The Magician - 10th May 2006

I didn't really know what to expect from this. Although the mock-documentary is nothing new (see Spinal Tap), I thought this was an original and inventive film. It definitely felt like a (rather badly edited) documentary; the way it managed to mix the minutiae of everyday life with more serious themes. Juxtaposing life and death with the mundane (hostage Tony placing a complicated fast-food order) and the inane (Ray and Max’s conversation about eating shit just before Ray shoots his friend Benny in the back of the head.)

And of course, although it feels as though it could be a real documentary, the film works because it’s not. Some of the genuinely very funny moments rely on the audience’s understanding that these are just people play-acting and the characters are not real; for example Ray taking a basball bat to Max’s junkie flatmate after promising him to use ‘the least violence necessary’ and even stopping the car for Tony, taken hostage in the boot, to settle an argument.

However, beneath its jocular tone the film asks some serious questions about screen violence. As Ray mentions in his final address to the camera - Max, who has been filming all his illegal actions, is an accessory to murder and therefore, by extension, so are all the viewers of this film. Max’s declaration of love (ish) to this ‘good-looking and charming’ hitman echoes the public’s obsession with real and fictitious gansgsters, murders and criminals.

I found this to be really very funny and always intriguing, even (or maybe especially) when nothing was going on. It was an exemplary mock-documentary, however this genre can perhaps be a little constraining and so I would never class it an amazing film. Also: the best mock-documentary ever (despite the fact it’s tragically very real indeed) is the portrait of drag queen Tyranna Sore-Arse Rex Live at Razor Stiletto - to be found at http://www.babydeltic.com/video, if you‘re interested.

Anyway, The Magician gets: 7