Immersed in beautifully atmospheric location photography by cinematographer Haris Zambarloukos, shooting in and around original Scottish architecture, the film’s presentation is stunning.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Mar 7, 2024

Every line spoken is so austere that the characters seem like they're acting in straitjackets. But it's the audience that will be most desperate to escape.

| May 14, 2018

It's a shame that the story itself feels like smoke and mirrors with nowhere to go, wanting to have its cake and eat it too.

| Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 8, 2008

Death Defying Acts is a hugely enjoyable, impressively directed drama with superb performances and an emotionally engaging script. Terrific final scene too. Highly recommended.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 8, 2008

Any magic is instantly dispelled by the dead hand of a tirelessly pouting Zeta-Jones, whose slap boasts more layers than her talent.

| Aug 8, 2008

It's all a touch undercooked and dull.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

It's a movie that seems to have been lavished with care and performed with gusto, yet its tale of fakery sounds its own knell: there's not a believable moment in it.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

A watchable, enjoyable but fairly forgettable film, Death Defying Acts has plenty of smoke and mirrors and not quite enough magic.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2008

It's pretty but dull, with Pearce and Zeta-Jones never convincing as supposedly hot-for-each other rivals.

| Aug 8, 2008

It all looks pretty enough - but well before the end you'll be plotting your escape.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

This is better than the dull Edward Norton vehicle The Illusionist, all involved should have conjured up a companion piece to Christopher Nolan's The Prestige.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

And while less magical than The Prestige, it's perfectly charming matine fare.

| Aug 8, 2008

The movie is over-schematic, slow-moving and over-furnished. It never seems to come alive with any believable interplay of characters; the movie locks itself into a watertight tank of a premise, and the handcuffs won't come off.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

Houdini's mission to debunk fake spiritualists is hijacked by this wholly fraudulent love story. There's not a moment in the film that feels honest and uncontrived.

| Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 8, 2008

A pleasant, frothy period confection that's as decorative and insubstantial as Zeta Jones's character.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2008

All in all, it's a bit of a snore that falls back on romance when all else fails.

| Original Score: 2/6 | Aug 8, 2008

Despite the confused tone and underwhelming romance, this pretty little picture entertains in the main thanks to the intriguing subject matter and top turns from Zeta-Jones and Ronan.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 8, 2008

excepting experimental films, plot is a key reason we watch movies. Without an interesting one, an hour and a half of competent filmmaking becomes about an hour and 25 minutes of boredom.

| Jul 30, 2008

Perhaps the film isn't a grandiose statement of splintered lives, but it's an agreeable drama, best when it stays close to the decomposing heart of a professional liar.

| Original Score: B | Jul 24, 2008

...a decidedly minor addition to the rsum of Australian director Gillian Armstrong...The film moves quickly enough, and it's a passably glossy entertainment, but, as Houdini, Pearce is too young...

Full Review | Jul 18, 2008