Magic Magic

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.

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.

The American Alicia (Juno Temple) travels to Chile to meet her cousin Sarah (Emily Browning) and they immediately travel to a remote island with Sarah's boyfriend Agustin (Agustin Silva), his sister Barbara (Catalina Sandino Moreno) and their friend Brink (Michael Cera). Out of the blue, Sarah returns to the city and Alicia is left alone with the trio of Chileans that speak most of the time in Spanish. Soon the unstable Alicia is unable to sleep and becomes paranoid; she uses lots of pills and gets in a journey with no return.

"Magic Magic" is a weird and boring movie about a tale of paranoia. There is no story; therefore the screenplay is only a development of the storyline (unstable young woman travels to Chile and becomes paranoid with tragic consequences). The result is a hateful movie with non- charismatic characters, no story, no nothing but waste of time. My vote is two.

Title (Brazil): "Viagem Sem Volta" ("Journey with no Return")

"She's not a bad person, I know her, she just needs a doctor for her hand." Alicia (Temple) is a young woman travels to Chile to visit her cousin and her friends. While there the friends begin to make her feel uncomfortable and she wants nothing more then to leave. What starts off as a fun vacation for her soon starts to unravel and becomes something out of a nightmare, for everyone. I will admit that I was kind of looking forward to this mainly for the fact that it looked like Michael Cera was playing a creepy bad guy. Without ruining anything he's not a bad guy but this is a very different part for him. I have to say that Juno Temple was great in this and should get some type of award. As far as the movie, from the opening shot the movie made you feel a little uncomfortable and never really let up at all. The camera work and the acting really leaves you feeling unable to relax and because of that the movie reaches a level of creepiness I wasn't ready for. Watching Temple start to unravel is mesmerizing and when the end finally comes you are left stunned and not sure what to make of what you just saw. A movie that leaves you thinking and wondering to me is the sign of a good movie. Overall, a movie that really comes out of nowhere and makes you feel uncomfortable the whole time, which in this case is a good thing. I give it a B+.

The shots are good. The acting is good. The scripts ok. Nothing really happens other than witnessing our lead character, Alicias descent into full blown manic depression and hyoer paranoia.

If youre into deep dark displays of mental breakdowns, then you will enjoy. If youre after a fun film, move along. This isnt for you.