Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (2013)
Average Rating: 7.4/10
Reviews Counted: 38
Fresh: 34 | Rotten: 4
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 7.3/10
Critic Reviews: 21
Fresh: 20 | Rotten: 1
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 466
Movie Info
Ricky Jay is a world-renowned magician, author, historian and actor (often a mischievous presence in the films of David Mamet and Paul Thomas Anderson) -- and a performer who regularly provokes astonishment from even the most jaded audiences. DECEPTIVE PRACTICE traces Jay's achievements and influences, from his apprenticeship at age 4 with his grandfather, to such now-forgotten legends as Al Flosso, Slydini, Cardini and his primary mentors, Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller. Featuring rare footage
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All Critics (38) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (34) | Rotten (4)
The film offers all manner of mind-blowing tricks, as well as a colorful history of the evolution of magic and illusions, especially through the 20th century.
Top CriticJay's own personality and intellect steer the film, and he's such a finely honed performer that he easily carries it off...What we get here, simply, is time spent with Ricky Jay, and that's time well spent.
Molly Bernstein and Alan Edelstein's film works first and foremost as a showcase of Jay's skills, but he's also an ideal interview subject ...
A documentary portrait of the magician, author and actor who is known as one of today's preeminent practitioners of close-up magic.
For heaven's sake! Another documentary I didn't know I was waiting for-and am equally glad to see.
The magic in this documentary portrait of actor and stage illusionist Ricky Jay comes mainly from his fond recollections of old performers.
The filmmaker is annoyingly passive and star-struck,as Ricky Jay, speaks only to his chosen agenda.
The splendid feats and dazzling card magic direct our attention away from the inner life of a large, glowering and cryptic figure. You learn a lot from Jay, and yet he keeps his mystique.
I happen to love magic tricks. Deceptive Practice gave me a healthy dose of them, plus a good bit of history as well, and I appreciated it.
Magic and Magical
Offers us a peek into a fervent force of creativity - as with many great artists, it's one of which we have limited understanding though all the more appreciation.
Ricky Jay only lets you see what he wants you to see when he's on stage. Doesn't it make sense that a film about him would be similarly elusive? And sometimes even magical?
It's not the tightest Documentary I've ever seen, but it offers a rare look into the life of that charismatic, mysterious character that is Ricky Jay. If you're a fan of magic, card tricks, or Jay.... definitely check it out.
If you like magic, I bet you'll love it. I don't, and even I had fun.
Although the subject doesn't come through in high definition, his legacy is hypnotic, celebrated and studied here in a manner that's wholly satisfying and often eye-crossingly mesmerizing.
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Foreign Titles
- Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (DE)
- Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay (UK)
