. Make a place you are comfortable in with things around you that make you happy.

6. Office Politics- Be on equitable terms with your co-workers. If you don't like someone at your work or someone rubs you the wrong way don't let it effect your attitude or your performance. Whatever someones issue may be more often than not its a result of their own dissatisfaction with their life or with their job. It has no bearing on you or your work. Don't take anything personally. Do your work as best you can and if you have a problem with anything or anyone talk to someone about it. Whatever issues arise at work, they're not worth it.

7. Get home fast and do whatever you want!

A Moment of Grace 2

This morning I was feeling a little grumpy. I didn't get enough sleep, I woke up late, I didn't have time to enjoy my morning coffee and cigarette, the weekend seemed far away.

Standing on the train platform I was dreading the day ahead of talking to obtuse and/or agitated psychologists and scrounging the internet for entertaining things to read.

The sun came out from behind a cloud and warmth crept up my face. I looked up and on a roof top a block away I saw women dancing. Practicing some swooping joyful piece dressed in lively pinks and oranges. They were too far away to hear the music that accompanied them, if in fact there was any. Their movements were underscored by the rumble of trains, the mummer of my fellow commuters, and the ambient sounds of the city. It seemed so fitting, so right, so perfect.

I watched enthralled until the train arrived and whisked me away.

Missed Connections

Again, I saw you
you were reading
so was I
I tried and tried
to catch your eye
hoping
something lingered
a glint or glimer
but you weren't looking
when I was
you walked away
and I willed you
to turn around
but if you did
my glance was gone

'After Earth' A Review

After Earth is a post apocalyptic scifi movie and Will Smith's recent installment in his ever expanding quest to make his son a movie star. A thousand plus years in the future the human race has left earth and populated a new planet carving out a place for itself only to be attacked by invading aliens. The warriors who fought and won the war are called Rangers who were lead by General Cypher Raige(Will Smith). The movie opens with Kitai Raige(Jaden Smith) in training to be a Ranger. Daddy Raige takes Little Raige on a routine training mission but they run into an asteroid shower and crash land on Earth. Our world has been taken back by the flora and fauna which have evolved to kill humans. Daddy Raige and Little Raige are the only ones left alive in the crash and Daddy's legs are broken so Little Raigey has to go out into the dangerous world that was once ours to retrieve a homing beacon in order to be rescued.

The premise of this world is intriguing, it's a good scifi concept movie. The CGI is great and a lot of work was put into the conception of the future Earth and this possible future civilization. The story moves and the action is fun. The biggest problem and the only problem really with After Earth is its lead: Jaden Smith. Jaden looks 11 years old, he can't act, he can't emote, he doesn't look natural in any situation, everything is forced and contrived. When he's running or jumping or swimming he's believable(other than his small frame which always seems to be years behind his actual age and the ages he's cast as) but when he opens his mouth his performance and the movie crumble. Will Smith does what he can to inject some of the older Smith gravitas but most of his performance in the movie is audio.

An entertaining yet underwhelming summer scifi flick not worth paying money to see.

Rent It.

Rituals

All the performers I've met have pre-show rituals. Some people take a pre-show poop. James eats two bananas before a show. This guy Colin who was on my first team would get really intense and shadowbox and do hard rock air guitar. Everyone has their thing. More often than not now I try to get to the theater half an hour early, sit some where quiet and read or listen to music, just try to get myself centered, and I always have a Redbull. I like to get to whatever theater I perform at before anyone else does, I don't know why, I just like being the first performer their, watch the performers arrive and the room fill up. I think it just adds to the magic of it for me. This empty space devoid of energy holds endless possibility and you just watch it happen.

The show I've been doing on Sundays after Schwa picked a name: Two Scotts, Two Nelsons, and a Uhlir is now Prime. For a long while now Craig has sworn by Gatorade Prime. Craig and Jim used to take it before their shows and now we take it before our shows. It's a "gel blend of carbs and vitamin B that delivers energy when you need it most" it's suppose to give you energy fifteen minutes after you take it. I don't know if it works but it sure feels like it works. We joke that it feels like one of the Looney Toons whose shoes turn in to rockets.

Prime shows feel like they've been getting better and better especially since we played with Lutz. I always sweat, we always have fun, and we always make each other break.

You could make the case we owe it all to the prime.

Meltdowns

Last night The Night Shift hosted our third incubator night at The Playground. Ten teams made over the past three years did short sets, the point of which was to celebrate each other and the theater. The show is always fun, packed, and some groups experiment with different ideas or forms. One group however had a palpable meltdown on stage which was kind of horrifying to watch and I'm guessing horrifying to be a part of.

The set opened with one of the guys dressed as Jay Leno doing a relatively fun bit to take the suggestion. Another guy, lets call him Ralph, took offense by this, cut him off, and took the suggestion instead getting a female teammates name. Ralph started a scene with that woman, who had apparently just come from a date, and tried to get her to talk about her date which she clearly didn't want to do. The next scene Ralph was on the side throwing balloons at the ceiling pulling all the focus. After that scene another guy came out to get another suggestion and he very sarcastically said "Ralph is so funny! Can we get something about how great and funny Ralph is!?" They tried to do more scenes, during a couple of which Ralph asked the woman about her date seemingly hiding or projecting some kind of jealousy. After four minutes I pulled the lights because everyone was looking defeated. It was wild.

I understand having interpersonal issues with your teammates, I certainly have had them, and I get feeling the urge to take it to the stage as if it'll be easier to resolve there, but it never is. Bringing real life aggression or anger at someone else on your team to the stage is unpleasant to watch and toxic for your teammates. Bringing a wholly selfish, superior, chip-on-the-shoulder attitude to the stage is boring to watch and just makes you look like a real life asshole.

If you don't want to do improv, if you're not having fun doing it, if you don't care for members of a team you're on, it's simple.

Stop doing it.