The Magician (Ansiktet)
The Criterion Collection
Ingmar Bergman's The Magician (Ansiktet) is an engaging, brilliantly conceived tale of deceit from one of cinema's premier illusionists. Max von Sydow stars as Dr. Vogler, a nineteenth-century traveling mesmerist and peddler of portions whose those magic is put to the test in Stockholm by the cruel, eminently rational royal medical adviser Dr. Vergerus. The result is a diabolically clever battle of wits that both frightening and funny, shot in rich, gorgeously gothic black and white.
Member Reviews
The Magician - Derekstar
DECEIT! This film is incredibly complex, and even gets more so the further away you get from it. As a single example, consider Max von Sydow's character. The dying drunk at the beginning tells us that he's just an actor wearing a fake beard. We take that to mean that von Sydow is the actor, but we're wrong. It's Vogler. But also von Sydow. The movie plays with you, it gets you to re-suspend your disbelief time after time, only to reveal that your first instincts were correct. Incredible.a splendid, breezy film. - Sam-
another enthralling piece of film by one of the masters of philosophical cinema.
the first two thirds of the film are spectacular, drawing you in, whether from the witty dialogue, the ensemble acting (most notably the achingly superb Max Von Sydow) or the airy direction and cinematography. only the final sequence is marred by a jarring change in tone, which left me kind of cold after the magical (no pun intended) scenes that lead me on such a charming run.
bravo.
Member Reviews
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The Magician - Derekstar
DECEIT! This film is incredibly complex, and even gets more so the further away you get from it. As a single example, consider Max von Sydow's character. The dying drunk at the beginning tells us that he's just an actor wearing a fake beard. We take that to ...a splendid, breezy film. - Sam-
another enthralling piece of film by one of the masters of philosophical cinema.
the first two thirds of the film are spectacular, drawing you in, whether from the witty dialogue, the ensemble acting (most notably the achingly superb Max Von Sydow) ...